I’m Meleah Brinkoetter — a junior high teacher from a small Illinois town, wife to my wonderful husband Colin, and proud mom to Jaycee and Bradyn. Growing up I loved making goofy rhyming songs with my dad, Jim Cutler. Those laugh-filled afternoons of creativity stayed with me through the years, and in 2014 they led to something unexpected.
While recovering from a traumatic surgery in a Dallas hospital, my dad and I revived our tradition and wrote a new rhyme: The Bunny on the Run. What began as a silly poem quickly became a family project. Colin and my mom, Laura Cutler, joined in with ideas and images, and together we sketched the first glimpses of a story that felt like fun, family, and hope.
We asked illustrator Sergio Carrillo — whose vibrant work you may know from The Action Bible — to bring the Bunny to life. My mom designed a rough plush prototype, and with help from my brother Josh and sister-in-law Vickie, we navigated designers and manufacturers until we had a plush bunny that matched the story’s spirit.
As a teacher, I wanted the book to be interactive. So The Bunny on the Run isn’t just a story — it’s a hide-and-seek adventure. Each page invites readers to find three hidden eggs, and the comic’s backpack conceals a special mystery egg for families to hunt for together. It’s a playful way for kids and grownups to read, explore, and make memories.
This project is more than a storybook and a plush — it’s a testament to family, creativity, and perseverance. I’m forever grateful to everyone who shared time, talent, and love to make this dream a reality!
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