How We Created Yabbit the Rabbit (and Made Him Stand Out)

behind the storycharacters
Written By KD Schnee

With so many famous rabbits in children’s books and pop culture, we knew Yabbit the Rabbit had to stand out. Not louder. Not busier. Just more real.

In our upcoming children’s picture book, The Rabbit in the Moon, we’re creating a character with heart, originality, and lasting impact. From his unique design to the emotional story he tells, Yabbit is being built to resonate with kids and the adults reading with them.


Watch how we are creating Yabbit the Rabbit on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yW1wegEhpVk

Why Yabbit the Rabbit Needed to Be Different

There are plenty of lovable rabbits already in the world. So the question wasn’t, “How do we make another cute rabbit?”

The question was: How do we create a rabbit kids actually recognize themselves in?

Yabbit isn’t designed to be perfect. He’s designed to be relatable. He hesitates. He worries about “what ifs.” He wants to try, but sometimes his heart feels wobbly before his feet move. That’s not weakness, that’s being human in a small body.

The Design Choices That Give Him Heart

Character design is emotional, not just visual. Every line, shape, and expression matters because kids read faces before they read words.

We focused on three things:

1) A silhouette kids remember
A character should be recognizable even at a glance.

2) Expressions that show real feelings
Not exaggerated cartoon emotions, but the kinds of micro-feelings kids actually carry: unsure, hopeful, trying.

3) A look that supports the story’s message
Yabbit’s design is meant to match the theme: courage can be small.

Yabbit the Rabbit facial expression sketch showing hesitation and big feelings in a children’s book character.

A more modern sketch of Yabbit the Rabbit looking hesitant.

Yabbit the Rabbit facial expression sketch with a serious and intense look for the children’s picture book The Rabbit in the Moon.

A more serious and intense look for Yabbit the Rabbit.

Yabbit the Rabbit facial expression sketch showing a profile view of the children’s book character.

A profile view of the recent Yabbit the Rabbit sketches.

A Rabbit With an Emotional Job

Yabbit isn’t just a mascot. He has a role.

He helps kids see that:

  • it’s normal to hesitate

  • it’s okay to feel nervous

  • you can take one tiny brave step even when you don’t feel ready

That’s what we’re building: a rabbit character with emotional intelligence, not just visual charm.

What’s Next

This is only the beginning of Yabbit’s journey. As The Rabbit in the Moon continues to take shape, we’ll keep sharing behind-the-scenes moments, character sketches, and the story choices that make this book a keepsake for families.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or children’s book lover who cares about stories with heart, we’re glad you’re here.

KD Schnee

KD Schnee is a children’s author from Pittsburgh, PA. He was raised in Bull Valley, IL on a former Christmas-tree farm. He spent his childhood roaming the woods and listening to nightly read-alouds from his dad, and early favorites like A Cricket in Times Square helped plant the seeds for storytelling.

His debut picture book, The Rabbit in the Moon, introduces Yabbit the Rabbit, a character first imagined by KD’s mother and inspired by his own childhood tendencies to hesitate or avoid. Today, KD writes hopeful stories that help kids (and the child in all of us) face fear, feel brave, and grow.

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