A cover of a book has the potential to attract the interest of a reader, let the reader know what the story is about, who the author is, contains the blurb, etc. this specific element of a book can help determine the story before the book has even been read.
In 'The Rabbits', the colour and choice of images play a great role. The colour of the book determines a serious tone of the narrative and positions the reader to expect a serious story. The image of the rabbits is quite scary. They are ill-proportioned in the way their upper bodies are masculine and powerful, while their lower halves are overly thin. This in no way resembles how an actual rabbit appears in everyday life, therefore leading the reader to predict that the rabbits will have an underlying message/agenda. The illustrations of the rabbits, drawn twisted and almost human-like with an edge of evilness around them portrays them as the possible villain to the reader. The rabbits are also wearing European explorer's clothing. This suggests that they are invaders.
In the background and very discreetly placed are the bilbies. Compared to the rabbits they seem timid and 'uncivilised'. They seem to be hiding or fading into the background. They hold spears as a sign of defence, just like the rabbits hold their guns as defence. The bilbies' earthy colour positions the reader to conjecture that the bilbies are native to the land upon which the rabbits have landed.
The positioning of the ship plays an important role. It represents invasion through its occupation of the majority of the front cover. This also supports the invasion theory as it is clear that the ship belongs to the rabbits.
Looking at the title of the book, we notice that the 't's are like crucifixes, suggesting that some of the characters of the story believe that they are the descendants and workers of God - a common belief amongst European invaders.
All in all, the cover of the book positions the reader to determine the rabbits are invasive and dominating, where as the bilbies seem helpless, small and insignificant.
The cover suggests that the book may be about a new beginning as the boat could represent new settlement. It also suggests an invasion of power, indicated by the way the rabbits are forcing their way onto new territory. However, through the dominating characteristics of the rabbits and their ship and the seemingly unimportance of the bilbies, the only real expectation we can have is that the rabbits are invading the land of the bilbies. The reader might also expect the book to be a metaphorical representation of the European invasion of Australia, due to the typical European images on the front cover and the frailty and indigenous representation that the bilbies display. Another hint could be that the invaders of Australia brought rabbits to the country and bilbies are a native endangered Australian animal.
