HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has just released a children’s picture book — A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo — that’s bound to be a bestseller. What’s the plot, you ask? Oh, it’s just a sweet children’s tale about a little boy bunny who falls in love with another boy bunny. Under Mike Pence’s roof. *Wanders off whistling innocently*
If the name “Marlon Bundo” rings a bell (aside from the obvious nod to the iconic Brando), it might be because VP Mike Pence’s wife and daughter — Karen and Charlotte, respectively — just teamed up on a book about the Pence family’s pet rabbit, Marlon Bundo (who has his own very popular Instagram account). That book title? Marlon Bundo’s A Day in the Life of the Vice President.
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John Oliver’s version — written by Last Week Tonight writer Jill Twiss, illustrated by E.G. Keller and published by Chronicle Books — is, uh, a very different look at Marlon Bundo’s life.
“My name is Marlon, but my family calls me BOTUS. It’s short for Bunny of the United States,” says Marlon Bundo in the John Oliver-presented version of Marlon Bundo’s life with “Grampa” Mike Pence. The new and improved version tells the story of the Pence pet as he falls head-over-bunny-heels in love with another male rabbit — and gets happily married. The Oliver version pulls no punches, clearly targeting VP Pence’s history of opposing basic LGBTQ rights.
With its message of tolerance and advocacy, this charming children’s picture book explores issues of same sex marriage and democracy. #betterbundobookpic.twitter.com/LgeuCz7HH7
— Chronicle Books (@ChronicleBooks) March 19, 2018
One hundred percent of the book’s proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project and AIDS United. The Trevor Project attempts to prevent suicide of LGBT youth, and AIDS United works to put an end to AIDS in the United States.
The Pence family’s book proceeds, on the other hand, are headed elsewhere: Tracy’s Kids, an art therapy organization, and A21, a charity fighting sex trafficking.
With its message of tolerance and advocacy, this charming children’s picture book explores issues of same sex marriage and democracy. #betterbundobookpic.twitter.com/LgeuCz7HH7
— Chronicle Books (@ChronicleBooks) March 19, 2018
Oliver’s parody book is getting fab reviews, with one soul referring to it as “an act of subversive brilliance.” We don’t expect the Pence family to agree with that assessment. The audio book (available on Audible) features Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory and Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family — both openly gay actors.
Oliver encouraged viewers and fans to buy the book with his hilarious plea: “You’d be doing a nice thing in a really dickish way — and isn’t that the dream at the end of the day?”
So, is the parody book subversively brilliant? You be the judge: right here, friends, or on Amazon. Enjoy.
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