Letterbox in the Library: Honoring "The Runaway Bunny"

"The Runaway Bunny" statue in Wilcox Park was created by Joan Binney Ross in 1998 to honor the works of prolific children’s writer, Margaret Wise Brown. Margaret Wise Brown published over 100 books in her career including Good Night Moon, The Runaway Bunny, and Big Red Barn. In 2015, Westerly Library & Wilcox Park was named a Literary Landmark for Margaret Wise Brown after a generous donation of Brown’s personal correspondence, manuscripts, and more was made to our Local History & Special Collections. Over the past 28 years, the Runaway Bunny statue has not only served as a testament to Margaret Wise Brown, but also a welcome space for children to play, friends to meet before a park stroll, and a community monument to our shared love of children’s literature. 

Westerly Library & Wilcox Park will celebrate Margaret Wise Brown’s 116th birthday throughout the month of May in 2026. On May 1st, a letterbox honoring "The Runaway Bunny” will be hidden in the library indefinitely. Traditionally, a letterbox includes a stamp and notebook for hobbyists to find using clues. Once found, visitors to a letterbox will use the stamp in their own personal notebook as well as sign or stamp the notebook in the letterbox before hiding the box again for the next visitor. The letterbox at Westerly Library & Wilcox Park features a linocut stamp hand carved by local artist, Alex Cady. The stamp depicts a bunny running with its feet separated, honoring Cady’s fondness of the Runaway Bunny statue in Wilcox Park, which she frequently visited with her mother who often gifted her lucky rabbit’s feet. 

The clue to find the Runaway Bunny letterbox will be available on both Atlas Quest and Letterboxing.org. 

On May 23rd, Westerly Library & Wilcox Park will celebrate Margaret Wise Brown’s birthday with a “Runaway Bunny” Birthday Party. Alex Cady, also a Museum Educator for the Mystic Seaport Museum, will present the history of the Runaway Bunny statue and be available to answer questions about her linocut art. View all of our programs and events in celebration of Margaret Wise Brown here.

About the Artist: 

Alex Cady is an educator, historian, and creative from Groton, Connecticut. In her free time, she has found over 3,000 letterboxes across the United States. Alex has hidden 30 letterboxes with hand-carved linocut stamps across New England including historical and cultural sites such as the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and Harkness Memorial State Park.