'Bunny Suicides' cartoon book pulled in China after boy, 12, kills himself

A cartoon book has been taken off the shelves by a Shanghai bookstore over fears that it has contributed to a spate of suicides and suicide attempts by children.

Bookuu Book City has stopped selling 'Book of Bunny Suicides: Little Fluffy Rabbits Who Just Don't Want To Live Anymore' after a 12-year-old boy killed himself and four teenagers attempted suicide. The book shows a rabbit trying to kill himself in various bizarre ways.

The 12-year-old who took his life, whose name was not released, jumped from his family's sixth-floor apartment as his family waited downstairs to take him to school.



Now the bookstore is stocking more psychological help guides instead.

The decision reflects unease and soul-searching over the pressures on Chinese students.

"We took the 'Bunny Suicides' cartoon books off our shelves because we're worried that children might try to imitate some of those ways of killing themselves," said Zhu Bin, a public relations officer for the bookseller.