(4) PS Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. In Daddy, a father otter explains, in rhyming couplets, how much he loves his child: “When I became your daddy, you made my world complete. / I didn’t know the little things in life could be so sweet.” In Mommy, a mama bunny expresses the same feelings. The sentimental texts are more likely to interest mommies and daddies than their children, but the soothing, textured illustrations -- pastel-colored spreads showing the pairs’ day of frolicking and snuggling -- are appealing. Review covers these titles: When I Became Your Daddy and When I Became Your Mommy.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) K-3 Marcero continues the picture-book adventures of Llewellyn (In a Jar; Out of a Jar, rev. 3/22), a young white rabbit who collects the ineffable -- here his hopes and dreams -- in an attempt to better understand and control his life. He finds two like-minded friends at the playground, and the trio starts collecting things together. The gentle gradation of hues and delicate textures in Marcero's cartoon illustrations serve as approachable scaffolding on which to hang big ideas. Her depictions of hopes in jars (visiting a "faraway friend," getting a part in a play, flying in a rocket) create a visual path through the first half of the book, and she wields light and shadow to add drama. When the sky darkens and a storm destroys their jars, Llewellyn and his friends despair: "What was the point of dreaming if everything could be lost?" One last jar contains a bright yellow butterfly, though, which restores their hope, and they start collecting dreams again -- some they keep, some they realize, and some they let go "to make room for the unexpected." A story with philosophical subject matter and a nuanced and subdued approach to it.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) PS The three animal friends who live in an oak tree "at the edge of the meadow" are back for more lighthearted frolicking (Molly, Olive, and Dexter: The Guessing Game, rev. 7/24). Dexter the fox, who "loves chasing games," tags Olive the owl to get one started. Olive quickly tags Molly the hare from the air. Molly happily sets off after Dexter, and the two end up running in different directions around the oak tree. "BUMP!" Now Dexter is "it" (and dizzy), but Molly is "just too quick" and Olive is "just too good at flying." How will he ever catch his friends? This companion book features the same spirited fun as the first installment. Rayner's detailed, soft-hued mixed-media illustrations give her characters lots of charm; her light line work and effective compositions playfully convey movement. If Dexter can't run as swiftly as a hare or fly like an owl, he'll need to do what foxes are good at: "I can think of clever plans!" He slyly catches his friends off-guard in a crowd-pleasing conclusion. If you focus on what you can do, everyone wins.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(3) K-3 Bunny Samara can’t speak and is one of several students who use wheelchairs. She and her friend Marco do many things at school together; the one thing they can’t do together is swing. In response, the students raise money for inclusive swings. Carlson’s bright illustrations capture the animal students’ joy and determination. An encouraging story about inclusiveness and youth activism inspired, as an appended note explains, by students at a Minnesota elementary school.

Reviewer:

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Doug Salati. The burrow- and tree-dwellers are enjoying a new sense of peace and unity since the events chronicled in The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (rev. 9/23), and our protagonist, rabbit Butternut, feels secure in her status as the community storyteller. Then a troupe of thespian turkeys rolls into the forest to stage a production, and everyone except Butternut is cast, which sends her into a crisis of confidence and a case of writer's block. Alongside this, Butternut's brother reveals her secret fledgling friendship with one of the humans in the nearby house to the rest of the creatures, and Butternut's status falls even further, leading her to make a false accusation and deceive her loved ones. This early chapter book continues the first installment's focus on the natural world and precise ("quartz peastone"), vivid ("pugnacious fighters") vocabulary that is challenging but digestible, thanks to strong foreshadowing, a tight plot, lovable characters, and Salati's enchanting illustrations. After Butternut's lies are exposed, she struggles to get her friends and family to listen to her when she discovers a mortal threat to them all. Learning how to both command and cede attention is a challenge to which many children can relate, and Dimopoulos's blend of anthropomorphism and respect for the natural world makes this a winning example to follow.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) PS Illustrated by Renata Liwska. Bunny has been lying awake in bed -- when he should be sleeping -- waiting for Dad to check on him. The youngster's expressive body language and his impatience ("Come on, Dad! Check on me, check on me, check on me!") convey relatable child behaviors. But "sometimes a bunny simply can't wait. He just needs his dad!" Bunny gathers supplies (water, blanket, cookie, "their special favorite book") and heads to Dad's room. In this reversal of what's clearly their regular routine, Bunny discovers his father asleep, and Dad continues to sleep through Bunny's offering of each item, which Bunny then enjoys himself. Finally, after letting out a "great big sigh," Bunny stands on tiptoe to wake his father up with a "tap, tap!" on the nose. As Dad carries Bunny back to Bunny's bed, he reassures his son that "sometimes a dad just needs his little bunny." This idyllic episode in a cozy home speaks to the love and dependability at the heart of their relationship. Hest's rhythmic text has a soothing, lulling cadence. The soft hues and textures awash in moonlight in Liwska's digital illustrations convey the perfect mood for this warmhearted bedtime story, which features a refreshing portrayal of what appears to be a single dad caring for his son and vice versa.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Scott Nash. Best friends Bunny and Clyde learn that it can be hard to be bad in this early chapter book. The rabbit and chipmunk duo are tired of being good and decide to put their energy into being bad, but each of their misdeeds ends up aiding the intended victim in comically unintentional ways. In one instance, Bunny and Clyde toilet paper a neighbor's rose bushes, which, it turns out, protects the flowers from an unexpected frost. Never ones to give up, the two move on to more and more daring attempts at villainy, all of which lead to disappointment. McDonald's short chapters, simple sentences, and snappy dialogue are perfect for newly emerging readers looking to take their first steps beyond early readers. Nash's frequent full- and partial-page black-and-white illustrations (final art not seen) provide lots of breaks in the text and ably capture the hijinks of these two fundamentally goodhearted critters. Bunny and Clyde can't help but fail to live up to their infamous namesakes.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) PS Three animal friends -- "Molly the hare, Olive the owl, and Dexter the fox" -- play a game that Olive calls "Guess What?" Dexter goes first: "Guess what I'm thinking about," he says, gazing at the sky. Molly guesses correctly on the first try; it's the sky, of course. "'How did you know?' asks Dexter, puzzled." Molly's up next, and Olive guesses that she's thinking about grass. How did Olive know? "Easy...your mouth is full of it." For her turn, Olive is "thinking about TWO things at the same time." Dexter and Molly are stumped. Is Olive thinking about two brown leaves? Two clouds? Two flowers? "It's too hard." Olive encourages her friends to keep guessing; the two things she's thinking of are "very nearby" and "even lovelier than flowers." Rayner's soft mixed-media illustrations on cream-colored pages match the text's gentle tone and give young listeners the advantage by making obvious what -- or who -- is on Olive's mind. With its peaceful meadow setting and the friends' warm rapport, this good-natured picture book offers a pleasing storytime diversion.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) PS Illustrated by Robert Starling. Some stories encourage quiet listening, but books can also call for moving around and being silly. This latest I Am installment (I Am Happy; I Am Hungry) centers on a wide-eyed pink bunny with a lot of pent-up energy to release. "I am wriggly. REALLY wriggly. Wriggly, wriggly, wriggly." Spot art shows this energy building as the narrator begins to shimmy, tap its feet, and then start hopping. The activity ramps up from there. The creature wriggles its body and then starts adding toys, utensils, and furniture into the game. By the end, the combination of narrative action and increasingly colorful and lively mixed-media illustrations shows this bunny working itself into a frenzy of wriggles: "I can't stop wriggling, I can't stop giggling." The situation finally peaks, and the rabbit suddenly recognizes that it can stop when it wants and take a little rest. An opening "Note to Grown-Ups" encourages using this story to initiate play and explore language with children as a means for self-expression. From start to finish, the snappy text and large, bold art effortlessly facilitate audience participation through prompts for physical activity and verbal engagement. A smart choice for a wriggly toddler storytime or for anytime when releasing some extra wriggles might lead to better self-awareness and an expanded way to appreciate books.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(1) PS The jacket copy of this very simple, essentially wordless counting story calls its young protagonist Mino, but the M emblazoned on his stage podium could just as well stand for Max or Mickey or Maurice, as another little boy with flair, talent, and determination. One by one, the boy pulls ten rabbits from a hat; he puts them back the same way. The fun is in the counting, sure, and Sendak is careful to let us see the right number of rabbits on any given page, but there's also drama in the changing expressions on the boy's face as a magic trick that begins in pride and insouciance starts to overwhelm him. A true Sendak hero, he sets himself to rights. Originally privately printed for Philadelphia's Rosenbach Museum in 1970, Ten Little Rabbits, in casual black line with some splotches of color on the rabbits, might not be Important Sendak, but its pleasures are clear and go straight to the heart.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(3) 4-6 Translated by Nancy Forest-Flier. Illustrated by Annet Schaap. A young Afghan refugee, Roya, bonds with her family’s new pet rabbit, Mishka, as they process the trauma of their escape from Kabul to the Netherlands. Through the gentle voice of Roya, the novel explores themes of belonging and the refugee experience, weaving together moments of joy and sadness. Schaap’s soft, impressionistic illustrations are interspersed and beautifully reflect the story’s warmth, calm, and emotional depth.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) PS Rabbit stands in the middle of her messy bedroom: "Uh-oh. This is a PROBLEM." In pops Porcupine Pete, "Your Problem-Solving Porcupine," who, in the tradition of many self-proclaimed helpers in children's literature, proceeds to escalate the problem exponentially. As ever, Thomas (The Chicken Who Couldn't, rev. 11/20) has her finger on the pulse of the storytime crowd. Pete tries to feed Rabbit's shirts to the goldfish, to flush toys down the toilet, and more. His "PROBLEM SOLVED!" refrain is as catchy as it is misleading, and kids will happily chant along. Rabbit begins to realize that she needs to get rid of Pete; she sees a newspaper report and tells him: "The scientists need a problem solver on Mars. They need you!" A coda reveals the Mars scientists' reaction to Pete (spoiler alert: not great). Thomas's digital illustrations are thick-lined, vibrant, and slick. This is a rollicking read-aloud, and with its straightforward language, repetitive vocabulary, and cyclical, predictable plot, it also serves the needs of beginning readers.­

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Doug Salati. "Bird affairs are not rabbit affairs," says Butternut's mother. But when the young rabbit meets Piper, an outgoing and adventurous fledgling robin, she starts connecting with other animals in Milkweed Meadow and finding the world less frightening. Butternut directly addresses readers, dropping carrots of wisdom about story structure and life. "Life-and-death stakes might enhance a story, but they were terrifying to live through." The animal characters are anthropomorphized, but they retain core species characteristics and behaviors; some readers may even recognize the dynamics of wildlife interactions around the bird feeder near Butternut's den. Salati's (Hot Dogp, rev. 11/22) textured black-and-white illustrations mirror this blend of realism and fantasy. The animals' faces are expressive, but they look like animals, especially in their body language. When Butternut has to decide whether or not to risk her safety to attempt the rescue she's been foreshadowing since the first sentence of chapter one, no one will be surprised. But how it happens is "a wood-gnawing climax," as Butternut's grandmother would say. This chapter book has a relatively rare and welcome level of depth, and the strong narrative voice, ecological awareness, and themes around the value of connection and community will call to many readers.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Shanda McCloskey. "Nubby was done." Fed up with a life of being "carried, buried, dropped, dragged, torn, worn," and so on, a dingy blue stuffed bunny is ready for a new beginning. While the text stays focused on this character's point of view, the engaging illustrations clearly show what's really happening as Nubby ventures "out into the great wide world." The family dog makes off with him and runs down the sidewalk to the neighbors' yard. There he encounters some actual rabbits ("Friends! Surely he'd be appreciated here!"), but they don't pay him any attention ("His boy would never treat him like that"). Next, a little girl wearing a magician's cape and a top hat spots Nubby on the ground; from his perspective, he's "landed the starring role" in her magic show. But each new adventure is ultimately disappointing (the show's a flop), and Nubby begins to long for his old life. Both text and pictures are energetic and funny, with McCloskey's digital, watercolor, and pencil illustrations showing the neighborhood from varied perspectives, including views of Nubby's family searching the yard for him. A very happy ending has the bunny nestled together with his boy (and pup), each one with a new appreciation for the other.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Adam Ming. Wily Fox meets his match in crafty Rabbit, as the would-be predator waits by a bunny hole. Underneath the ground, the light from the hole shines down on a rabbit listening alertly while the rest of the bunnies spring into action. Some have hard hats and shovels, while others pore over a map, looking as if they are strategizing. Fox wants Rabbit to come up from the hole and starts his pitch: "Might a kind bunny help out a poor fox?" Rabbit pretends not to be able to hear him properly. While the pair goes back and forth, the scene pulls back to show the bustling underground warren with the bunnies scurrying purposefully around. Ming's pictures (digitally created and combined with gouache-painted elements) brim with energy and expression, using round panels, which evoke the shape of the hole, to move the story along. Rabbit persuades Fox to take a few steps backward--unwittingly following the route the construction-clad bunnies have been digging--and to start jumping up and down. Ming uses the upper third of the double-page spread to show Fox comically bouncing, while underneath, the other two-thirds of the page show another, much larger and more ferocious neighbor of the bunnies directly under Fox's feet. Though it is a life-and-death battle, the warm colors, humorous details, and skillfully paced writing and pictures make this a very funny and satisfying treat.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(1) K-3 Rabbit keeps the moon shining brightly by trekking across the world to bring back aguamiel, "the precious, glowing nectar that brims in the heart of the first and holy maguey." She fills a jug with this sweet agave sap, then pours it into the moon. Rabbit's rival, Opossum, pokes a hole in the moon and steals the sap, thus unintentionally extinguishing the moonlight. Luckily, he remembers a treasure under the earth and brings back a pot of fire, "prepared by mighty gods as a gift for future humans who might shiver in the dark." He sets this pot of burning sun high in the sky, and now he and Rabbit work together as ­Guardians of Light. Stunning illustrations by acclaimed Mexican artist Álvarez feature a velvety blue-black backdrop of a sky, stars providing only pinpricks of light, while the glowing moon is depicted as a round, two-handled jar. Opossum's reddish-brown fur matches the terra cotta pot of fire he tends, and ­Rabbit's fur is the same blue-green as the magical agave plant, whose spiny leaves curl gracefully upward, like an octopus floating in the dark sea of the night sky. Bowles (translator of The ­Sea-Ringed World, rev. 3/21) developed the text for this previously wordless book originally published in Mexico as Noche antigua. His spellbinding, poetic text is lyrical but crisp. A detailed note at the back explains that the tale is an original weaving together of several stories from Mesoamerica.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 This hide-and-seek story begins: "Tiny was giving a big party. But where was Bina Bear?" Thereafter the drama plays out through simple, comical dialogue ("'Bina? Is that you?' 'No. I am a table'") and cartoon illustrations. Bina, a large blue bear, attempts to avoid the party by disguising herself as inanimate objects--a chair, groceries. While Tiny (a small bunny) searches, the bright art showcases Bina's amusing contortions. Meanwhile, the characters' expressive faces and gestures capture their vulnerability and affection for each other. After hearing that Tiny misses seeing her, Bina opens one eye as though she may stop pretending to be a chair and finally show herself. When her friend asks if she's okay, Bina claims to be fine but sheds a tear. In the end, Bina is able to come out from hiding and tell Tiny how she really feels about parties...but also how she feels about Tiny, and so the two pretend to be lamps together in the kitchen while the party goes on without them. This warm and comforting look at friendship offers meaningful insight into the value of support and of acceptance.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) PS Illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan. It's the day before Christmas, and Bunny is searching for the perfect tree, one that is just her size. Along the way she meets various friends who each add a different request, sending Bunny farther and farther from home. Suspense builds as listeners wonder if Bunny will ever find the sought-after tree, while repetition in the text (each friend asks, "What are you looking for?") will support new readers. The narrative is poetic and rhythmic, with occasional ear-pleasing alliteration. Illustrations in a muted, wintry palette nicely complement the story.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Bear lives in a nice house with a favorite chair, spends time with good friends, and loves "the smell of freshly baked strawberry pie," but sometimes even a sweet life needs upending. A change in the wind prompts restless Bear to pack his "most treasured possessions" and leave in search of "something new." Clad in red pants and yellow galoshes, Bear doesn't have a destination in mind; instead, he lets the journey guide him, first to the home of Rabbit, whose roof he helps fix, and then onward until he meets Mouse, who lives in a valley with a stream and blueberry patch, which becomes Bear's new favorite spot and home. Dubuc (Little Cheetah's Shadow, rev. 7/20) thoughtfully addresses the complexities involved in giving up the safety of the known for the unknown: it can be scary ("What if I have made a terrible mistake?") but also allows for personal growth and reward. Details in the art acknowledge the need for comfort during upheaval; some of those "treasured possessions," which remind Bear of his old friends, reappear throughout. The mainly green and brown hues of the woodland setting in Dubuc's precise pencil, colored-pencil, and watercolor illustrations reflect the naturalness of Bear's desire for change.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by David Litchfield. In this richly imagined woodland adventure, a grieving rabbit family--Mama, Cress, and baby Kip (with stuffed carrot "Rotty" always in tow)--must leave their comfortable warren to start over without their lost Papa. Their new life gets off to an inauspicious start. Mama loses the map to Mr. Owl's tree, the "Broken Arms," home of their tiny new basement flat; and they must avoid hungry foxes and a snake disturbingly (and hilariously) known as the "Final Drainpipe." Everyone the rabbits encounter--from the outlandishly selfish skunk, Lady Agatha Cabbage, who wears a surly chinchilla around her neck, to the mix of residents in and around the Broken Arms--is well drawn, making for a memorable cast of creatures who sometimes quarrel but always look out for any neighbor in need. Dark and shimmery full-color digital illustrations build on the text's singular atmosphere. While the moon waxes and wanes, Cress launches herself into precarious predicaments in every chapter as she cycles through waves of grief, irritability, kindness, loneliness, and bravery. As Mama observes: "But, my darling Cress, the moon will grow back. It comes and goes. Just like sorrow." The rabbits settle into the rhythm of their imperfect but warm new community as the narrative deftly coaxes readers to a place of empathy for each character, including those who initially seemed forbidding or unlikable. With its brisk plot, witty details, and thought-provoking concepts, this gloriously illustrated chapter book makes an ideal read-alone or family read-aloud.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022