BLUE RABBIT AND THE RUNAWAY WHEEL

A moment of inattention lands Blue Rabbit in hot water in this simply told follow-up to Blue Rabbit and Friends (2000). Biking down the road “looking for adventure instead of where he was going,” Blue Rabbit hits a rock that sends his front wheel careering away on its own. Setting off in pursuit, Blue Rabbit discovers that the errant wheel has left a squirrel homeless, tripped a badger into a puddle, and overturned a tortoise—all of whom angrily follow along to track down the culprit. Gulp. With clean, expressive lines and subtle gradations of color, Wormell’s lino block prints are not only masterpieces of technique, but glow with unforced childlike charm. Trimmed in heavy black frames, each tile-like print faces oversized type and all are set on pristine, white pages. The story’s ending also has a certain appeal: having followed the wheel around a circle to the site of the original accident, Blue Rabbit hastily reassembles his bicycle and speeds away, escaping his irritated companions without a word of apology. Not exactly a lesson in taking responsibility, but give Blue Rabbit some points for not trying to shift the blame. (Picture book. 5-8)