LITTLE RABBIT’S NEW BABY

Little Rabbit cannot wait for the new baby to be born, but is rather taken aback when Mama has three bunny babies and brings the triplets home. Little Rabbit wants to hug and play with the babies, and tries to feed them (with disastrous results). They don’t do well by Little Rabbit’s toys either, and he hides under his bed with his paws over his ears. But the babies cry and won’t stop, until Little Rabbit comes out to amuse them and rocks their cradle until they fall asleep. Mama tells Little Rabbit that he is the “best help” a mama could have. Little Rabbit wears his familiar bunny onesie, while Grandma wears clothes and Mama and Papa do not. The confectionery illustrations are very cute, and the rabbit hole is decked out in comfy furniture and accoutrements in a paean to cozy story domesticity. The author died tragically in 2007, but readers can be reassured that there are a few other chapter books in the pipeline featuring the adventures of his dog Roo. (Picture book. 5-7)