IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY

Familiar lullabies are given a twist by McMullan (Hey, Pipsqueak!, 1995, etc.) in a work that serves as a missing link between board books and more lavish picture books. A bunny, a bear cub, a kitten, a duckling, and a puppy are given a few pages each to be gathered in by their mothers as the day comes to a close, then sung to sleep. Bear whuffles a ``Sleep, Baby, Sleep'' variation, Rabbit warbles her version of ``Hush, Little Baby,'' and so on. It's all very sweet: ``Dearest duckling, close your eyes, crickets chirp your lullabies'' to the tune of ``Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'' and ``Dream time, my kitten'' to the melody of ``Rock-a-Bye Baby.'' McPhail adds notes of suspense with bolts of lightning and sickle moons. The book begins with ``If you were my bunny and I were your mama, I'd pick you out from all the other bunnies and nestle you beside me''; fittingly, therefore, the volume is dedicated in part to ``M.W.B.'' (Picture book. 2-4)