BEE, HONEY BUNNY, AND ME

A bunny-loving girl who hates carrots learns that with just a drop of honey, her least favorite vegetable can become a treat.

Inspired by Carlson’s youngest granddaughter, Leni, this picture book introduces the child’s namesake, called “The Bunny Whisperer.” Despite Leni’s love of nature and bunnies, she can’t stand to eat carrots. One night, she encounters a rabbit in a dream who explains the origins behind the name Honey Bunny. When mother bunny tries to get Honey Bunny to eat carrots, the young rabbit refuses. So the mother takes Honey Bunny to some beehives to explain where honey comes from and how just a dollop of it on carrots makes them “sweet and yummy in my tummy.” The author combines the idea of trying a new food—or attempting to fix a detested item by adding a different flavor—with notes about how bees live. An endnote geared more toward grown-ups describes how pollinators help fertilize plants and how some, like bumblebees, are at risk. The main text features succinct sentences, frequently appearing in word balloons for easy reading. Portraitist Moulton’s oil pastel illustrations, especially an early image of Leni’s face, are beautiful. The cartoonish bunnies are well suited to the tale. But the bees tread the line between cartoons and realism. The White protagonist appears in the background on each page, reacting to Honey Bunny’s story.

This engaging tale’s idea of improving disliked foods with honey may win over reluctant eaters.