QUIET BUNNY & NOISY PUPPY

Quiet Bunny’s third outing (Quiet Bunny's Many Colors, 2011, etc.) explores opposites as he makes a new friend who is his different from him in every way.

The first snowfall of winter finds Quiet Bunny searching for a friend to play with, but they have all flown south, fallen asleep or hidden themselves away from the weather. Just then, a noisy puppy arrives on the scene, inviting Quiet Bunny to play with him. Quiet Bunny is unsure, noting their differences. The owl, who continues to do Bunny’s thinking for him, swoops in and pronounces: “You can be different and still be friends.” Thus reassured, the two become best friends, reveling in their differences. Over and under, around and across, in and out, up and down, the two play. Spring sends Noisy Puppy back to work on the farm, but winter’s return brings them back together, even more different than before. McCue’s animals are as Gund-soft as ever, almost too sweet. Their expressive faces and body language leave no doubt as to their emotions, although the text often spells it out anyway.

For those toddlers who crave more of a story than traditional opposites books offer, this just may fit the bill.