PLEASE DON'T TELL COOPER THAT JACK IS A RABBIT, BOOK 2 IN THE COOPER THE DOG SERIES

A dog’s chaotic pursuit of a rabbit blossoms into a friendship in this picture-book sequel.

Feinberg returns with another tale about Cooper, a “civilized” canine who skis and attends the ballet. The pooch still has “one awful habit”—he can’t resist chasing rabbits. But one day—after he pursues a frightened bunny over field and dale—it emerges that his main goal is to befriend his quarry, not eat it. Lucky, too, because this rabbit has nowhere to stay. “Connections were made / where differences had been,” and, in more rhyming couplets, Cooper becomes thick as thieves with Jack Rabbit, an adorable, bucktoothed bunny. They play drums, golf, ride bicycles, play chess, and eat cake together. Sometimes Jack is “homesick for his old bunny friends,” and Cooper offers him tissues—though it is never established why the rabbit can’t return home. Cooper and Jack’s humanlike antics are sweet and cutesy in this enjoyable, fluffy tale. But engagement with questions of belonging, adoption, and predator-prey relationships would be best found elsewhere. Shrewd readers will note that “keep your mind and heart open when you meet someone new / you might find a great friend even if different from you!” is good advice for children but not most bunnies. Mosca’s amicable, loose-lined watercolor scenes of suburban leisure depict a White family. Outside the house, kids with various skin tones and abilities play with both animals.

Light, charming fare for animal lovers who can’t resist tales of critters acting like humans.