BAD HARE DAY
by Miriam Moss & illustrated by Lynne Chapman
A weak outing from the creators of the Smudge books (A New House for Smudge, not reviewed, etc.). Deposited in Uncle Herbert Hare’s hairdressing shop while her mother is out shopping, little Holly promises to be good—but when Herbert hops into the back room to take a delivery (for several hours, evidently), Holly impulsively proceeds to shave, chop, bleach, mousse, and brush as she pleases an array of befuddled, inexplicably passive animal customers. Then, oozing insincere contrition, Holly takes her flabbergasted uncle’s hand (according to the text, anyway, in the accompanying illustration, his arms are full of boxes), and earns nothing for her misbehavior but an indirect reprimand (see title) as she saunters from the totally trashed salon. The episode then chops off, leaving readers to wonder why Holly should get off scot-free, or what became of the menacing crowd of vengeful customers on the previous page. The best part of this is the title—and that’s not even original. (Picture book. 6-8)