A story starring a funny and argumentative bunny that makes for a read-aloud gigglefest.
Despite clues to the contrary, this little white rabbit insists that he is not the Easter Bunny.
White fur and cottontail, cute bow tie and vest, and a basket of painted eggs: Must be the Easter Bunny! But this determined rabbit refuses to admit that he’s the famous holiday hopper. In a style reminiscent of Mo Willems’ Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie books, McBeth’s rabbit directly addresses an unseen narrator; the bunny’s dialogue is presented in speech bubbles. When the narrator asks about the bow tie, the bunny explains that it “was a gift from my grandmother, thank you very much!” And when the narrator observes the rabbit “hopping! Just like the Easter Bunny!” the bunny responds, “Well, I don’t have a car! And my bus pass is in my other vest!” Kids follow along as the bunny gets dressed, goes to the store, and purchases eggs and sweets. Little readers will enjoy being in on the joke (this is clearly the Easter Bunny) and the playful back and forth. The book lends itself well to a lap-sit read-aloud; adult readers will enjoy adopting different voices for the narrator and the bunny. The final reveal shows the bunny dragging an enormous “Happy Easter!” basket piled high with decorated eggs. The cartoonish illustrations and cheeky dialogue give this tale plenty of personality and zest.
A story starring a funny and argumentative bunny that makes for a read-aloud gigglefest. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780593528457
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cookie-cutter predictability.
After all the daring escapes in the How To Catch… series, will the kids be able to catch Santa?
Oddly, previous installments saw the children trying (and failing) to catch an elf and a reindeer, but both are easily captured in this story. Santa, however, is slippery. Tempted but not fooled by poinsettias, a good book (attached to a slingshot armed with a teddy bear projectile), and, of course, milk and cookies, Santa foils every plan. The hero in a red suit has a job to do. Presents must be placed, and lists must be checked. He has no time for traps and foolery (except if you’re the elf, who falls for every one of them). Luckily, Santa helps the little rascal escape each time. Little is new here—the kids resort to similar snares found in previous works: netting, lures, and technological wonders such as the Santa Catcher 5000. Although the rhythm falters quite a bit (“How did we get out you ask? / It looked like we were done for. / Santa’s magic is very real, / and I cannot reveal more”), fans of the series may not mind. Santa and Christmas just might be enough to overcome the flaws. Santa and the elf are light-skinned, one of the children is brown-skinned, and the other presents as Asian. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cookie-cutter predictability. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781728274270
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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