DAVY

When an old rabbit needs help tending her garden, a young bunny and his family step up.

Mrs. Elsie’s once lush and beautiful paradise is now an overgrown mess. When Davy discovers the elderly rabbit trying to lug home a watering can for her garden, he offers to fetch her some water from the stream. Seeing how much help she needs, Davy calls in his family as reinforcements. All summer long, they lend a hand, caring for her garden haven. With some quick thinking, Davy and his siblings save her garden when the stream floods, and Mrs. Elsie celebrates their kindness with a community-wide harvest party. The message in this Swiss import, translated from German, is simple and straightforward: It pays to take care of one another, and there’s value in sharing one’s abundance. Weninger's lengthy text makes the tale most appropriate for older preschoolers and early elementary schoolers. Tharlet’s illustrations do much of the storytelling, with the rabbits’ expressive faces showing nuanced emotions, from tired hopelessness to anxiety to growing excitement. Soft colors and rustic elements give the narrative a timeless, classic feel. Though Weninger and Tharlet tread familiar ground, they provide a deep sense of comfort and familiarity that will draw in readers.

Sweet and heartwarming.