A bright-eyed little bunny looks for playmates to share a sunny day in this engaging, energetic counting rhyme. Coupled with Bates’s bright, dynamic illustrations that place a curious, slightly rumpled protagonist in an inviting forest landscape, the text bounces along cheerfully as Bunny searches for friends to join him, finding two red birds, three black bears and other progressively larger groups of colorful forest inhabitants. He finds fish, snakes, bees and flowers in turn but like the clouds and butterflies, all are unresponsive or busy. Bunny is discouraged. Is he really all alone? Of course not! Young children will delight in the final surprise and identify readily with Bunny’s plight as they soar along with the catchy rhyme, study the appealing pictures, identify common animals, objects and colors and practice numbers from one to ten. A strong selection that showcases many basic concepts in an entertaining, fun-filled manner, and a solid choice for school or home. (Picture book. 2-5)
