FLEUR’S ADVENTURES

An enterprising young bunny stands up to an unfairly demanding teacher in Pooler’s picture book.

The fledglings of Acorn Hollow love the freedom of summertime, when they can play outside and go swimming whenever they like. But when the new school year starts, these young ones can’t help but feel nervous because of the reputation of their new teacher, Miss Nittypicky: “‘Now children,’ she demanded on the first day, ‘this year you will have no recess and heaps of burrowwork!’” She isn’t kidding, either; bunny Fleur and her friends are always tired from their constant academic labors and lack of rest. Even the Sun is sad without his outdoor animal friends, and he cries huge tears that cause a downpour in Acorn Hollow. Fleur tells her mother about the problem and organizes a town meeting, after which several families go to Miss Nittypicky to ask her to change her strict ways. Pooler’s debut picture book is a sweet and simple foray into a cozy fantasy academic world that encourages readers to stand up for their rights. While it’s unclear why a meeting with the entire town was necessary to convince Miss Nittypicky to quit her persnickety ways, the story’s core message—that children need a certain amount of freedom to thrive—is loud and clear. McKie’s illustrations bring Fleur’s world to life with a balance of warm and cool tones that convey both optimism and gloom as the school days get more difficult.

A sunny, woodsy debut that highlights the importance of speaking up for oneself.