When her wee bunny is unable to sleep, a mother rabbit calls upon her entire repertoire of soothing tactics to settle her little one down for the night. Awakened by cries of “I can’t sleep,” the bleary-eyed mother looks into the sparkling eyes of her youngest offspring and knows she’s in for a rambunctious night. Little Bunny has decided that staying up all night is the best way to get some extra-special Mommy time. From lullabies to warm baths, to even warmer milk, nothing seems to tucker out the tireless pip-squeak. Eventually it is the sheer exuberance of the young bunny that wears him out, as he dozes off mid-hop. Yet, as is the lot of weary parents and caregivers everywhere, the beleaguered Mrs. Rabbit just settles into bed when she hears the now-familiar wail from her next youngest child. Johnson’s tale is simply, sweetly told. Mrs. Rabbit exhibits endless patience and care, enveloping her child with warm, albeit weary, affection. Young readers will readily recognize Mrs. Rabbit’s familiar lullaby and playful rhymes, which are given a bunny twist: “Hush-a-bye bunny on the tree top,” and “Rub-a-dub dub, my bunny needs a scrub.” Hansen’s gently shaded, soft-pastel illustrations echo the tender loving care of the tale. Her captivating pictures feature an utterly cuddly bunny with an impish glint in his eye and a jaunty tilt to his long floppy ears. Like its energetic protagonist, this winsome tale is hard to resist. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2002
ISBN: 1-58925-017-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2002
This is a tremendously moving story, but some people will be moved only on the second reading, after they’ve Googled “How to...
A hug shouldn’t require an instruction manual—but some do.
A porcupine can frighten even the largest animal. In this picture book, a bear and a deer, along with a small rabbit, each run away when they hear eight simple words and their name: “I need a hug. Will you cuddle me,…?” As they flee, each utters a definitive refusal that rhymes with their name. The repetitive structure gives Blabey plenty of opportunities for humor, because every animal responds to the question with an outlandish, pop-eyed expression of panic. But the understated moments are even funnier. Each animal takes a moment to think over the request, and the drawings are nuanced enough that readers can see the creatures react with slowly building anxiety or, sometimes, a glassy stare. These silent reaction shots not only show exquisite comic timing, but they make the rhymes in the text feel pleasingly subtle by delaying the final line in each stanza. The story is a sort of fable about tolerance. It turns out that a porcupine can give a perfectly adequate hug when its quills are flat and relaxed, but no one stays around long enough to find out except for an animal that has its own experiences with intolerance: a snake. It’s an apt, touching moral, but the climax may confuse some readers as they try to figure out the precise mechanics of the embrace.
This is a tremendously moving story, but some people will be moved only on the second reading, after they’ve Googled “How to pet a porcupine.” (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Jan. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-29710-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2018
A group of farm animals is drawn together by an unusually bright star shining over a stable in their neighborhood in this sentimental Nativity story. The narrative focuses on a gray kitten who is tenderly cared for by his mother in their home in a barn. They follow the other animals to the stable under the star, and as a group they enter and stand before the straw-filled manger in the final spread. The kitten describes his great happiness at this special baby, but unfortunately the baby is not shown in the illustration, which may leave readers confused and dissatisfied. Though Mendez’s large-format illustrations are appealing and the simple story is accessible to preschoolers, the ending demonstrates a lack of knowledge of the needs of this age group, who need to see to believe. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-545-10486-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2009
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