IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY

Familiar lullabies are given a twist by McMullan (Hey, Pipsqueak!, 1995, etc.) in a work that serves as a missing link between board books and more lavish picture books. A bunny, a bear cub, a kitten, a duckling, and a puppy are given a few pages each to be gathered in by their mothers as the day comes to a close, then sung to sleep. Bear whuffles a ""Sleep, Baby, Sleep"" variation, Rabbit warbles her version of ""Hush, Little Baby,"" and so on. It's all very sweet: ""Dearest duckling, close your eyes, crickets chirp your lullabies"" to the tune of ""Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"" and ""Dream time, my kitten"" to the melody of ""Rock-a-Bye Baby."" McPhail adds notes of suspense with bolts of lightning and sickle moons. The book begins with ""If you were my bunny and I were your mama, I'd pick you out from all the other bunnies and nestle you beside me""; fittingly, therefore, the volume is dedicated in part to ""M.W.B.