This engaging tale’s idea of improving disliked foods with honey may win over reluctant eaters.
A bunny-loving girl who hates carrots learns that with just a drop of honey, her least favorite vegetable can become a treat.
Inspired by Carlson’s youngest granddaughter, Leni, this picture book introduces the child’s namesake, called “The Bunny Whisperer.” Despite Leni’s love of nature and bunnies, she can’t stand to eat carrots. One night, she encounters a rabbit in a dream who explains the origins behind the name Honey Bunny. When mother bunny tries to get Honey Bunny to eat carrots, the young rabbit refuses. So the mother takes Honey Bunny to some beehives to explain where honey comes from and how just a dollop of it on carrots makes them “sweet and yummy in my tummy.” The author combines the idea of trying a new food—or attempting to fix a detested item by adding a different flavor—with notes about how bees live. An endnote geared more toward grown-ups describes how pollinators help fertilize plants and how some, like bumblebees, are at risk. The main text features succinct sentences, frequently appearing in word balloons for easy reading. Portraitist Moulton’s oil pastel illustrations, especially an early image of Leni’s face, are beautiful. The cartoonish bunnies are well suited to the tale. But the bees tread the line between cartoons and realism. The White protagonist appears in the background on each page, reacting to Honey Bunny’s story.
This engaging tale’s idea of improving disliked foods with honey may win over reluctant eaters.Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73444-272-4
Page Count: 31
Publisher: SLP Storytellers
Review Posted Online: June 17, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A solid introduction to Africa’s fauna—happy (letter) hunting. (Informational picture book. 4-6)
The Jouberts, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, introduce young readers to the African animals they have studied for years and give them a lesson in letters at the same time.
A large capital letter frames every page (sadly, without its lowercase counterpart), while the photography takes center stage. A short paragraph either introduces a fact or two about the animal or describes what is happening in the photograph. Heavy alliteration encourages kids to look for each instance of the featured letter on the page—how many b’s are on the baboon page? Attempts to include the featured letter in the paragraph sometimes feel forced, overly anthropomorphic or inappropriate; for example, after cheetahs catch their dinner, they “chomp and chew with delight.” But the letter hunt will be secondary for most children—the photographs will keep them riveted. Beverly Joubert gives readers an up-close and personal view of each animal, capturing the features that make them unique. A brief glossary helps young readers with some of the more challenging vocabulary: boisterous, rambunctious, vociferous. Backmatter also includes a list of sources for more information and a double-page spread showing each letter of the alphabet, a thumbnail photo of the animal it represents and a brief listing of facts, including habitat, size, food, sounds and how many babies they have at a time.
A solid introduction to Africa’s fauna—happy (letter) hunting. (Informational picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4263-0781-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: National Geographic
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
Likable dog Emma charms readers again (Letters from a Desperate Dog, 2006) in her anxiety-driven attempts to save her beloved owner, George, from the supposed clutches of new woman-on-the-scene Loretta. At first Emma believes Loretta is trying to kidnap George—she is holding his hand!—and her fears grow as Loretta spends more time at the house. Will they get married? Will Loretta’s dog Hankie hog the space on the couch? Emma scampers off to e-mail Ask Queenie, an advice column for dogs. Preschool children will relish pointing out when Emma has misunderstood a situation and cringe at her efforts, all involving bad behavior, to get rid of Loretta. But then Queenie contacts both dogs upon realizing that Emma and Hankie share concerns about the owners’ romance. After a chase by the dog catcher, appetizing Dumpster diving and one last bath, harmony is achieved. Christelow’s bright, cartoon-like illustrations in comic-book panels humorously display the antics while dialogue bubbles abet easy reading. Pitch perfect for those children adjusting to a new person in their lives. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-547-24205-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2010
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