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
Betty fails to score with this underinflated effort.
Betty Bunny returns for a fourth entry in this successful series, focusing this time on scoring a goal for her soccer team.
In the previous stories in the series, Betty’s delightfully intense personality was defined through her obsession with chocolate cake, her over-the-top shopping spree in a toy store, and an incident involving lying and its consequences. These laugh-out-loud stories captured Betty’s precocious intellect and strong emotions, creating a believable character with a lovable streak of creative naughtiness. Alas, this time Betty just wants to score a goal on the soccer field like all the other little animals. She makes many mistakes in her first game, with her deflated attitude further depressed by snide comments from her older brothers. After just one week of coaching by her oldest brother, Betty scores her coveted goal in the next game and feels “the happiest moment of her life”—except for the first time she ate chocolate cake. The soccer plot feels forced onto Betty rather than growing out of her distinct personality, and some of the soccer jokes, such as scoring a goal in your own net, will be understood only by those children who already play soccer. Even the illustrations seem a little forced and crowded, lacking the distinctive sparkle of the previous stories.
Betty fails to score with this underinflated effort. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3859-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The duo promises further adventures for their little clothed kitty—she’s off to a good start.
What kind of adventure will Little Lola have?
Little Lola wakes up early one morning. That is part of the plan, delineated in a to-do list. She must stretch, hide, read the paper, play games and have an adventure! Finding pink glasses, a pert little outfit and a backpack, she decides to board a school bus. When she gets to school, she’s excited; everything and everyone has a place. She practices writing and arithmetic. She practices painting and playing, singing and sharing. She loves everything about school, but she loves storytime and show and tell best of all. She thinks she has the best thing for show and tell…but the mouse she presents scares everyone, and the classroom erupts in chaos. Lola puts everything back (some rather out of place), and all the children say goodbye, and they hope to see her tomorrow. This debut for husband-and-wife team Saab and Gothard will be a good addition to the off-to-school canon. The spot and full-bleed watercolor illustrations have a retro, Scarry-esque look, complementing the declarative text that bubbles over with Lola’s enthusiasm. Little listeners uncertain about going off to school might find solace in Lola’s excitement.
The duo promises further adventures for their little clothed kitty—she’s off to a good start. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: April 22, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-06-227457-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
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