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MY BLUE BUNNY, BUBBIT by Maggie Smith

MY BLUE BUNNY, BUBBIT

by Maggie Smith ; illustrated by Maggie Smith

Pub Date: Jan. 7th, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-547-55861-5
Publisher: Clarion Books

Part special–stuffed-animal tale, part new-baby story, part craft extravaganza, this picture book has a little something for everyone, so long as that “everyone” enjoys sewing narratives.

When she was born, the unnamed heroine of this tale was given a handmade stuffed blue bunny named Bubbit by her much-beloved grandmother. Now a new baby has been born to the family, and the new big sister wants to make sure her brother has something just as special. After consulting with her grandma, the two set about creating a soft yellow elephant from the little girl’s outgrown coat and scraps from well-loved clothing. Will the new baby come to love it? A snapshot of the near future yields the answer. With art consisting of a melding of pencil, fabric, gouache and digital illustration, the textures embedded into the pictures give the book a tactile, homey feel. The writing itself is strong, though no one would mistake this as a story for all expectant older sibs. After all, the focus on the craft of sewing will appeal mostly as a novelty for those in the intended age group. That said, it would be the rare child that reads this and then doesn’t hanker for a blue “Bubbit” of their very own.

New older siblings won’t be blue for long thanks to this sweet, if special, offering.

(Picture book. 4-8)