I LOVE YOU, BUNNY RABBIT

Oppenheim (Fireflies for Nathan, 1994, etc.) presents a mild little tale about a boy's sense of devotion, which he teaches to his mother. Bunny Rabbit is Micah Gregory's favorite doll and something of a mess—covered with mud, applesauce and chocolate milk. Micah and his mother try to bathe her, but the battlescars remain. A visit to the toystore to buy a new rabbit subsequently brings out Micah's feelings on the subject: just as his mother would never replace him when he gets sticky, he can't replace Bunny Rabbit. Although Moore's illustrations are unremarkable, this book is quietly compelling. (Picture book. 2-5)