A Little Bit Brave

PreS-Gr 2--Logan, a "stay-at-home bunny," cautiously listens to his pal Luna recount her hair-raising adventures. Luna repeatedly asks Logan to come along, but he declines the invitations with a jittery, "Oh, no. I'll never go outside. It's far too scary." Luna eventually stomps off in a huff, leaving Logan to regret his reticence. After packing an emergency kit and gathering his courage, the timid rabbit tiptoes outside to patch things up with his friend. With some help from neighborly forest animals, Logan goes places he never ventured before, including a dive underwater, a deerback ride through tree-lined woods, and a peek inside the mouth of a dark cave. Pushed out of his comfort zone, the bunny not only rises to the challenge, but discovers he enjoys the journey. Kinnear's winsome illustrations showcase Logan's palpable emotions, from droopy-eared despondency, to wide-eyed fright, to head-held-high satisfaction. In the well-placed plot, Logan triumphantly saves Luna from the clutches of a hungry wolf with quick thinking and a creative use of cookies. VERDICT A pleasingly positive tale about facing fears and taking a leap into the unknown. Pair with Melanie Watt's Scaredy Squirrel.--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont.