No Bunnies Here!

Bun-dles of fun.

After a toothy gray wolf arrives in Bunnyville--"land of a thousand bunnies"--a quick-witted white rabbit springs to action trying to persuade the wolf that there are "no bunnies here!" First, with a carrot atop its head, the rabbit declares the wolf has arrived in Unicorn Land; then, when unsuspecting long-eared friends wander by, the hare pivots through possible identities, claiming in turn that they are lamps, puppies, and squishy pillows. And upon the arrival of the "Hoppy Day Parade"--clearly a leporine extravaganza--the protagonist gaslights: "That is definitely not a bunny parade. You must be confused, Wolf." But when the wolf's eyes begin to tear up, a boldly stated question reveals a misunderstanding. With over-the-top narration and humorous, crayon-textured illustrations, Sauer and Burach provide a comic send-up to all that's lovable about fluffy-tailed friends--one that ends fittingly with a basket of treats. Ages 3-7. (Feb.)

K-Gr 2--A laugh-out-loud book about thinking fast and sticking to your story. All is well in Bunnyville, the land of a thousand bunnies, until the day a hungry-looking lone wolf arrives. In order to avoid being lunch, a quick-thinking white bunny repeatedly reassures Wolf there are no bunnies to be found. Instead, the bunny reasons that what Wolf is seeing is actually a unicorn, or a lamp, or a puppy dog. Wolf's comical expressions and lack of response reveal he is not fooled, especially when the Hoppy Day Parade begins and Bunnyville residents march along, celebrating all things bunnies. After Wolf begins to cry, a massive misunderstanding is straightened out. "Don't judge a book by its cover" is a timeless theme, explored in numerous titles, but Sauer's latest outing proves a fresh and enjoyable take on the topic. Comical dialogue lends itself superbly for reading aloud at story time, expertly complemented by Burach's humorously detailed and brightly colored spreads. Drawn in a loose, cartoon style, these provide details to pore over once story hours have come to a close, and may invite new readers into the pages to see what's going on. VERDICT A sweet story with a hop-pily ever after--and a wonderful addition to most collections.--Olivia Gorecke