The Little Rabbit

January 1, 2019
A cozy home-away-home adventure with Ollie and her bunny.A little girl named Ollie who is dressed in a gray rabbit costume is eager to play outside in the puddles with her stuffed toy, Bunny, after the rain stops. As soon as they venture out-of-doors, golden petals, depicted in glinting foil detail on the jacket and in many illustrations, blow by on the breeze. Although text is not clear on this point, the petals seem to have magical powers that transform the toy rabbit into a real animal. Bunny scampers off after other rabbits, and Ollie follows. Their ensuing adventures have Ollie rescuing and comforting Bunny as they brave the elements and seek refuge in a treehouse. The plot, which culminates in a return home and Bunny's return to toy status, is rather thin, but the grayscale illustrations with green and yellow highlights are utterly charming throughout the book. Die cuts at beginning and closing stages of the book indicate movement between realistic and fantastical realms, but their presence isn't integral to the storytelling, and they come across as superfluous, even indulgent, given how likely it is that little fingers exploring them might tear the pages.Lovely to look at but little story to follow. (Picture book. 2-5)

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February 1, 2019

PreS-K-Originally published in Great Britain as Ollie's Magic Bunny, this title highlights the onset of spring. As the changing weather precipitates a magical transformation and her beloved toy bunny dashes away, Ollie follows in her bunny suit, her yellow boots, and yellow umbrella. The muted and neutral colors highlight the simplicity of the book's illustrations and draw the reader's eye to soft greens of new spring growth; the bright yellow of Ollie's scarf, boots, and umbrella; and the gold of new blossom petals. Cut-outs and divisions within some pages allow readers to watch as the weather changes and infer possibilities within the story. Simply drawn with varying perspectives and minimal lines, this little fantasy flows dreamlike through Ollie's efforts to keep up with her fast-moving bunny-across water, up trees, or riding on clouds, ever pushed along by the spring wind. VERDICT A suggested general purchase for young readers, this tale speaks to the joy of imagination and enduring care for loved ones.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 4, 2019
In a follow-up to The Little Reindeer, a child called Ollie—dressed in a bunny costume—and her toy rabbit, Bunny, are eager to splash in rain puddles. When a petal tickles Bunny’s nose, he comes to life, leaping from the basket to join a group of wild rabbits. Ollie gives chase—over a pond, into a treehouse, onto a cloud, and (“Whooooosh!”) all the way back home. Killen uses a grayscale palette with springtime yellow and green accents. Periodic die-cuts provide a greater sense of dimension, while occasional comics-style panels offer an episodic quality to the story. Raindrops, splashing water, and blowing petals are rendered in embossed flecks of gold foil, providing light enchantment to this quiet story of a rainy day adventure. Ages 4–8.

July 1, 2019
When a magical breeze brings her stuffed rabbit to life, a bunny-suited girl (The Little Reindeer) sets off on an imaginative outdoor adventure. This quiet, playful story is strengthened by well-composed images. A limited color palette of pale green, yellow, and gray gives the illustrations a distinct early-springtime feel, while gold-foil accents and die-cuts draw attention to the fantastical breeze.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)