9. Let's Dance (Ballet Bunnies #2)

Let's Dance (Ballet Bunnies #2) Swapna Reddy. Illustrated by Binny Talib. 2021. 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Miss Luisa's School of Dance was surprisingly noisy when Millie turned up for her ballet lesson.

Premise/plot: Millie has kept up with her dance lessons despite the unfriendly welcome and the bullying. Those bunnies must be super-super cute to make up for it! In this second adventure, the school is preparing for a recital (or show). Amber the bully is sure that Millie who is absolutely new to dancing and hardly has any skills will 'ruin' the show. She is determined to find a way to keep Millie from the stage...but with a little help from the bunnies...things may be set right before the 'curtains open.'

My thoughts: I do have to say I was wrong. My first impression is that the school only had one class. I do think there are more classes and that they are determined solely and exclusively by age. Millie's class will be the 'spring fairies' carrying water-pots.

The bunnies are still super-super cute. Millie is becoming quite chummy with a classmate, Samira. And even better friends with the four bunnies.

I think for the target audience--young girls in lower elementary school--this one is cute enough and has plenty of appeal.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

8. Ballet Bunnies #1 The New Class

The New Class (Ballet Bunnies #1) Swapna Reddy. Illustrated by Binny Talib. 2021. 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Millie had been dreaming of going to Miss Luisa's School of Dance for months now. So on her sixth birthday, when Mom surprised her with ballet lessons as a gift, she screamed so loudly with joy that she woke up the neighbor's dog.

Premise/plot: Millie loves, loves, loves the idea of learning ballet. But when she starts her lessons, she finds it disappointing and frustrating. She is the ONLY ONE in her class that is a brand-new beginner to ballet. Every other person in the class has been dancing ballet for years--or years and years and years--as the case may be. How can she be anything other than discouraged when she's so very far behind and out of her league. It doesn't help that a few of the students are less than thrilled that someone with no skills/few skills is now in their class and being partnered with them. Of course, one of the girls is just a BULLY pure and simple to anyone and everyone.

What makes Millie consider sticking with ballet is her discovery of the BALLET BUNNIES. Dolly, Fifi, Pod, and Trixie are BUNNIES that live at the dance studio. They help Millie out by a) being her friend b) encouraging her to stick with it and c) teaching her some ballet.

My thoughts: This is the first in a new series. I thought the bunnies were all kinds of adorable. I'm sure the idea of BUNNIES in tutus will add to the appeal. The book screams out read me, read me, read me with a certain audience. (The only thing that might add to the appeal is if there were unicorns too.)

I find it odd that Miss Luisa's School of Dance only has one ballet class and that ALL students regardless of their skills, abilities, and age would be thrown together in one class with one teacher. That hardly seems fair to any of the students. It would surely prove frustrating to the teacher and to all the students as well.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit. A Book of Changing Seasons. Il Sung Na. 2011. Random House. 24 pages.

When snow falls to the ground and all the trees are bare, everyone knows it's winter...including the rabbit.
Some fly away from the cold.
Some have a long cozy sleep where they live.
Some swim to warmer waters.

Readers learn about winter in Il Sung Na's newest picture book, Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit. Young readers can follow this bunny through the changing of several seasons--though this journey isn't always completely realistic. (A rabbit catching a ride on a sea turtle?!) Our rabbit friend can be spotted on each spread of the picture book. Readers learn about how different animals prefer for winter and the changes that season brings. For example, they learn that some animals hibernate, some migrate, some gather extra food, etc.

I believe this is Il Sung Na's third picture book. Other titles include A Book of Sleep and The Thingamabob.

I didn't love this one. I didn't dislike it either. I can say that it avoids the mistake of being too cute or too precious. I think the illustrations--if you care for them--might be impressive enough to be memorable.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Guess How Much I Love You All Year Round

Guess How Much I Love You: All Year Round: Four Seasons, Four Stories. Sam McBratney. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. 2010. Candlewick. 72 pages.

Guess How Much I Love You All Year Round collects four previously published stories: Let's Play in the Snow, When I'm Big, Colors Everywhere, and A Surprise for the Nutbrown Hares.

Each story stars--of course--Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare. Each story is set in a different season: spring, summer, autumn, winter. Each story focuses on learning, growing, and being a part of the world around them. There's a focus on nature, for example, that just feels right. Like the original story, these stories are a bit wordy--very dialogue heavy. But, for the most part, I enjoyed this one. In some ways, I liked these stories more than the original.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You. Sam McBratney. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. 1994. Candlewick Press. 32 pages.

Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening. "Guess how much I love you," he said. "Oh, I don't think I could guess that," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "This much," said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go. Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. "But I love you this much," he said.

 Are you familiar with Guess How Much I Love You? Are you one of its many fans? I liked this one. I found it sweet and sentimental. If you're looking for a loving, affectionate parent-child relationship--within a picture book--it doesn't get much better than this. The dialogue between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare--while repetitive--is undeniably sweet and loving.

But. While I liked this one. I don't feel that it is the best book ever. Or the most perfect picture book of all time. I liked it. I think it would be a good fit for most home libraries. And it's a sweet, gentle book that would be nice for bedtime. But. It's not one that I would want to again-again forever and ever.

It's available as a picture book and a board book. Don't forget the book-and-toy gift set and the baby book.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Ribbit Rabbit

Ribbit Rabbit. Candace Ryan. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. 2011. February 2011. Walker. 32 pages.


Frog and Bunny are best friends.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Rabbit Ribbit.
They go swimming together.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Dip it, Dab it.
They fight monsters together.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Zip it, Zap it.

I liked this one. I really liked this one. It's a playful look at friendship. At what it means to be a friend when you're young--how difficult it can be to get along, but how very important it is that you do! Frog and Bunny are the stars of this picture book. They are best friends. But their friendship is tested--at times--sometimes by little fights, sometimes by big fights. But their friendship is worth it, isn't it?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Bedtime Bunnies

Bedtime Bunnies. Wendy Watson. 2010. Clarion Books. 32 pages. 

Bedtime, Bunnies!
Skip
Scamper
Scurry
Hop
Chomp
Munch
Gobble
Crunch
Sip
Slurp
Guzzle
Gulp

Bedtime, Bunnies is a simple bedtime book. Using few words--though the words are fun, playful, action-oriented--this bedtime story is conveyed through words and pictures. A story of five bunnies going to bed. We see their nightly routine--everything from bathing and brushing teeth to putting on pajamas and listening to their parents read stories. It's sweet; it's simple. I really enjoyed this one!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

When the World is Ready for Bed

When the World is Ready for Bed. Gillian Shields. Illustrated by Anna Currey. 2009. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

When the world
Is ready for bed,
The sky grows dark,
The sun glows red.

The little flowers
Shut their eyes,
The night birds sing
Their lullabies.

Supper's ready
In the pot--
Come and eat it
While it's hot.

When the World Is Ready for Bed is a sweet, gentle bedtime book. It's written in rhyme. (But the rhymes are nicely done.) It makes for a rhythmic read aloud, it flows easily. In the book, readers meet a family of bunnies. Cute, adorable bunnies who are getting ready to go to bed. What's involved in their nightly routine? The usual. Taking a bath. Brushing teeth. Putting on pajamas. And the all-important bedtime story!

It's a sweet book, a cute book. It may not appeal to every reader. But I liked it.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers