Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3^-7. Five baby rabbits get their first chance to explore the inviting world outside their nest. They follow their mother onto the grass, taste clover, and meet grasshoppers and bees. Their adventure is cut short by a rain shower, and since "a rabbit's fur is not waterproof," the mother hustles her little ones back under the hedge, where they watch the rain with interest and share their shelter with other wild creatures. Arnosky eschews the cutsey (it's "baby rabbits," never "bunnies") for the rich beauty of rain and new baby rabbits and, as always, gives young readers a nature adventure that is simple, satisfying, and utterly straightforward. --Susan Dove Lempke
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1In Arnosky's shimmering world, five bunnies emerge from their nest under the hedge for the very first time. Romping in the sun-drenched fields, meeting grasshoppers, spiders, and bees, the baby rabbits' curiosity is evident even as they stick close to their mother. A sudden storm causes them to hurry back and huddle inside their shelter, where other animals join them as they watch honeybees fly between the raindrops. Then the rain stops and the six reemerge to "play rabbit tag in the sun." The simple text carries readers along rhythmically and naturally as the day unfolds. Drawn from the animals' perspective, the glowing illustrations are precise in their depiction of the wildlife; the bright, vibrant watercolors flow from hot yellows and luminescent greens to the muted blues of rain. Each double-page spread draws readers into this fulfilling microcosmic view of the natural world. Perfect for story-time or lap-time reading, this book will give children a feeling of security and contentment.Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A mother rabbit introduces her offspring to the world outside their nest. When it begins to rain, she hurries them back beneath the hedge where they watch the downpour, soon accompanied by other assorted creatures. The watercolors take a bunny-eyed view from the lawn and underbrush and feature six expressive and accurately rendered rabbits. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Arnosky (Nearer Nature, p. 964, etc.) continues his nature observations in this tale of five bunnies who come out to play in the grass with their mother and spot a caterpillar, butterfly, bird, spider, bumblebee, and more small creatures before raindrops chase them back under the hedge. Small rabbits--and other creatures that come in from the rain--appear in appealing green, gold, and brown scenes that will charm young viewers. Children may not understand (or care) that raindrops remain spherical--as depicted in the illustrations--when they fall, but adults will probably question such a literal depiction of a phenomenon that cannot be seen by the human eye. It's an admirable attempt to make nature accessible, but the real story is in the playfulness of the bunnies and the world they inhabit. (Picture book. 3-5)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
