Review by Booklist Review
A young, sweet-natured brown bear doesn't quite fit in with his fellows. Rather than catching fish or eating meat, he prefers to hop and nibble strawberries. In his mind, this makes him more than a bear, not less of one; it makes him a Bunnybear. One day he sneaks away from home and follows a rabbit to its burrow. Oh, the joy of seeing a warren of fluffy, nose-wiggling bunnies! This elation is short-lived when an elderly rabbit tells Bunnybear that he doesn't belong in their burrow. Dejected, he withdraws only to be met by a fearsome Grizzlybun yep, a grizzly in bunny form and the two immediately recognize each other as kindred spirits. While there are many stories of mixed-up animals, this offers an assuring message of individuality: You just look one way on the outside and feel another way on the inside. That's okay, Bunnybear tells Grizzlybun. Saldaña's illustrations employ a forest of vivid greens and browns rendered in a folk-art style, supporting the story's humor and emotions tied to confidently being oneself.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a story about sticking to what you know to be true, even if it goes against social norms, debut author Loney introduces a bear who feels most like himself when he's doing the sorts of things that bunnies do: "He loved to bounce through the forest, wiggle his nose, and nibble on strawberries. It made him feel free and light and happy." Bunnybear's fellow bears don't understand him, nor do a warren of bunnies-except for one named Grizzlybun, who declares herself a bear. "I'm burly and loud and I eat whatever I want," she tells Bunnybear, who responds, "That certainly sounds like a bear to me." Working in what looks like a combination of painting and digital techniques, newcomer Saldaña creates an appealing cast of wild animals and an equally inviting woodland landscape, and she doesn't ignore the humorousness of a bear who prefers hopping to stomping or a bunny whose inner ferociousness outstrips her small size. But despite the lighthearted tone, Loney's story has important things to say about identity and acceptance, and is valuable both as entertainment and a conversation-starter. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
Loney touches on identity and an outsider's emotions in this moving story about a bear who feels like a bunny but isn't accepted by either species. Life improves when Bunnybear befriends Grizzlybun, a rabbit who identifies as a bear; the other animals (rather abruptly) come around at a book's-end party. Pleasing, earth-toned illustrations feature simple animal shapes and varied textures. (c) Copyright 2018. 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.
