Bunny built

PreS-Gr 1-This title follows the adventures of LaRue, the "handiest bunny in Westmore Oaks." Upon discovery that he's all out of his toolbox carrots, he visits each of his friends-bluebird Stella, turtle Nevil, and squirrel Ivy-to ask about their supply. Each creature has lost its carrots along with Stella's house, Nevil's boat, and Ivy's table, but Ivy does have a large orange "rock" that smells a bit like carrots. Digital paint and collage present first the cartoon images of Ivy's discovery of a large "rock" and introduces Larue by his large ears on the title page, followed by his tools, workbench, tool belt, and safety goggles. Construction vehicles are not left out as he uses them to dig, dump the orange rock in the resulting hole, spread the dirt, and douse it with water. Spreads record the bunny's careful planting and the results of large-motor excavation of a beautifully colored, enormous Carrot. LaRue puts his tools to good use in a thoughtful tribute to his friends as he generously replaces the earlier losses of his neighbors with creative carrot gifts. VERDICT Repetitive phrases, large fonts, and illustrations that reflect text action make this an engaging choice for young readers. A recommended general purchase.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A hardworking bunny is fresh out of carrots, so he ventures out into his community to find some.From the moment readers meet LaRue, it is clear that this bunny is exceptionally well-organized. His tools are hung neatly in order, his work area is spotless, and his safety goggles are perched atop his head, ready to be used when needed. On his search for sustenance, LaRue discovers that many of the animals in his community once had carrots, but they have recently all been lost to a disaster that is alluded to but not explicitly explained. Despite this hardship, the animals all present a pleasant affect. Ivy, a squirrel, even shares with LaRue a mysterious, large orange ball she has recently found. In pictures that accompany a text that doesn't shy away from vocabulary-building words such as "industrious" and "doused," LaRue is shown planting the mystery ball and growing an enormous carrot. Rather than hoard it all to himself, LaRue shares his harvest with his neighbors. The charming illustrations and narrative both provide ample opportunity for young readers and adults to interact by naming what they see, speculating on the characters' feelings, and predicting what might happen next. Children captivated by construction will especially enjoy poring over the illustrations of LaRue's tools and equipment.This perky tale shows that the most enjoyable rewards are those that follow hard work and that true satisfaction comes when we share our good fortune with others. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.