Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-In this rhyming story, Lavinia, a badger, loves her garden. Tending it with care, she is upset when she discovers that someone has eaten her vegetables during the night. She sets a trap for the culprit and catches the white bunny who is responsible for the theft. Reminiscent of the Aesop fable "The Lion and the Mouse," the culprit begs to be released and tells Lavinia that he will reward her if he's let go. The adorably illustrated bunny band shows up in the garden and the music has an amazing effect on the crops. Due to the bunny serenade, the vegetables grow extraordinarily large. "The onions were huge, like moose. Zucchinis, far from weeny, were the size of a caboose." Lavinia is happy, the band plays, and everyone shares the enormous vegetables at the Autumn Harvest Fair. VERDICT This fun rhyming text is a great read-aloud choice that can connect to various content areas.-Susan Small, Salve Regina University Library, Newport, RI © Copyright 2018. 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
When Lavinia the badger catches a rabbit stealing vegetables from her garden, the rabbit begs for mercy, promising to help with the gardening. Each night bunnies with musical instruments appear and play magical music. Lavinia shares the bountiful harvest, and a friendship is cemented. The rhyming text and gentle, full-bleed illustrations (in ink, watercolor, and colored pencil) reflect the enchantment of a night garden. (c) Copyright 2019. 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
After Lavinia the badger snares and releases a veggie-stealing bunny in her garden, the thief promises to return with a musical band to help her garden grow.The bunnies do arrive, "by the dozen, by the score / cream and tan and black and brown, / and more and more and more." They play all sorts of instrumentsBikadoroff depicts everything from banjos to bongos, pan pipes to a xylophone. The music is magical indeed. "Their serenade, enchanted, made / her onions huge, like moose. / Zucchinis, far from weeny, / were the size of a caboose." Just two nights of music-making seem to produce the gigantic yields, as a page turn later, Lavinia's veggies capture the ribbons at the "autumn harvest fair." Lavinia whips up a splendid feast to thank the bunnies, who promise to return again to jam next spring. Richardson's rhymes scan reasonably well, propelling the tale along. Bikadoroff's pleasant watercolors winsomely depict Lavinia's woodland garden, cozy tree-hollow home, and prizewinning produce, providing plenty of small details for children to study.Singsong-y and sweet. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.