Little bunny, big germs

In this simple rhyming fable, Wells offers the cautionary tale of P.J. Finnegan Bunny, a five-and-a-half-year-old gray rabbit who abhors handwashing. When the young bunny catches a cold, fails to wash his hands, leaves tissues around, and sneezes without covering his face, he's sent home from school, and his mother nurses him back to health. Once back, the class is chastened into good hygiene habits: "Among other issues,/ we'll pick up our tissues!/ Twenty seconds of hand washing, please." Wells's signature anthropomorphic bunnies are featured in full dress, learning to help keep their community healthy, but "wiggling, squiggling" germs, portrayed in intricate close-ups, remain largely unexplained. An approachable, basic conversation starter on hygiene for the youngest readers. Back matter includes "Hygiene for Everybunny." Ages 2--6. (Mar.)

A simple story for the preschool and Kindergarten set explores the world of germs and hygiene. On his way to school, P.J., a 5 1/2-year-old bunny, begins to come down with a case of the sniffles. Because he is allergic to water and hates washing his hands, he opts not to do so after blowing his nose in the bathroom at school. When he sneezes so forcefully that he's blown out of his chair, he is sent home, where his mother lovingly nurses him. Feeling better the next day, he returns to school, where he discovers that his classmates have been clued in on hygiene protocols to prevent cold germs from spreading. P.J. learns that he must cover his mouth when coughing or sneezing, properly dispose of dirty tissues, and wash his hands. The watercolor-and--graphic marker illustrations include colorful depictions of microscopic germs and the word germs appears in the text, but exactly what germs are and how a sick person can spread them is never really explained. All characters are anthropomorphic bunnies with the same coloring and markings. A useful discussion starter, but most youngsters will need adult help to understand some vocabulary and ideas. (hygiene tips list) (Picture book. 1-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.