Book Buzz: The Little Rabbit
The Little Rabbit
Written and illustrated by Nicola Killen
Ages 3-6, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Ollie and her toy bunny wanted to play outside for so long, but the rain kept coming down. They couldn’t wait for the weather to clear up. When it finally does, they’re out the door ready to splash in all the puddles.
When a gust of wind sends flower petals flying, there’s a change. The rabbit comes to life and runs away with a rowdy group of other rabbits! Ollie runs after them, but can’t catch up. The rabbit gets away.
Ollie doesn’t give up, though and keeps searching for her bunny. She doesn’t notice the storm clouds gathering. Soon, Ollie spots the rabbit in a dangerous situation during the storm. With her umbrella ready, Ollie saves the day. Ollie and her rabbit are reunited. But another problem has arisen. With all this chasing about, they’ve become lost. It’s bunny’s turn to help out. The magical ending will delight children as they read on.
Killen’s stylized limited color ink wash illustrations are charming and calming. Even the dramatic storm scenes reveal light tension without appearing too dangerous. The characters are rendered in quiet tones that convey the emotions of the scene without appearing to be too scary, just right for the very young.
The Little Rabbit is a wonderful book to read during spring’s rainy days when kids can’t go outside to play. With a little imagination, a creative child just may see one of their animal plush toy’s nose twitch. A sure sign that the toy just may be ready to bolt.
