A Bunny for All Seasons

November 25, 2002
With simple prose and spare watercolors, this small-size picture book (in the same format of Schulman and So's Countdown to Spring!) describes the seasonal life cycle of "a little brown bunny rabbit out of the woods and into a garden." Schulman's language is economical and straightforward as she describes the delight the brown bunny takes in the garden's summer strawberries and marvels at the flowers. By winter, the bunny has "found a friend" to snuggle with in the snow, and by spring, they bring three new baby bunnies to the garden. A slinking elderly cat provides a non-scary chase now and then, but in Schulman's gentle world there are no marauding owls, no Mr. McGregor. The emphasis is on peace and tranquility, and the sweet bunny even takes time to smell the flowers. So's enchanting illustrations seem a bit cramped on these petite pages, but the paintings accentuate the glories to be found in each season. Bright-red poppies dot a sea of wildflowers, yellow maple leaves swirl around orange pumpkins, and the dancing rabbits create circular patterns in the white snow. "What a wonderful garden someone has made just for me," thinks the brown bunny, and readers who are just developing an appreciation for nature's beauty will agree. Ages 2-6.

February 1, 2003
PreS-Gr 2-As each season approaches, a brown bunny explores new joys and delights in a garden. Strawberries are a special spring treat and summer brings the wonders of yellow beans. Days shorten and fall arrives, but the bunny still finds tasty radishes and parsnip tops. As her fur grows thicker, she takes to hiding behind the pumpkins, and meets a gray bunny near the toolshed. They immediately bond, playing together and snuggling through the winter, becoming good friends, though their only food is bark from the smallest trees. Then spring arrives again, and the brown bunny shares her crocuses with the gray bunny and their three little bunnies, who wonder if they will ever experience anything as tasty as the spring daffodil and tulip leaves. Their mother assures them that things get better and better. This is a delightful educational story, so simple and subtle, yet effective. The colorful but gentle watercolor illustrations are as lovely as this understated story. A charming picture book to share year-round.-Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2003
PreS-K. A brown bunny eats her way through the seasons in this adorable picture book. One hot summer day, she finds a wonderful garden filled with good things to eat. After having her fill of carrot tops, lettuce, and strawberries, she enjoys the beautiful flowers and marvels at the "wonderful garden someone has made just for me." She visits the garden every day during the summer and into the fall. One beautiful autumn morning she discovers another bunny in the garden. The two snuggle close in their burrow in winter, with only some tree bark to eat, and visit the garden on a snowy, moonlit night to play. Come spring, they return to the garden, bringing their three little babies to feast on all the garden has to offer. Illustrator So's lovely, flowing artwork beautifully captures the changing seasons and the related cycles of nature. A good accompaniment to units on the seasons, weather, or animal behavior.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2003
With each new season, a brown bunny learns to adapt to and appreciate her changing environment. Soft illustrations convey the essence of each season, whether a riot of colorful summer vegetables or a steel blue night sky lit by a cold winter moon. The gentle story captivates with its simplicity and carefully selected details.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)