This is a dog book, and bunny wants to be in it!
To get into this dog book, a bunny tries to prove to some skeptical dogs that he's one of them. Does he like to run and catch a ball? Of course. Can he use his puppy-dog eyes to get out of trouble? Absolutely. Does he smell dog doo-doos? Umm... The bunny does his best to demonstrate his dog credentials. But, of course, a bunny is a bunny, not a dog. Only, does it have to matter?
This bunny is a real snuggle puppy!
April 15, 2021
What is a bunny doing in a dog book? The answer, according to the rabbit in question, is that it is really a dog. The dogs in the book are skeptical, and they proceed to put the bunny through a series of tests to prove, once and for all, just what kind of creature it is. The bunny--who brings a box of dog biscuits along just to set the right tone--proceeds to prove that it loves to play and wag its tail. Additionally, it uses its huge, cute eyes to get out of trouble. For a minute, the question of whether or not the bunny is willing to smell dog poop appears to be a deciding factor. Luckily for the bunny, the dogs eventually agree that the most important criterion for inclusion in a dog book is being a good friend. When the bunny promises that it knows the importance of friendship, the dogs welcome the bunny into the book--but what about a friendly cow...? This humorous book has sparkling moments of cleverness and wit. The simple red, black, and white inked illustrations are textured and dynamic, gesturing at dogness rather than replicating it exactly, and each picture shimmers with movement. The book's twist ending is both funny and unexpected. Unfortunately, the resolution of the conflict feels trite, and many of the jokes are more silly than truly funny. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.3-by-16.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 28.8% of actual size.) Overall, a sweet, gentle picture book about friendship and belonging. (Picture book. 3-5)
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