When the World Is Full of Friends

February 1, 2018

Toddler-PreS-The rabbit family from When the World Is Ready for Bed and When the World Was Waiting for You are back in this book about friendship. The four bunny siblings love to play. Albert loves to run and jump, Tom likes playing pretend, and "Flossie was a great inventor." Of course, the baby just likes lying around. One day, they realize they need to make new friends to play with. Luckily, a family of squirrels has just moved in across the stream. The rabbits and squirrels are all too small to cross the stream though, so the rabbits quickly come up with a plan to meet their new buddies. The pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations are soothing and set the perfect atmosphere for this calm book. VERDICT This engaging story will be enjoyed in one-on-one readings or in a preschool storytime about solving problems. While there is nothing groundbreaking here, this is a sweet addition for most early childhood collections.-Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
A rabbit family and a squirrel family want to be friends, but a stream separates the two.The hopalongs introduced in Shields and Currey's previous works (When the World Was Waiting for You, 2011, etc.) are growing up. Siblings Albert, Tom, and Flossie love to play (baby Pipkin does too, but mostly just with his toes). The members of this sweet rabbit family enjoy one another's company, but sometimes they long for friends to play with too. When a scurry of squirrels moves in next door, it seems the perfect solution. But their house is on the other side of the wide stream. How will the young rabbits get across? Luckily, each rabbit has a particular strength to their personality that helps them in their journey. They brainstorm, try possibilities, and, most importantly, make new friends. The young rabbits' determination and grit shine through. "When the world / is ready to play, / Friends are near / if you find a way...." Currey's expansive watercolor scenes are filled with playful pops of colors and patterns found in the rabbits' toys and wardrobe. The anthropomorphization and bucolic setting recall Beatrix Potter; like hers, these rabbits are a near-perfect blend of rabbit and human.A charming story of perseverance that's rooted in simplicity and nostalgia. (Picture book. 3-6)

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