Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide!

December 18, 2006
Fleming and Karas bring back the three bunnies that made Mr. McGreely's life so difficult in Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
This time it's winter, and "those wily twitchwhiskers" are seeking warm shelter. "Oh, no," says Mr. McGreely. "I shared my carrots with you, but I'm not
sharing my house. Now, hop off, scram, shoo!" Famous last words: despite the man's best efforts to seal up his house (echoing the elaborate defense system he concocted in the original book), the bunnies find a host of ways to gain entry ("Tippy-tippy-tippy, hide!" becomes their refrain). Even more irritating, they always escape by morning—but not before leaving evidence behind (Mr. McGreely wakes up one morning and "instead of his teddy bear next to him, all he found was... bunny drops!"). Karas's freewheeling drawing style deftly keeps the story off-balance and captures Mr. McGreely's descent into comic madness. At the same time, the illustrator evokes the chill and darkness of winter. But as in its predecessor, the real fun is in the text, with its liberal use of onomatopoeia and infectious, percussive prose. Ages 4-8.

January 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 3-This follow-up to Fleming and Karas's "Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" (S & S, 2002) shares many of that title's fine qualities: lighthearted conflict, lively language, and those mischievous, childlike bunnies. With winter coming, Mr. McGreely snuggles up with a good book, but "Knocka-knocka-knocka!," three little rabbits come begging at his door. Since he won't let them in, they sneak in through the mail slot ("Tippy-tippy-tippy, hide!"). Each successive night, as the snow falls and the wind howls, the "pesky pufftails" find a new way to enter. Each morning, the man discovers evidence of their trespassing-footprints on a chair, nose smudges in his tub, even "bunny drops" on his pillow! Yet, despite his ever-expanding search, which is captured in cumulative verses ("over and under, /above and below, /here and there, /high and low"), he cannot find the critters. Sealing up his home with boards and bricks, he triumphantly waits out the season in peace. When spring arrives, it's the bunnies who have the last laugh: they're outside munching flowers while Mr. McGreely is trapped indoors. Done in gouache, acrylic, and loose pencil lines, the folksy artwork is full of changing perspectives and charming detail, and captures all of the action with warmth and humor. Perfect for winter read-alouds, this sassy sequel will please fans of the first book."Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2006
In this follow-up to the well-received " Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! "(2002), Fleming continues her farcical tale of man against rabbits. Once again, a trio of "pesky pufftails" disturbs Mr. McGreely. This time, they are intent on sneaking into his cozy home for winter. After finding rabbit fur in his breakfast and on his favorite chair, Mr. McGreely tries everything to keep the bunnies out. He nails up his mail slot and windows, covers his chimney, and finally, after waking up to a pile of droppings on his pillow, bricks in his doors. Barricaded, he settles in for the winter, but when spring comes, he discovers his error: he is blocked in, while bunnies frolic on his warm, green lawn. A few references to" Muncha!" may lose kids who don't know the first title, and this story isn't as strong and cohesive as the original. Still, Karas' amusing paint-and-pencil illustrations make the most of the slapstick, and the irresistible rhyme and onomatopoeia ("Tippy-tippy-tippy, wiggle, through the mail slot. Tippy-jiggle.") will read-aloud well to a rowdy crowd.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)