Bunny Slopes

A bunny asks readers to help manipulate the book so it can hit the slopes.Before one can ski, one needs snow. Readers must shake the book--no, harder--to make the flakes fall, then tap the top to level out the mound that's fallen on the white bunny with its red scarf and black skis. Children can guess what's coming: a tilt so the rabbit can ski. But this bunny doesn't want a bunny slope--tilt it more! It's skiing all right, until the cliff that lines up perfectly with the gutter sends it sprawling. Turning the book 180 degrees catches it in a tree, and another 180-degree turn puts it back on the ground and ready for another try at that cliff. It masters that and manages to jump the first die-cut hole, but while it's gloating, it misses the second and falls into...its den, where mom is waiting with some hot chocolate (and some for readers, too). Metabooks are all the rage, and to really stand out on this increasingly crowded shelf, authors must up the game of the master, Herve Tullet of Press Here (2011) fame, though even Tullet has had some duds in this arena. Rueda's tale doesn't quite measure up, though her bunny is adorably expressive, her scenes are simple and easy-to-read, and that gutter-cliff is a masterstroke of design. Young readers who are learning to ski may enjoy this bunny slope; others, head for a black diamond. (Picture book. 3-5) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Cute cartoon Bunny is ready to hit the bunny slopes. Skis on and red scarf knotted, Bunny needs help from his readers to complete his adventure. Large, conversational text greets readers and asks them to join in the fun. First, they are asked to "shake" the book to produce snow and then "tap tap tap" the book to pack it down, followed by "tilt," "turn," "jump," and so forth. The action words are in red, matching Bunny's jaunty red scarf on the opposite pages. Eventually, Bunny skis into a hole (an actual die-cut hole through three pages of the book) and falls. His mom then greets Bunny with a warm bowl of food and takes him to their den to rest. Only two colors, light blue and bright red, are used, with charcoal lines against a white backdrop. The premise is simple, skiing down a slope, but it is the interaction between the book and readers that makes for a special experience. If the title is read with a small audience, each action could be played out for interactive fun. VERDICT Rueda scores another win with this adorable offering that's perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

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