Bunny's Book Club Goes to School

June 1, 2019
Bunny goes to school to accompany his book buddy from the library. Now that Bunny and his friends have library cards (Bunny's Book Club, 2017), they meet every Saturday to enjoy all that the library has to offer: audiobooks, the computer, arts and crafts, puzzles, and, of course, books. For Bunny, Saturdays mean spending time with his new book buddy, Josie, who recommends and helps him read new books. But one fall day, Josie isn't herself. She's worried about making friends in her new school. Bunny's solution? Why, to be her friend at school, of course. Monday's parade to school grows and grows until all nine animal book-club friends are at the school searching for Josie...and then, one by one, the animals are distracted by all the new places and interesting things going on: basketball, a computer room, the science lab. Only Bunny is left to find Josie. And then he enters the library. Will he remember his goal? Friendship wins out in the end, and everyone finishes the school day with new pals. Mai-Wyss' animals are endearing and full of curiosity, kindness, and caring. Josie and the librarian have brown skin and Afro-textured hair; the schoolchildren are diverse. Silvestro and Mai-Wyss make plain the joys of intellectual curiosity and exploration, and their message is clear: Libraries and schools are wonderful places to learn, grow, and seek your joy. (Picture book. 4-8)

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June 24, 2019
In this sequel, the bibliophile star of Bunny’s Book Club and his animal pals follow their human friend Josie to school, hoping to calm her first-day jitters. But the girl beats them to the door and has disappeared by the time the critters enter the building. Bunny is determined to track her down, but his companions get distracted: Squirrel opts to hang from the gym’s basketball net, Bird heads to music class, and Bear and Mouse chow down in the cafeteria. Bunny, to his delight, finds the school library, and through a window spots Josie at recess, precipitating a joyous playground reunion. Jam-packed with comedic details (art supplies get stuck in Porcupine’s quills; Frog demonstrates his jumping-rope prowess), Mai-Wyss’s busy pictures heighten the geniality of this celebration of friendship and school. Ages 3–7.

August 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-Bunny's book club has a new member, a child named Josie, who likes to recommend books to the club members and help Bunny with hard words. Josie will be starting a new school and is nervous that she won't be able to make any friends. Bunny decides that since he is Josie's friend, he should also go to school. On the way, the rest of Bunny's book club members join him. While trying to find Josie at school, each of the animals peels off to explore their favorite activities (computers, gymnasium, science lab) one by one. When they finally meet back together and find Josie, she has already made some new friends, and so have they. The detailed illustrations provide a great deal of information for young readers to pore over. While perhaps not quite as cozy as its ode-to-libraries predecessor, this title will still charm young audiences. VERDICT A comforting choice for readers nervously anticipating their own first day of school or who are worried about making new friends. Recommended for general purchase.-Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
Preschool-G Bunny and his friends, eight amiable woodland animals, are at the library when Bunny learns that Josie, a little girl who is reads with him, will be starting school. After she confides that she's worried about making friends there, he decides to go too. After all, he's already her friend. As he walks through the woods toward school that first morning, the other animals join him, one by one. They explore the building, searching for Josie, but they're easily distracted: Bear and Mouse by the lunchroom, Bird by the music room, etc. Finally they all join Josie on the playground, where the animals and children play happily together. In this appealing story, Silvestro offers a new twist on the familiar first-day jitters theme by switching from the child's perspective to the outsiders' point of view. In fact, most of the story involves the animals joyfully discovering the wonders to be found in school: A basketball court! Microscopes! Lunch! Colorful illustrations set a buoyant tone for this endearing sequel to Bunny's Book Club (2017).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)