Bunny's Big Surprise

February 1, 2020
A bunny boy finds a large egg to decorate for Easter, with an astonishing revelation when the egg hatches. In his light blue sweater, the charming bunny looks like a distant relative of Peter Rabbit. He is outside by himself, collecting eggs in his Easter basket for painting later. When Bunny finds a single, large egg near the edge of a lake, he unsuccessfully tries to find the creature that laid the egg. He questions a goose, a heron, and an osprey, finally taking the huge egg home to paint as an Easter egg. When the decorated egg hatches, a surprise emerges--a baby alligator, although the little rabbit isn't sure what sort of critter this might be. Bunny returns the baby to the lake where he found the egg, and a page turn reveals a mother alligator with four babies swimming nearby. The lost baby alligator jumps in the lake to rejoin its family, and the mother swims away, carrying the five babies in her mouth. The simple text includes repeated elements and a winning sense of dramatic pacing as the alligator angle of the plot is revealed. Appealing watercolor illustrations strike a satisfying balance between the cuddly bunny and the slightly scary mother alligator with yellow eyes and a mouthful of pointed teeth. A fresh and entertaining take on the bunny-and-Easter egg theme. (Picture book. 3-6)

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February 10, 2020
When Bunny discovers a large egg “at the water’s edge,” he places it into his Easter basket and attempts to reunite it with its parent. But after Goose, Heron, and Osprey all deny ownership of the egg, Bunny takes it home and paints it for Easter, dreaming of holiday chicks hatching—he’s in for a scaly shock when the egg’s inhabitant finally reveals itself. Naturalistic watercolor illustrations set the stage for the expressive Bunny, whose eyebrows and blue sweatshirt set him apart from his unclothed compatriots. A straightforward, rhythmic adventure (“The eyes did not look like the eyes of an Easter chick. The snout did not look like the beak of an Easter chick”) for readers seeking more than fluffy Easter fare. Ages 2–5.