Sister vs. Brother

May 11, 2015
A rabbit attempts to follow its dream of becoming a ninja in this quirky testament to friendship and the difficulty of going it alone. Dressed in inky blue ninja gear, the rabbit gamely tackles the instructions in a book entitled How to Be a Super Awesome Ninja, but they prove to be harder than they sound. Olson's (The Good Dog) text sticks to the book's 10 key rules, while her ink-and-watercolor illustrations demonstrate the gulf between the book's mandates and the rabbit's actual skills. The wannabe ninja's attempt to follow the second rule, "You must be super sneaky," falls through when it steps on a rake while raiding a garden's carrots, and it doesn't exactly "achieve invisibility" with its ears sticking out from behind a bush. Rule 10 ("A super awesome ninja must battle anyone anywhere anytime alone") and an encounter with a humongous bear have the bunny rethinking the guidebook's advice; luckily, its "super awesome friends" help save the day. Sweetly humorous fun for readers working on their own "hi-yahs." Ages 3â7. Agent: Kerry Sparks, Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency.

July 1, 2016
You never know when an extra ninja will come in handy.Having completed some serious (but hilarious) ninja training and defeated a large bear (Ninja Bunny, 2015), the lightning-fast Ninja Bunny is back. He's a child-shaped rabbit in a blue suit and mask; his pals are pale beige like him, though they don't wear suits. But there's somebody new here: a smaller, red-ninja-suited figure also claiming the title--and the skills--of Ninja Bunny. Blue ninja, exasperated, hollers, "MOMMMMM!!!!" and from offpage, in a speech bubble, comes a decidedly non-ninjalike instruction: "Play with your sister, dear." He claims that "she's too little to jump high," but vignettes, panels, and full spreads show her jumping and kicking with enthusiasm and prowess. She needs to run to keep up, but she can balance upside-down on her frustrated brother's head with one hand: she's plenty stretchy and strong. Olson's ink-and-watercolor illustrations zip and zoom with mobile postures, leaps, and expressive eyebrows. Defying gravity, bunnies even kick and flip while aloft and moving uphill. When the ninja mission calls for stealing the Golden Carrot of Awesomeness (grown by Farmer McGregor, in a wink to Beatrix Potter), which is protected by seemingly impenetrable vines, only the smallest ninja can solve the quandary and execute the task--earning delighted respect from her big brother. Funny and full of motion. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Ninja Bunny is back, this time beleaguered by his tagalong little sister in red ninja garb. Mother tells him to let his sister play as well, but Ninja Bunny and his friends decree that her size prevents her from joining them. The male quartet spy an enormous carrot in a farmer's field, but "insurmountable vines of protection" defy pulls, chops, and a ninja bomb. Meanwhile, little sister creeps under the fortress and rolls the carrot over the NO BUNNIES sign and out to the chomp-happy rabbits, who declare that she can be a super awesome ninja. Luckily, her brother agrees and dispenses a hug. Olson's ink and watercolor cartoons bounce across the pages with brilliant colors and movement. Hilarious postures and expressions add to the story's success. VERDICT Another hit for Olson and a treat both for younger siblings and ninja fans everywhere.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

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