Pete Likes Bunny

July 15, 2016
McCully's newest addition to the I Like to Read series is a fresh take on a common school experience: a first crush. The new kid, Bunny, is introduced to the class, and Pete, a pig, is smitten. His classmates notice and tease him. The surprisingly passive Ms. Pooch shushes the class but doesn't correct their behavior. Pete is sure Bunny won't like him after being embarrassed. Of course, Mom has a solution. Pete and Bunny don't mind the teasing when they realize that it is true: Pete does like Bunny, and the feeling is mutual. The problem is somewhat quickly resolved, but thankfully, McCully resists the temptation to spell out the moral lesson. The situation is clearly described in short three- to six-word sentences. This I Like to Read title uses a few sight words, such as the days of the week, in addition to words that are pretty easy to sound out. All the cartoon animals are dressed in human clothing, and McCully refers to them as "kids." There is a multiplicity of species represented, reflecting the diversity that is becoming the norm in American classrooms. This solid beginning reader in picture-book format offers a sympathetic take on a seldom-discussed situation. (Picture book/early reader. 5-8)

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October 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-This early reader takes place in a classroom where the students and teacher are animals. Mrs. Pooch introduces the class to a new student, Bunny, who is assigned a seat next to Pete, who is a pig. "Pete stares at Bunny. He cannot help it./Bunny is perfect!/He thinks about Bunny all the time." The next day, when Pete sits next to Bunny on the bus, kids taunt him and disrupt the class, saying, "Pete likes Bunny!" Pete's mom encourages him to pick flowers for Bunny, and Bunny gives Pete some homemade cookies. Now when the class sings about Pete liking Bunny, the duo don't mind, "because it's true." The mature theme of a sustained crush brings to mind James Marshall's Fox in Love, which features animal characters in a longer beginning reader format. McCully's text is far simpler, and her watercolor cartoon characters have a lot of charm. VERDICT Even kids who don't necessarily relate to the tender romance will appreciate the straightforward vocabulary, repetition, sight clues, and other elements that build fluency. A solid addition to most collections.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

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October 15, 2016
Preschool-G In this winsome offering for new readers, Pete is hopelessly smitten by Bunny, the new girl in school. He stares at her, dreams about her, and finally takes action: he sits next to her on the bus. When their classmates start chanting Pete likes Bunny, Pete is completely embarrassed and fears Bunny will never like him. His mother suggests a timeless solution: take Bunny flowers. Pete follows through, only to find that Bunny has made him cookies. This establishes them as a couple, and when the other kids take up their Bunny likes Pete, Pete likes Bunny refrain, the two don't mindbecause it's true. The simple illustrations align delightfully with the oversize text. Pete, our protagonist, is a pig, and Bunny is, well, a bunny. Other classmates include sheep, cats, dogs, and a mouse. Facial expressions and body language reflect a typical elementary-school social scene, adding humor and reinforcing the book's gentle message about doing your own thing. This will encourage new readers and be fun for storytime.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)