Too many Carrots by Katy Hudson

Rabbit loves carrots. He loves them so much that his whole burrow is full of carrots, and there's no room for him to sleep there anymore. What will he do? Rabbit has lots of friends, and they keep offering him a place to stay - but every time, Rabbit brings his carrots with him. Now there's no room at anyone's house! Finally, Rabbit finds the solution and realises that sharing with friends is more important than hoarding things. Book Trust

Two of my favourite things to do are 1. Visit a Lifeline Bookfair and 2. Visit with my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything.  She spied this book and knew I was making a collection of picture books for a country Preschool.

I hope the preschool staff linger over the title page double spread - it is filled with fun - Keep Calm and Carrot On; To do eat carrots, plant carrots, collect carrots, eat carrots; and on the bookshelf Carrot Poetry, Carrot Desserts, Carrot Diaries and 'An ode to the Carrot'. And on a different shelf I spied the classic story 'War and Carrot'. 

The story here is a familiar one. Rabbit's house is too crowded - it is filled with carrots. His friends offer to share their homes but each one of these ends in disaster. Rabbit needs to 'learn a lesson' about sharing and friendship. There would be plenty to talk about at the end of this book and then everyone could munch on a carrot!

Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell

Moon Rabbit is a little like the famous story of Town Mouse and Country Mouse. Little Rabbit lives in the city. Her days go well as she enjoys all the sights and sounds and shops of the city but when evening comes she feels a little lonely. One day she goes to the park and hears some sweet music. She falls asleep in the sunshine but when she wakes up it is nighttime. She can still hear the music so she picks up her book and follows the sound. She is surprised to meet another rabbit. A brown rabbit. And he is playing a guitar. The pair quickly form a sweet friendship and enjoy their days together but when Little Rabbit looks back over at the city she feels homesick. The brown rabbit and white rabbit say goodbye and Little Rabbit heads back to the city but there is the promise that one day soon Brown Rabbit will come for a visit. Here is book two!

This story is fairly simple but it is sure to appeal to a preschool aged child. What really stood out of me when I saw it at a recent charity book sale were the scrumptious illustrations. The Kirkus reviewer said exactly the same words:

What really stands out are the gentle black-lined drawings resting comfortably in a patchwork of printed images. Vintage-looking patterns decorate shades, vases, even trees and create an experience as pleasant as tea and a scone. Kirkus

My copy of Moon Rabbit was published in 2011 (paperback edition) so it is long out of print. I love the way the cover has silver varnished letters and the way the moon looks like a patchwork. The cherry blossoms on the cover and end papers give this book a Japanese feel although Natale Russell lives in Dundee Scotland. Natalie Russell is also the illustrator of a series of book by Kobi Yamada - Because I had a teacher; Because of you, Mom; and Because of you, Dad. 

Here are some other books by Natalie Russell.

The Missing Bunny by Holly Webb illustrated by Antonia Woodward

Bookseller blurb: Annie is really excited about her new pet rabbits and can’ t wait to welcome them into the amazing new home her dad has built for them. But when Annie is in a rush to get to school the next morning, she doesn’t check that the door to the hutch is shut properly, and one of the rabbits, Humbug, escapes. Can Annie find Humbug in time to save her from the neighbourhood fox … ?

There is just the right amount of tension and emotion in this story. Annie loves her two bunnies but it isn't really a surprise when one escapes after the hutch is not quite shut properly. Luckily little Humbug does not go to far and luckily Annie is brave enough to check her garden late that night so we can all enjoy the happy ending. 

This book is from the Little Gems series by Barrington Stoke. I love these little books for these reasons:

• The paper is the very best quality - so these books will last a long time in a library
• They have colour illustrations which will appeal to beginning readers
• Barrington Stoke ask top UK authors (and illustrators) to write these simple little stories
• The stories are easy to understand and so well written they are sure to be enjoyed by young readers and by parents too
• Every book contains a bonus puzzle or two - I do enjoy doing these
• The size is perfect - slightly smaller than a regular paperback novel
• There are so many titles in this series you are sure to find one you will enjoy
• These books are perfect for readers aged 6-8
• Here in Australia these books are priced between AUS$11 and AUS$20.

Holly Webb is the author of over 150 books for all ages not just these Little Gems. I am sure you will find some of her books in your school or public library. 

Here are two more titles she has written for the Little Gems series:

You might also look for The Beach Puppy

The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos illustrated by Doug Salati

Use your milkweed: Read this! Kirkus Star review

Butternut is a young rabbit. She lives with her family in a burrow near a meadow and also near a human home. The family of humans regularly fill a garden bird feeder with delicious seeds for the many birds that live in and around the meadow but each morning one bird named Blue bullies the other birds and squirrels and so none can get close to the delicious treats. 

Meanwhile in the burrow each evening the young rabbits take turns as storytellers. I love the names of Butternut's siblings: Lavender, Clover, Thistle, Goosegrass and Baby Sweetcorn are the girls and Kale, Chicory, Watercress and Mallow are the boys. Mum is Nettle and Butternut's grandmother is aptly named Sage because she is the wise elder of their family.

There is a violent scene in the first chapter of this book I would say it is for readers aged 8+. Blue is angry with Mother Firstfledge and so he raids her nest and takes one of her eggs - his actions are truly awful and brutal. After a few more weeks the other eggs - three of them - do hatch and Piper, one of the new young birds, is determined to show forgiveness. Piper loves the way Butternut tells stories and they quickly become firm friends even though this is not usually allowed - friendship between species. 

One evening a young fawn catches her leg in the roof of the burrow. Her name is Winsome and she is badly hurt. Butternut lives her life in fear of 'what if' but Piper convinces her they need to go out late at night and find the hurt fawn and offer their help. Piper is also sure there is a way to help Blue - surely there is a deeper reason why he is such a bully. Oh, and Butternut also has to overcome her fear and take the test that all her siblings have had to do, learning to cross the busy road and avoid being squashed by a car. 

Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of the story and storytelling advice:

"Everyone in Milkweed Meadow still talks about the rescue, and if you stop hopping around like a kit that's found a banana slice, I'll tell you the story."

"Mother encourages strong beginnings. 'Snare them!' ... I suppose that's what a good story does. It digs into your skin like a silver wire and holds you in its grasp."

"Stories matter.  Interesting characters. A thorny conflict. A wood-gnawing climax. Details that let you smell and taste and touch."

"I wanted to say that he had me all wrong. That I was the most fearful and timid rabbit in my colony. That with the way my mind worked, every trunk in the forest would become a wolf, every twig a snake. But saying these things our loud would make them come true. There was a part of me that wanted to imagine that I could be brave. That I could tame my mind's brambles to help the fawn."

"If you ignore the creatures that can make a midnight snack out of you, then the forest at night is an enchanted setting for a story."

"Helping a creature is a good reason to take a risk. Isn't that what so many of our stories tell us to do? To help others?"

Blurb from author page: Apprehensive by nature, Butternut the rabbit believes the warnings she’s heard from her mother and grandmother. Egg-laying birds are inferior species. Deer bring ticks. Coyotes are terrifying predators. Only rabbits have the smarts to practice strategies for survival and to tell stories that entertain and inspire. In Milkweed Meadow, all species do best when they remain focused on their own kind. When the bully of the meadow, a jay named Blue, steals a treasure of her burrow and compels her to scale a trellis to retrieve it, Butternut forms an unlikely friendship with an irrepressible robin nestling, Piper, and later with Winsome, a deer fawn whose leg injury is a blow to her vanity. For the first time, the dangerous and fun adventures the friends have make Butternut question her elders’ teachings—and whether holding on to old prejudices truly makes creatures safer and happier. When the trio discovers creatures in crisis, their compassion is tested: Do they forsake the creatures or attempt the most daring rescue ever to take place in Milkweed Meadow, one that will require the help of multiple species, including the young humans that live in the adjacent house?

Here are some detailed teachers notes. Listen to a five-minute audio sample. This book also contains a map of Milkweed Meadow. 

This enchanting animal adventure is made up of a series of interconnected short stories. In a beautiful narrative voice, and brought to life by Salati’s charming black-and-white illustrations, Butternut describes her own storytelling process. School Library Journal

This chapter book has a relatively rare and welcome level of depth, and the strong narrative voice, ecological awareness, and themes around the value of connection and community will call to many readers. Horn Book

Awards for The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow

• A 2024 Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book
• An ALA Notable Book
• A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Book
• A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2023
• A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2023 with Outstanding Merit
• A 2023 Booklist Editors’ Choice
• On Vermont’s 2024-5 Golden Dome Book Award List

Here is the sequel which was published in 2024:

Companion books:

Cress Watercress

Heartwood Hotel (there are four books in this series)

Appleblossom the Possum

The Legend of Podkin On-Ear

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria

Kirkus relate The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow to this book Toaff's Way which I once have on my to-read list. Sadly there is no ebook version but Amazon do have a new copy for - gasp! AUS$140! I do find it odd that this book didn't really reach us here in Australia - Cynthia Voigt is such a famous author. I talked about this previously here. 

Meet Toaff: a lovable squirrel, and new standout character, searching for a place to call home in this gem of a story by a Newbery Medal-winning author. Toaff is a small squirrel full of big questions. Why must I stay away from the human's house? Why shouldn't I go beyond the pine trees? Why do we fight with the red squirrels across the drive? His sister shrugs--that's just the way things are. His brother bullies--because I said so. And the older squirrels scold--too many questions! Can Toaff really be the only one to wonder why?When a winter storm separates him from his family, Toaff must make his own way in the world. It's a world filled with danger--from foxes and hawks and cats to cars and chainsaws. But also filled with delight--the dizzying scent of apple blossoms, the silvery sound of singing, the joy of leaping so far you're practically flying. Over the course of a year, Toaff will move into (and out of) many different dreys and dens, make some very surprising friends (and a few enemies), and begin to answer his biggest questions--what do I believe and where do I belong?

You can see other books illustrated by Doug Salati here. 

Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar by Emily MacKenzie

 

"Ralfy dreamed about books. In fact he didn't just dream about them ... he wanted to read all the time."

Adults will adore Ralfy's book list with titles such as:

• Around the field in 80 days
• The Secret Vegetable Garden
• The 39 Lettuces
• The Hoppit
• Warren Peas 
• Gone with the Carrots
• The Rabbit, the Fox and the Wardrobe

"He made lists of all the books he had read (and gave them carrot ratings). He made lists of all the books he wanted to read (and placed them in category order). He even made lists of books to recommend to his family and friends."

Now go back and re-read the book title - Wanted!  Yes Ralfy is a book thief. 

"He crept off with comics and cookbooks, dashed away with dictionaries and nabbed novels and pinced poetry."

Did you need a sentence to demonstrate alliteration - surely this one is perfect.

Who is Ralphy robbing?  Young Arthur has tons of books but he notices some favourites are missing. Arthur sets up a surveillance using his camera, notebook, chalk, sticky tape and a torch. He sits up waiting with snacks and his teddy bear for company. Late that night Ralfy arrives he takes yet another book and hops away. Arthur tries to tell adults what has happened but no one believes him especially not the police. 

Luckily for all the book owners though, Ralfy makes a big mistake. Unluckily for Ralfy the next house he tries to rob belongs to PC Puddle - the policeman Arthur had phoned earlier. The police use a lineup of rabbits wearing 'I love books' T-shirts and a conveyor belt of carrots and books to identify the thief. 

Ralfy is found - and he confesses but all Ralfy really wants is lots of books. Arthur (and every reader) has the answer. Ralfy needs a library card!

This book was published in 2015 but it is still available. It would be a good addition to your school library and a fun book to read at the start of the year as you are encouraging your students to use your library, read and borrow often! Here is the website for Emily MacKenzie. She lives in Scotland. Here's a video of Emily reading her book Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar.

MacKenzie’s text is sweetly amusing without being precious, and smart without being over-the-heads of children. Her watercolor and ink illustrations provide a pleasant, cartoon-like background to her story. The pictures perfectly accompany the text on the page without distracting from the plot. When you stop to appreciate the sophisticated ease of MacKenzie’s writing and illustrating style, it is hard to believe this is a debut book. The Children's Book Review

MacKenzie combines story and illustration with brightness, action, and intrigue, keeping the pace moving while endearing this fluffy burglar to readers. Much of the illustrative humor is geared toward older bookworms, with famous titles adapted to long-eared persuasions: Warren Peas, for example, and The Rabbit with the Dandelion Tattoo, ensuring that adults will stay as engaged as little listeners will. This will be a raving favorite for fans of books about books as well as older readers who can appreciate the library humor. Kirkus review

There are three books in this series - the newest one The great library rescue will be published in April, 2024.

Beware! Ralfy Rabbit LOVES books. He loves nothing more than finding a quiet spot and reading. But things aren't so quiet anymore … Rodney, Ralfy's new baby brother, is making sure of that. And when Ralfy discovers a huge bite-mark hole in one of his favourite books, things go from bad to worse. Who could be behind the biting? Ralfy Rabbit is determined to find out!

Help! Ralfy and his little brother Rodney LOVE reading - so when they hear that their local library is closing down, they know they have to do something. According to the librarian, it would take a magic dragon to save the library - so Ralfy, Rodney and their friends set off to find one! Will Ralfy find the magic dragon? Or is there - just maybe - another way to bring the town together and save the library for everyone?

Pookie by Ivy Wallace

Fortune - a mixture of happiness, lettuce and kind words

Pookie sets off on an adventure to find his fortune. He encounters kindness, unkindness, danger, rain, snow and wind but eventually he does find his happy place. 

"This is the story of Pookie, a little white rabbit with soft floppity ears, big blue eyes and the most lovable smile in the world."

"Mother Rabbit said he was more trouble than Wiggletail, Swifflekins, Twinkletoes, Brighteyes, Tomasina, Bobasina and Weeny One put together. This made Pookie sad."

"He hopped out of bed and found his best handkerchief. Then he wrapped up his toothbrush, three acorns and a carrot, a clean vest and his red slippers. He left a note for his mother: Gon to ceek mi 4chune. Luv from Pookie."

"Please ... what does a Fortune look like?"

"A Fortune is ... something different for everyone. For some it is Money, for some it is Health and for some it is Love."

In 1997, when I had newly arrived in my school library my then school Principal asked to borrow a copy of Pookie to read with a group of children because it was her most favourite childhood book. Oddly, I didn't take the time to read Pookie back then but I was quite pleased that we had several books from the series.  Pookie was first published in 1946. 

Fast forward to 2023 and one of the library staff where I volunteer each week is working her way through books with very low or zero borrowing statistics. The library purchased Pookie in 2004 but alas it has never been borrowed even though it is in paperback with an appealing cover (the one at the top of this post). What is the issue here? Do children look inside and feel daunted by the amount of text on each page? Or is this because the little white creature on the front cover is difficult to identify - it this a rabbit or a cat or an imaginary creature? The figure of Pookie, on the cover of the library copy, is quite small. He has his knapsack and red scarf and is navigating a wild wind or storm. The back cover has a clearer image of little Pookie so if a child did flip the book over they would see his little green transparent wings. 

Here is the blurb from the back cover: In Pookie's first adventure, the little rabbit is teased about his tiny wings so he sets out to seek his fortune. After many adventures, Pookie is rescued by Belinda and finds his fortune at last; the love of a true friend. And he discovers a magical secret about his wings!

Ivy Lilian Wallace (1915 - 2006) was a British author/illustrator. She wrote ten books about her character Pookie. The stories were broadcast in Australia in Pookie's Half-Hour and thousands of children attended Pookie rallies. (Wikipedia) Here is the web site for Pookie Productions.

• Pookie (1946)
• Pookie and the Gypsies (1947)
• Pookie Puts the World Right (1949)
• Pookie in Search of a Home (1951)
• Pookie believes in Santa Claus (1953)
• Pookie at the Seaside (1956)
• Pookie's Big Day (1958)
• Pookie and the Swallows (1961)
• Pookie in Wonderland (1963)
• Pookie and his Shop (1966)

So what is my verdict? Should the library keep their copy of the first book from the Pookie series? YES they should. This is a very satisfying adventure story with that all important happy ending. I love that Pookie is a boy "fairy".  I think this book would be delightful to read at bedtime in a family. And as a bonus Pookie has some terrific vocabulary;

• bunny hops and bouncings
• flimsy, filmy wings
• the great dark wood
• music like the tinkling of a million silver bells
• wispier
• slimy weeds clutched at his fur
• trudged
• the moon-cool wood
• Pookie's brave song wavered
• like a wisp of thistledown

I also love all the hustle and bustle of the goblin market: stalls crammed with "golden pumpkins, fancy fruits, nuts for lazy squirrels, and baskets of scarlet and orange berries for the birds. Goblin tailors, wearing tiny leather jackets made from bats' wings, were stitching away at scented flower petals making filmy fairy frocks."

And all the references to honey - honey pies, honey tea, honeysuckle sandwiches (and buttercup biscuits with strawberry jam).

And the final sentence: "But by dawn he was always safely back in Belinda's basket, fast asleep, before waking up to another day of lettuces and love"

Belinda thinks Pookie's heart is broken which feels a little like classic story of The Velveteen Rabbit and the scene when he steals a lettuce leaf is surely a reference to Peter Rabbit. The illustration style is also reminiscent of other classic fairy illustrators - Shirley Barber and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. The other obvious connection is with the Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. 

Take a look at this Guardian article where the author takes an even deeper look at Pookie. 

The Beasts of Grimheart by Kieran Larwood illustrated by David Wyatt

When I saw this book, number 3, from the Five Realms series in a brand new book shop here in Sydney (Three Sparrows) I was excited to buy it. I adored The Legend of Podkin one ear when I read it in 2018 and a short time later I read the second book - The Gift of Dark Hollow.  

All through this third book I kept hoping this would be the final book in the series. Of course it cannot be the final instalment because there are Five Realms and twelve gifts of the Goddess. Today I finished The Beasts of Grimheart which ends with a huge battle and then I dared to look and see if there are more books. Yes there are - here is a list and I just read that there will eventually be nine books in total. Oddly though Kirkus (this review does contain a spoiler) also thought this book was the final one. 

Here's the list so far:

• The Legend of Podkin One-Ear (2016)
• The Gift of Dark Hollow (2017)
• The Beasts of Grimheart (2018)
• Uki and the Outcasts (2019)
• Uki and the Swamp Spirit (2020)
• Uki and the Ghostburrow (2021)
• Podkin and the Singing Spear (2023)

I had not looked at the back of The Beasts of Grimheart prior to reading The Beasts of Grimheart and so I was pleased to discover Kieran Larwood has provided readers with a character list and a list of the twelve gifts.  I do wish I had seen the character list before I read The Beasts of Grimheart because it is now five years since I read the first book and I have really lost track of many of the important but more minor characters.

In this third book, the Grom have made a huge machine and it is destroying the forest which is home to all the different groups of rabbits. 

"At the front of their line, half hidden by the forest itself, were ten contraptions built from the same rusted, jagged iron as the Gorm's armour. Like some kind of hellish insects, they had an array of blades, spinning teeth and crushing jaws at the front. At the back they had a massive wheel, taller than five rabbits, which spun steadily round powering the cutting equipment before them. ... The blades torn through trunks and roots, iron mandibles crushed and chomped branches into pieces, and teeth crunched wood into splinters. ... the devastation was awful."

Podkin along with his sister Paz and little brother Pook have been collecting the gifts of the goddess. Even though they are children it seems that their destiny is to defeat Scramashank the Gorm Lord and thus stop the terrible destruction of their precious forest. Of course this is not going to be easy. There will be battles, the constant threat of danger, betrayal by someone who they thought was a friend, and sadly the death of a loved member of the Dark Hollow Warren. 

As with the first instalment this book has a parallel story where the bard is actually telling the tale. I won't spoil this but the identity of the bard is sure to both surprise and delight you. Meanwhile, though, the bard has to really tell the best story of his life because if he doesn't do this the bonedancers will take his life.

"We wish to hear this story that has earned you a contract on your life. You will tell it to use as exactly as you told it to the Golden Brook rabbits. We will judge whether it is offensive enough for you to die, and it the Goddess Nixha demands it, then die you shall."

And there is an extra threat:

'Bonedancers have to kill something every day ... it's part of their tradition. They carry pouches of bugs around with them, so it doesn't always have to be a rabbit.'

Bookseller blurb: The bard is captured by the bonedancers and taken to their temple where he has to retell the tale that earned him a contract on his life. The story of Podkin continues . . . The Gorm have started to attack the forest, trying to flush out the Darkhollow rabbits. Podkin and the others leave for Sparrowfast warren, on the other side of the forest, to ask his uncle for help and for the use of his magic bow (one of the 12 Gifts). As they make their way through the forest, Vetch turns traitor and tries to seize the Gifts Podkin and Paz own for his masters, the Gorm. The young rabbits flee into the forest depths, where they discover a lost tribe of rabbits and a another of the sacred Gifts - a crown which lets the wearer speak to animals. With their new allies, Podkin, Paz and Pook emerge, meeting up with the others at Silver Rock warren. His uncle and the Sparrowfast rabbits are already there, as the Gorm have marched round the forest edge and taken their warren. When the two sides meet in battle, who will win? And will the bonedancers let the bard live?

Here is the web site of the illustrator David Wyatt.

You do need to read the five Realms books in order so you can follow all the twists and turns of plot and character connections. Fans of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques will adore these books. OR if you and your young reading companion love The Five Realms be sure to hunt out Redwall. There are 22 books in that series.

Little Rabbit's Big Surprise by Swapna Haddow and Alison Friend

Little Rabbit is looking for something to do. Big Rabbit, her grandfather, invites Little Rabbit to tag along. He has work to do. First off they visit the Mole family. Mole is planning a big party for Little Mole but he is worried no one will want to come along because their new tunnel is so dark. The next stop is Granny Hedgehog. She is unwell with a bad cold and feeling a little miserable. Then Big Rabbit and Little Rabbit see a family of tiny dormice who are struggling to manage they little children and find food and make a new nest from twigs. Finally the pair of rabbits visit Squirrel. She has broken her leg and cannot collect food for her young family.

Big Rabbit is a problem solver. When Little Rabbit wakes up the next day she finds a list - shiny paper, twigs and flowers. Are they going to make a kite? No, each of these things can be used to help their friends in ways that are sure to amaze and surprise your young reading companion.

This is a book you could equally read aloud to a very young child (aged 3+) and later give this book to an older child (5+) who is learning to read.

Here is the web site for Swapna Haddow. Alison Friend has illustrated many books including the Sparks series about Maggie and her horse Bramble which are perfect for young horse lovers. 

I really love this series but I am a bit uncertain about what they are called. The publisher is Little Tiger so the library I visit each week use this as the series name but inside the book they are also called Stripes and some booksellers and the publisher call them Colour Fiction. 

I highly highly recommend this splendid series. If you used to have Aussie Nibbles, Young Colour Puffin books or the Banana book series in your school library these could replace your older books, which may be looking a little worn out.  I have read lots of books from this series and every story is so satisfying and the colour illustrations are just perfect. Here are some others:

Check out my posts about:

The Long way Home

Little Bird Lost

Two Sides

The books in the Colour Fiction range from Little Tiger Group are perfect for newly independent readers aged 5 and up, especially those still struggling to find their feet. Those in search of both a meaty story and the vivid illustrations you find in a picture book. The illustrator is credited alongside the author on the cover – pictures mean business, after all. The books celebrate collaboration, exploration and extraordinary acts of kindness, challenging stereotypes and empowering children.

Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire illustrated by David Litchfield

Cress, along with her mother and baby brother Kip, need to leave their home and seek a new place to live. Her father has disappeared and may never return. Mama has negotiated with Mr Owl, who is the landlord of a run-down apartment tree called Broken Arms. Cress, Mama and Kip can move into the lowest level as long as they can find the rent of ten dead moths each day. The building houses a myriad of characters. The Super is a nosy mouse. On another level there is a family of squirrels who have four wild children and near the top live a pair of songbirds who like to share all the gossip. 

Danger is always close. There is a huge honey bear called Tunk and the threat of a snake, who we never see but constantly feel is close, called the Final Drainpipe.  Adding to the mayhem as Cress, Mama and Kip make their journey to Broken Arms they meet a skunk named Lady Agatha Cabbage and her pet/captive chinchilla. Lady Cabbage is not exactly sinister but she is slightly dangerous. I also need to mention Kip's comfort toy - Rotty which is a soft toy carrot!

As the story unfolds we see Cress adjusting to her new life and testing the limits of her mother's patience. Each day brings new adventures, some quite exciting. Over the year Cress discovers so much about herself, about growing up and she gains an awareness of the way others react to events. She also explores her new environment and finds a way to share her true talent which is kindness. 

The production values of this book are simply wonderful. My hardback copy has a dust jacket and under the dust jacket the cover is different - a tiny gold silhouette of Cress herself. The end papers are also, as you would expect, perfect. They show the weaving done by Cress's mother. This book has 35 very short chapters and rich digital full page illustrations. 

David Litchfield explains his process: I like to experiment with textures a lot, so a big part of the process was taken up with making a mess with watercolour paints and just creating a lot of interesting and colourful washes to use as backgrounds and overlays. I also took a lot of close-up photographs of things like tree bark and sunsets. Once I had collected these many textures, I scanned them all into my computer and spent a fair bit of time experimenting with overlaying them with each other and just playing around with them. 

See more art from this book here

Here is an audio interview with the author. If you listen the presenter begins by reading the blurb. Here is a School Library Journal chat with Gregory Maguire and David Litchfield. 

Maguire’s narrative offers wry puns, rich vocabulary, and entertaining dialogue, and Litchfield’s glowing, slightly stylized, full-color illustrations present an enchanting, magical peek into this woodland world. ... Warmhearted and utterly charming. Kirkus Star review

With its brisk plot, witty details, and thought-provoking concepts, this gloriously illustrated chapter book makes an ideal read-alone or family read-aloud. Horn Book

This story has a Wind in the Willows flavour, characters that reminded me of the guys in Skunk and Badger and perhaps a slight feel of The Mouse and his Child. Commentators mention EB White and while I cannot link this book with Stuart Little I can link it to The Trumpet of the Swan.  Companion reads:

This is the first book in a series

This is the first book in a series of four

Heartwood Hotel book One

The Bold, Brave Bunny by Beth Ferry illustrated by Chow Hon Lam

Begin with the title. Notice all of those words that start with the letter 'B'. This is actually a huge hint about the content of this story. Teetu lives in a small burrow with his huge family. There are bunnies everywhere and it is driving him crazy. His mum gives him a book to read. It is an alphabet book and when he looks inside - oh no B is for bunny! The little bunnies are so excited to see themselves inside a book. They grab the book and eat it! Teetu needs a break from all these bunnies. Late one night he picks up his pack and sets off to explore the world. Only the littlest bunny sees him go. This is a beautifully poignant moment.

B is for brave. B is for bold. B is not only for bunnies

The world looks so different at night and when the sun rises Teetu takes out his little blank book and he begins to draw and write. He has a plan to make a new book. He walks on and on and sees the most amazing things - an owl, pigeons, a squirrel, a tortoise, a raccoon, a howling wolf, and a small hedgehog. When his book is complete he sets off home only to discover he is now lost. Luckily his mum, dad, and all the bunnies have come out to look for him. It is a joyous reunion. When they arrive home Teetu shows the little bunnies his book. In his alphabet book B is for butterfly!

Chow Hom Lam is a Korean illustrator.  The trees in this book are so interesting.  This is his first book. 

Debut illustrator Lam’s illustrations emulate print techniques and stick to a palette primarily made up of slates, black, and white. His bendy trees that curl into the shapes of animals are visual stimuli for Teetu and readers alike. Kirkus

In this video Beth Ferry reads her book. She is the author of many picture books for children such as: