PreS-Gr 1—This title follows the adventures of LaRue, the "handiest bunny in Westmore Oaks." Upon discovery that he's all out of his toolbox carrots, he visits each of his friends—bluebird Stella, turtle Nevil, and squirrel Ivy—to ask about their supply. Each creature has lost its carrots along with Stella's house, Nevil's boat, and Ivy's table, but Ivy does have a large orange "rock" that smells a bit like carrots. Digital paint and collage present first the cartoon images of Ivy's discovery of a large "rock" and introduces Larue by his large ears on the title page, followed by his tools, workbench, tool belt, and safety goggles. Construction vehicles are not left out as he uses them to dig, dump the orange rock in the resulting hole, spread the dirt, and douse it with water. Spreads record the bunny's careful planting and the results of large-motor excavation of a beautifully colored, enormous Carrot. LaRue puts his tools to good use in a thoughtful tribute to his friends as he generously replaces the earlier losses of his neighbors with creative carrot gifts.
VERDICT Repetitive phrases, large fonts, and illustrations that reflect text action make this an engaging choice for young readers. A recommended general purchase.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!