Reviews for Bunny overboard

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Bunny sets sail and goes for a dip. This gentle seafaring jaunt begins with Bunny, clad in an old-fashioned bathing costume, bidding readers “Ahoy!” and setting sail for a day on the peaceful, summery sea. With a little help from readers, Bunny puts wind in the sail, rocks the boat, and “kerplunks” safely back on deck after a near miss of the titular “Overboard!” After donning snorkeling gear, Bunny’s delight at staying dry is rendered endearingly moot as—“buns away!”—Rueda takes the frame under the sea, where Bunny invites readers to touch a “gooey rock” and pat a pufferfish and asks for assistance with an inky octopus and hunting treasure. Whatever Bunny’s tale lacks in plot, it more than makes up for in sweetness: soft, simple pencil illustrations are colored with a cheerful nautical palette, and Bunny smiles welcomingly out on every page. A charming surprise mirror will surely show readers smiling right back. On the return trip, a seal readers have seen all along is at long last revealed to the oblivious narrator, and all ends well with a refreshing glass of carrot lemonade for everyone involved. Small details add to the charm: The little sailboat is named, hilariously, “BUNNY,” and the range of expressions sported by the assorted sea creatures demands a second read. Forget your troubles—but not your snorkel!—this read is smooth sailing. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Bunny is ready to set sail! But he needs help. Conversational text breaks the fourth wall, asking readers to knock, rock, blow, and tap. Action words are highlighted in a large, bright font. Simple, uncluttered cartoon illustrations in shades of teal and coral are eye-catching but not frenetic. The book is well designed, with fun twists on the popular genre of interactive picture books, such as touching an octopus and then wiping away the resulting ink. The spreads in which the reader knocks on the shipwreck and startles a school of fish are especially effective. A running visual joke of a seal that Bunny does not see adds humor and prompts readers to look closely at each page. Perfectly suited for toddlers, the simple vocabulary makes it accessible for beginning readers, too, who will learn a few new phrases like “Seven seas!” and “Anchors aweigh!” This third interactive book with Bunny (Bunny Slopes, 2016; Hungry Bunny, 2018) is sure to please. A solid purchase for all collections and a great one-on-one read, especially for fans of Hervé Tullet.

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