Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe

Harold, the family dog, tells the tale of the introduction of Bunnicula, a rabbit, to the family and the problems that ensue. Chester the cat is convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire and goes to great lengths to prove this to the family with hilarious results.

This book was great fun to read. The author captured the personality of the dogs and cats perfectly. The dialogue is just what I imagine my cat or dog thinking sometimes. The chapters were short, 8-10 pages, and each chapter told of an event that concluded with the chapter end. Few illustrations were used but the story was engaging enough to keep a child interested. The humor was written to appeal to children and adults. I laughed out loud at times while reading the story especially when Chester dons the towel like a cape. A good choice for a child to move to a new level of reading.

Howe, D. and Howe, J. (1979). Bunnicula: A rabbit-tale of mystery. New York, NY: Avon Books.
ISBN: 0380510944
Illustrated by Alan Daniel

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming

Mr McGreely plants his dream vegetable garden. When the vegetables begin coming in, he finds he must continually be outsmarting some rabbits. The illustrator draws the rabbits and Mr McGreely with expressive faces.

This is a read aloud book, for sure. The author's choice of words, like tippy-tippy-tippy and muncha, invoke the image of children yelling those out, especially as they are repeated throughout the book. The words are very active and feel like they are describing what is happening in the illustrations. Or is the illustration showing what the words feel like. The author and illustrator are in sync!

Fleming, C. (2002). Muncha! muncha! muncha! New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0689831528
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

A collection of four stories involving Peter Rabbit: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and The Tale of Mr. Tod. When first we meet Peter, he is a young rabbit and in the last story he has a family of his own. In addition to Peter, numerous other animal characters are introduced. The illustrations are beautiful and reflect a love of nature.

There is more text on these pages than normally found in a picture book. However, paragraphs are separated by much white space to draw a child's focus to one spot. The animals take on familiar human characteristics that children will relate. Interesting word choices, such as soporific or lippity, are unfamiliar to children but are fun to say. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the illustrations until I opened the books.

Potter, B. (2003). The complete adventures of peter rabbit. London, England: Frederick Warne and Company.
ISBN: 072324734X
Illlustrated by the author