11/02/2015
In this companion to Nest and Fetch, Hurley uses a string of verbs, one per spread, to highlight the actions of a family of cottontail rabbits over the course of one day. Once again, the ultra-limited text lets Hurley’s crisp digital illustrations do the talking—a morning of playing in (and nibbling on) the grass turns frightening as a hawk appears overhead (“freeze”), quickly followed by a fox (“warn” “run”). The rabbits escape to an underground burrow (“hide”), returning to their tree hollow home safe and sound after waiting out a rainstorm. An author’s note offers enlightening details about the habits of cottontails. Ages 3–7. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company. (Jan.)
Hurley’s quiet picture book about a day in the life of a cottontail rabbit family will be sure to delight preschoolers. A perfect companion to the author’s Fetch (2015), this story sheds light on the author’s fascination with animals in their element, going about their day, which is carried out in the appealing, eyecatching illustrations in soft, natural tones. Since only one word is used to emphasize the action in each spread, visual literacy is very much in the foreground, and these light images underscore the animals’ peacefulness. This explores cottontail rabbits—an animal many readers might see hopping in their yards or neighborhoods, if they look carefully—in their natural habitat. The story begins as early as the inner title pages, featuring close-up paintings of the lush, pale green grass to establish setting. On the following page and prior to text, a mother bunny is nicely contrasted against the crisp, white page, greeting readers before she leads her kin to play in the grass, protect themselves, and snuggle! A wonderful “winding-down” book for bedtime. — Annie Miller
Hurley’s quiet picture book about a day in the life of a cottontail rabbit family will be sure to delight preschoolers. A perfect companion to the author’s Fetch (2015), this story sheds light on the author’s fascination with animals in their element, going about their day, which is carried out in the appealing, eyecatching illustrations in soft, natural tones. Since only one word is used to emphasize the action in each spread, visual literacy is very much in the foreground, and these light images underscore the animals’ peacefulness. This explores cottontail rabbits—an animal many readers might see hopping in their yards or neighborhoods, if they look carefully—in their natural habitat. The story begins as early as the inner title pages, featuring close-up paintings of the lush, pale green grass to establish setting. On the following page and prior to text, a mother bunny is nicely contrasted against the crisp, white page, greeting readers before she leads her kin to play in the grass, protect themselves, and snuggle! A wonderful “winding-down” book for bedtime. — Annie Miller
11/01/2015
PreS—A mother rabbit leads her young out of a tree hollow to snack and play in a meadow. They avoid predators, hide in a borrowed burrow to wait out the rain, and head back out to graze. All is conveyed simply through single-word spreads. Flat, graphic-style illustrations are done primarily in greens and browns with splashes of spring colors in the flowers. The art is either full bleed or minimal, employing plenty of white space. An author's note offers background information about the cottontail. Without the life cycle focus of Hurley's Nest (2013) or the exuberant energy of Fetch (2014, both S. & S.), Hop is a quieter offering. VERDICT A good choice for asking leading questions and initiating discussions about animal behavior.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA
2015-10-06
Children who have seen bunnies frolic in their backyards, scamper across the lawn of a park, or roam in fields in their imaginations will find Hurley's latest charming and informative in equal measure. Using the formula she established in Nest (2014), Hurley explores the worlds of rabbits—cottontails in particular. In this narrative, the one-word lines read as if they are instructions given by a mother to her kits. Each spread depicts a different scenario, each with its own tone and, in a couple of cases, tension. Matte colors applied digitally saturate the pages, most often in lush greens. As the members of a rabbit family emerge from their nest under a tree, they "hop," "listen," and "nibble." In a stark white double-page spread, a hawk appears high above the family on the ground, making the rabbits "freeze." Danger appears again in the form of a fox. The word on this spread, "warn," will force youngsters to look closely to see the mother rabbit thumping her foot. If it's too subtle, an author's note provides more information about this form of communication along with other details about habits and habitat. The rabbits "run," and the book ends on a satisfying note with a "snuggle" before "sleep." Minimal text yields maximum effect in this book of nonfiction for the very youngest children. (Informational picture book. 2-5)
