cover image The Easter Bunny’s Assistant

The Easter Bunny’s Assistant

Jan Thomas. Harper, $12.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-169286-4

Using exuberant characters and polished comedic timing, Thomas (Is Everyone Ready for Fun?) gives the Easter bunny an unusual assistant—Skunk. Skunk is excited to help decorate Easter eggs, and when Skunk gets excited, he gets stinky. Thomas’s familiar brand of chunky cartooning, outlined in thick black lines, stands out against solid backgrounds. The Easter bunny is forgiving at first, telling Skunk, “Please try to control yourself,” but resorts to pushing him out of the room before they eventually reconcile (with help from a clothespin). Skunk’s enthusiasm is contagious, and readers will be giggling at the stench-themed humor and the Easter bunny’s outsize reactions. Ages 2–5. (Feb.)