Too Many Rabbits

The title of this cautionary counting comedy from an Italian duo reveals its core conflict. After Owen and Zoey beg their father for a rabbit, Dad succumbs to the pet shop’s two-for-one offer, and trouble ensues. Deadpan narration by Calì (The Writer) describes bunny life: “They eat, gnaw at the furniture, hop all the time, and leave little chocolate eggs all over the place.” When the quickly procreating animals’ number reaches 210, the event kicks off an elaborate rabbit-removal scheme, which Benetti illustrates with tight, hard-edged grayscale drawings dotted liberally with small orange rabbits. The donations start small (“1 they gave to a juggler.// 2 they put through the neighbor’s mailbox”), then grow. Chaos proliferates as 14 rabbits reenact naval battles in a department store ball pit and some of the 15 left at the ladies’ underwear counter stage a two-legged race. When 16 are left at the Pop Art Museum, those who encounter a Jeff Koons–style rabbit sculpture bow down before it. By the time the white-presenting family lets 20 rabbits “go with the wind,” none remain—leading to another trip to the pet store, and the potential for further disorder, in this harebrained title. Human characters are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)