Felicity & Cordelia: A Tale of Two Bunnies

Jahn-Clough's picture books—Little Dog, My Friend and I, Missing Molly—often focus on the relationship between two friends, and her latest mines similar territory. Recalling the Toot and Puddle series, this tale concentrates on two best-friend bunnies, Felicity and Cordelia. Like Toot, Felicity loves travel and adventure, and like Puddle, Cordelia prefers staying inside their cozy home. Jahn-Clough's naïf illustrations consist of bright, childlike drawings with some of the backgrounds scribbled in like coloring book pages or overlaid with broad brushstrokes. The simplistic sweetness of the illustrations is matched by text that, in its placid straightforwardness, may best serve newly independent readers testing their skills; it does little to amplify the drama of the story as Felicity's hot-air balloon trip hits a bump (literally), while Cordelia stays home and frets for the safe return of her friend. Neither character evolves in any appreciable way, and their entire friendship is so understated that, while readers may be glad for their happy (and inventive) reunion, they may not find themselves all that invested in it. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)