Bedtime Bunnies

Snow begins to fall as rabbit parents summon their five offspring into their tree house ("Bedtime, bunnies!"). Watson (Spuds) keeps her art and text appealingly simple, yet flourishes are evident in both. The text strings together a punchy, onomatopoeic selection of words (mostly verbs), as the bunnies skip, scamper, scurry, and hop inside; chomp, munch, gobble, and crunch a carrot snack; brush their teeth with a squirt, scrub, splutter, and spit; and swish, slosh, bubble, and splash in the tub. Rendered in pencil, watercolor, and acrylic paint, Watson's buoyant, gauzy pictures reveal several "oops" moments: one bunny spills juice down the front of his overalls, and another drops a bar of soap while taking a bath. As snow gathers outside, several of the bedtime rituals take place in small nooks, which are defined by warm, brown walls and archways, focusing the action and adding to the book's cozy vibe (other scenes are set against a marbled yellow backdrop, to similar effect). At once soothing and spirited, this is a charmingly crafted bedtime tale for cold winter nights. Ages 3–6. (Nov.)