Little Rabbit wakes up on his birthday full of big-bunny confidence. He's a year older now, and he's ready to take on the world. Rabbit World, that is—as his whole family sets out on a special expedition to the bunny-themed amusement park. Depicted by Horse (The Last Gold Diggers) with an eye for both detail and humor, the park boasts a lettuce patch, complete with scarecrow, next to the carrot-shaped speedboats and the Big Hopper roller-coaster. Bursting with excitement, Little Rabbit races on ahead, assuring his mother, "But it's my birthday and I'm a big rabbit now... I won't get lost." Of course he does, but Little Rabbit's separation from his family is fairly brief. Instead of imparting a stern safety lesson, the book perfectly captures the wonder and exuberance of a child on the cusp between toddler and big kid, taking first steps toward independence ("He suddenly felt as small as he really was"). Horse's visual depiction of Little Rabbit is likewise dead-on. Adorable in a pair of baby blue pajamas with a matching ear-shaped cap, this "awww"-inspiring bunny bounces merrily across the pages, trailed by his special red birthday balloon. The gentle lesson—that even "big" boys and girls can get separated from their parents—ends on an uplifting note, with a "great big hug," a message both grownups and kids will take to heart. Ages 2-6. (Sept.)
