If You Were My Bunny

by Kate McMullan, David McPhail (Illustrator)

Overview

A lyrical text and adorable illustrations follow the bedtime lullabies of various animal mamas as they tell their little ones what they would do for their baby in a board-book version of a best-selling story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780590341264
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/1998
Series:	Story Corner
Edition description:	BOARD
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 5.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Kate McMullan is the bestselling author of the I'M BAD, I'M DIRTY, I'M MIGHTY, and I STINK picture books illustrated by Jim McMullan. Kate is also the author of IF YOU WERE MY BUNNY and the Fluffy series, published by Scholastic.
David McPhail was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He attended Vesper George University from 1957 to 1958 and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School from 1963 to 1966. He has been an illustrator of children's books since 1967 and an author of children's books since 1971. He says he enjoys writing and illustrating as much as he did when he began.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for If You Were My Bunny"The sweet soothing sounds of a mother's words come through loud and clear. McMullan's clever use of familiar songs adds to the charm. A cuddlesome bedtime choice." —Booklist

From the Publisher

The sweet, soothing sounds of a mother's words come through loud and clear in this small book. A mother rabbit tells her little ones that she could pick them out from all the other babies, and she sings a bunny version of "Hush, Little Baby," with lines like "if that carrot top should wilt, / Mama's going to bring you a clover quilt." Then a bear, a cat, a duck, a dog, and finally a human mother tell their children how much they love them. McMullan's clever use of familiar songs ("Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Rock-a-bye Baby," among others) adds to the charm of this child pleaser. So do McPhail's pictures, which, though occasionally stiffly executed, are full of tenderness and love. A cuddlesome bedtime choice.

Ilene Cooper

Familiar lullabies are given a twist by McMullan (Hey, Pipsqueak!, 1995, etc.) in a work that serves as a missing link between board books and more lavish picture books. A bunny, a bear cub, a kitten, a duckling, and a puppy are given a few pages each to be gathered in by their mothers as the day comes to a close, then sung to sleep. Bear whuffles a "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" variation, Rabbit warbles her version of "Hush, Little Baby," and so on. It's all very sweet: "Dearest duckling, close your eyes, crickets chirp your lullabies" to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Dream time, my kitten" to the melody of "Rock-a-Bye Baby." McPhail adds notes of suspense with bolts of lightning and sickle moons. The book begins with "If you were my bunny and I were your mama, I'd pick you out from all the other bunnies and nestle you beside me"; fittingly, therefore, the volume is dedicated in part to "M.W.B."

Kirkus Reviews