Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake

PreS-Gr 2—Betty Bunny declares that chocolate cake is "yucky," until she tries it. Then she loves it so much she wants to marry it. Thus begins Kaplan's luscious lark (Dial, 2011) into the world of little Betty Bunny's mischievous interplay with cake, tantrums, and the struggle to be patient. Stephane Jorisch's delectably detailed illustrations perfectly depict the interaction of the four Bunny siblings and their requisite teasing. The eyes and expressions of all the characters are lively and adorable. Youngsters' eyes will go wide when Betty calls her family and her school "yucky" and they will anticipate the goopy results when Betty sneaks cake into her pocket! The narrative performance of British-educated Katherine Kellgren enhances the story. Her voice varies with the characters but retains a sweetness that fits the light-hearted frolic. She places appropriate emphasis on the bold words in the text and her crisp enunciation and pacing allow listeners to grasp the details. Subtle and amusing sound effects such as cute kissy sounds when Betty's mother says she loves her and the "boing" of chair springs when Betty bounces are a nice touch. The story could be useful in lessons on patience and consequences. Page-turn signals are optional. Children will appreciate the silliness and laugh-out-loud antics of the adorably real Betty Bunny.—Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA