Ninja Bunny Sister vs. brother

PreS-Gr 1-Ninja Bunny is back, this time beleaguered by his tagalong little sister in red ninja garb. Mother tells him to let his sister play as well, but Ninja Bunny and his friends decree that her size prevents her from joining them. The male quartet spy an enormous carrot in a farmer's field, but "insurmountable vines of protection" defy pulls, chops, and a ninja bomb. Meanwhile, little sister creeps under the fortress and rolls the carrot over the NO BUNNIES sign and out to the chomp-happy rabbits, who declare that she can be a super awesome ninja. Luckily, her brother agrees and dispenses a hug. Olson's ink and watercolor cartoons bounce across the pages with brilliant colors and movement. Hilarious postures and expressions add to the story's success. VERDICT Another hit for Olson and a treat both for younger siblings and ninja fans everywhere.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The brave rabbit who bested a bear in Ninja Bunny (rev. 7/15) is on a new mission: to "unlock [the] powers of greatness" of the "Golden Carrot of Awesomeness," a.k.a. to chow down on Farmer McGregor's (ha!) prize-winning giant carrot. This time Ninja Bunny has to contend with an apprentice of sorts: an annoying little sister. In red ninja gear (and with red type indicating when she's speaking), Sister might be small, but she's focused and determined. As Ninja Bunny and his three friends make their stealthy way to the farm, Sister tags along. "Me too! Me too!" The big bunnies ignore her as they attempt to conquer the "insurmountable vines of protection" guarding the massive carrot. They try valiantly but can't break through the thick barrier. The text is mostly Ninja Bunny's hyperbolic pronouncements; Olson's watercolor and ink illustrations do much to fill in the rest of the story. The energetically varied compositions include a bird's-eye view of the exhausted big rabbits lying on one side of the thick bramble, while a smart little rabbit emerges on the other side -- having crawled under the vines. Panel illustrations show Sister carrot-rolling downhill, delivering the giant carrot to the cheering big bunnies. Younger siblings will root for Sister; older kids just might give the littles in their lives more appreciation. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.