A Nice Surprise for Father Rabbit

Mangas's first picture book has a simple storyline: Honey Bunny and Sonny Bunny wait for their father to arrive home from work on a snowy night, and decide to prepare tea for him. They set out teacups, pull his favorite chair up to the table, leave him slippers and a robe, bake and frost a cake, set out his newspaper and get an album of his favorite music ready to play. But they are asleep in bed when Father Rabbit finally gets home. They don't see him sink into his chair with relief, nor do they see him smile and forget his bad mood. Both book and bunnies have a generous spirit that is hard to resist; Levitt's pictures express the gentle sentiments of the text in black line art with watercolor washes, adding humorous touches throughout. A nice surprise, indeed. Ages 2-4. (Feb.)