cover image Bunnies, Bunnies, Bunnies: A Treasury of Stories, Songs, and Poems

Bunnies, Bunnies, Bunnies: A Treasury of Stories, Songs, and Poems

. Simon & Schuster, $14.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-671-73221-9

A stellar cast of authors and illustrators here focus--in one way or another--on the popular cotton-tailed creature that has animated children's literature ever since Aesop first told his fable ``The Tortoise and the Hare.'' That classic tale appears here, accompanied by lively, new illustrations by Darcy May. Retan contributes informal yet informative introductions to excerpts from such books as Richard Adams's Watership Down ; The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams; and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland --with Tenniel's original art. Nicely balancing these lengthier entries are briefer folktales, legends, poems, songs and fingerplay rhymes. Among the other noteworthy contributors are Beatrix Potter, Margaret Wise Brown, Lucy Bate, Diane de Groat, Garth Williams, Lillian Hoban and Eve Merriam. Children as well as parents will reach for this treasure-filled volume again and again. Ages 2-7. ( Feb. )