BUNNY MADE TEA
by Amanda Baehr Fuller ; illustrated by Amanda Baehr Fuller
In a sweet, warm tale of few words, Bunny finds that giving away tea returns much more in friendship.
Bunny hankers for tea, so the little creature braves the rain to gather ingredients, then brews them and pours a steaming cup. But before Bunny can take a sip, Opossum stops by and asks for tea. Bunny obliges and, with all the tea gone, remakes it from scratch. This time, before Bunny can take a sip, Opossum comes back; turns out Opossum’s babies want some, too. Finally, Bunny goes to bed without tea. In the morning, Bunny awakens to find a pot of hot tea waiting; Bunny has some loving friends after all. The ending is satisfying, though some adults may feel the book promotes excessive self-sacrifice. With fewer than 50 words total and rarely more than five to a spread, the narrative is brought to life primarily through the illustrations. Bunny’s burrow feels welcoming and snug, rendered in earth tones with pops of bright color and accented by the steam wafting off cups of tea. Bunny’s expressive face drives the emotional arc of the plot and offers opportunities to discuss the nuanced challenges and joys of sharing with friends.
An elegantly told, cozy sip of a story about the value of caring for others.
(Picture book. 3-7)