WHEN THE WORLD IS FULL OF FRIENDS
by Gillian Shields ; illustrated by Anna Currey
A rabbit family and a squirrel family want to be friends, but a stream separates the two.
The hopalongs introduced in Shields and Currey’s previous works (When the World Was Waiting for You, 2011, etc.) are growing up. Siblings Albert, Tom, and Flossie love to play (baby Pipkin does too, but mostly just with his toes). The members of this sweet rabbit family enjoy one another’s company, but sometimes they long for friends to play with too. When a scurry of squirrels moves in next door, it seems the perfect solution. But their house is on the other side of the wide stream. How will the young rabbits get across? Luckily, each rabbit has a particular strength to their personality that helps them in their journey. They brainstorm, try possibilities, and, most importantly, make new friends. The young rabbits’ determination and grit shine through. “When the world / is ready to play, / Friends are near / if you find a way….” Currey’s expansive watercolor scenes are filled with playful pops of colors and patterns found in the rabbits’ toys and wardrobe. The anthropomorphization and bucolic setting recall Beatrix Potter; like hers, these rabbits are a near-perfect blend of rabbit and human.
A charming story of perseverance that’s rooted in simplicity and nostalgia.
(Picture book. 3-6)