What’s 1 inch long, smells with its ears, and breathes through its butt?
Sea bunnies! Well, they don’t actually breathe through their butts, but their gills are on their rear ends….A gaggle of children is on the hunt for the elusive sea bunny. Their instructor is attempting to curb their loud enthusiasm (but failing at it) while demystifying the mysterious but incredibly cute sea slug known as the sea bunny. It moves along on a trail of self-producing gross slime, has terrible eyesight, and has a nifty secret weapon—poisonous sea sponges! No, it doesn’t fling sopping wet sponges at its enemies, it eats the sponges, which makes it taste disgusting. Ingenious! Raymundo effectively uses large speech bubbles for the kids’ energetic questions and observations, with a smaller, unobtrusive type for the matter-of-fact commentary of their instructor. The interactions among children and adult are humorous, informative, and organic. By using the Q&A format, Raymundo allows the readers to be drawn in and participate in this charming undersea adventure. Raymundo’s experience as a Disney animator can be appreciated in these colorful, engaging illustrations. Who knew a tiny slug could convey so many emotions? The personalities of the characters come through loud and strong—from the endearing and unassuming protagonist to the ravenous villain.
Not just another fish story—will be a favorite with fledgling marine biologists and landlubbers everywhere.
(Informational picture book. 4-7)