The Magic Rabbit Book and Audio CD Set
Richard Jesse Watson, Skip Hinnant
Accessory
(Scholastic Book Clubs Softcover Book and Audio CD, Aug. 16, 2006)
A white rabbit jumps out of a black top hat and discovers that he can make magic. He pulls out nine balls that resemble the planets and juggles them, drives around in a car that has emerged from the hat, and creates a picnic of delicious food. However, though he enjoys doing tricks, he decides that he needs a friend. After failed attempts with a frog that hops out of the hat and off the page, two mice that scurry away, and three fluttering blue jays, the rabbit discovers there's another hat inside his magic one. A second rabbit shoots out of it, and, PRESTO!, a friendship is born. The richly hued oil paintings with their varying perspectives and textures are the highlight of this tale. The story is charming, but children will focus on Watson's spectacular art, which fuses realism with fantasy. The rabbits look like those which children might find in the garden, but the spreads burst with stars, scarves, and planets, and decks of cards fly through the air. Watson is an excellent colorist, using deep, fruity background hues to give a lift to every spread. The oversize format, short text, and eye-candy visuals make this a good choice for story hour.