THE CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

Carrot Cake Park Tales (Series): Breezy Bunnies, Sunny Bunnies, Busy Bunnies, Snowy Bunnies

Written by Margie Blumberg Illustrated by June Goulding (Breezy Bunnies and Sunny Bunnies) and Tammie Lyon (in June Goulding's style: Busy Bunnies and Snowy Bunnies)

What to Expect: Seasons, nature, friendship, fun, discovery, togetherness.

Every season brings something new to enjoy, and in this dreamy four-book series, strongly reminiscent of Brambley Hedge and Richard Scarry, readers will follow the adventures of Millie, Jimmy, and their bunny family and friends as they experience the different foods, experiences, and locations that each season brings.

When you have good friends and family to spend time with, every season brings something new to experience and enjoy. In spring, no matter what the weather brings, there are picnics and vegetable gardens, ducklings, and bike rides in the park to look forward to. Summer’s a time for fun with family and friends, visiting the beach, splashing in the sea, and toasting marshmallows over an open fire. In the fall, there’s school, baking, pumpkin picking, and trick-or-treating to keep you busy. And winter is just magical, with freshly fallen snow, ice-skating, and sleigh rides to fill the frosty days!

The endearing animal characters and enchanting watercolor artwork exude a traditional, vintage charm that will captivate readers of all ages. Each scene is a treasure trove of details for readers to explore, from the sandpipers pecking in the background on the beach to the deer on the hill behind the ice-skating rink. The short, simple rhyming phrases make the stories perfect for reading out loud, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the series. Carrot Cake Park Tales is a truly delightful series that will not only entertain but also awaken the excitement for the seasons ahead in any reader.

READERS’ FAVORITE, EMILY-JANE HILLS ORFORD, 5 STARS

Millie and her brother, Jimmy, are ready for some snowy adventures. The two little bunnies are thrilled to see that it snowed overnight. They can’t wait to get outside and play. In Margie Blumberg’s Snowy Bunnies, the siblings have fun making a snowman, skating on the ice, and enjoying some hot cocoa, sledding, and so much more, not to mention the tasty carrot stew they have for lunch to warm them up. Do the two bunnies know which season of the year is the most fun? Not really, as they’re having too much fun in the winter snow.

Margie Blumberg’s picture book, Snowy Bunnies: Carrot Cake Park Tales – Winter: Book 4, is another seasonal treasure featuring these lovable bunnies. There’s lots of adventure in Carrot Cake Park all through the year. This story focuses on winter and all that can be done outdoors. Told in rhyming verse, the story's simple language and short phrases help young readers improve their reading skills. The illustrations are bright, bold, and colorful and work effectively with the text to move the lyrical story along. I like the way the author integrates important themes: good times, family values, getting along with one’s siblings (the older sibling in this story, as well as in the three other stories in this four-book series, is kind and helpful to the younger one), playing happily with friends, and taking care of the wildlife (feeding the birds). "I love every season's weather / Just as long as we're . . . Together!" Such simple but thoughtful and caring words. What a great way to sum up this little gem of a story.