Ribbit Rabbit (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Ribbit Rabbit Hope Morrison Ryan, Candace . Ribbit Rabbit; illus. by Mike Lowery . Walker, 2011. [32p]. Library ed. ISBN 978-1-8027-2181-5 $13.89 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-8027-2180-8 $12.99 Reviewed from galleys R 3-5 yrs. Best friends Frog and Bunny do everything together, until the two buddies get into a tiff over a robot toy. When the wind-up key pops off, Frog ends up with the robot while Bunny ends up with the key, and then, after a scuffle, Frog snatches the key and Bunny commandeers the robot. Eventually, however, the friends work through their resistance, make up, and fix the robot so that by story’s end, the two best friends are playing side by side with their functioning robot toy. Most spreads offer a short declarative sentence that’s succeeded by a plot-relevant two-word phrase, a cross between dialogue and sound effect, that plays on the sounds of the titular words “ribbit rabbit.” Admittedly, some phrases are more contextually successful than others, but taken as a whole, this is a playful exercise in conflict resolution. The illustrations carry the bulk of the narrative, with the text merely summarizing the gist of the action, and young viewers will enjoy deciphering the activities. Lowery uses a subdued palette of smoky hues with the chartreuse frog and tan bunny standing out against the cool-toned backdrops. The text itself, in hand-lettering with organic variation in boldness and size, is integrated effectively into the illustrations. This gentle examination of the ups and downs of friendship offers a thoughtful lesson on admitting error and seeking resolution, and listeners will applaud the twosome’s success in working through their problem. [End Page 295] Copyright © 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois