Bunbun & Bonbon: Fancy Friends

July 1, 2020
Grades 1-4 Bunbun has the cutest bunny nose! The cutest bunny tail! TWO of the cutest bunny ears! But despite best efforts and indelible enthusiasm, Bunbun's missing the most important thing?a friend ("Hello, bird!" the little rabbit cheerfully waves in one panel; "Good-bye, bird," in the next, adorable ears drooping). Enter Bonbon, who Bunbun mistakes for a rock ("Hello, rock!"). Boy, does Bonbon set him straight: "I'm talking, but I'm not a rock!" Nope, Bonbon's a purple candy, with a purple candy shell and TWO candy eyes. A friendship is born. In a series of infectiously playful vignettes, Bunbon and Bonbon have a fancy party with fancy food where they use fancy words ("Like croissant?" asks Bonbon while Bunbun juggles flaky pastries). They eat donuts for lunch, and cement their new friendship. Large panels, visual cues, and clever page turns make this graphic novel from Keating, known for, among other things, her slickly entertaining nonfiction books, a dynamic pick for early readers. Its warmth and humor will earn it a bevy of young fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)