Ages 4^-7. In this tongue-in-cheek tale, Nibbles O'Hare is a high-living rabbit who steals vegetables from a restaurant, enjoying the chef's chase as much as the treats. But when the restaurant owner puts up a "Wanted" poster Nibbles and his pigeon pal, Strut, go on the lam. They find a house in the country, and Nibbles comes up with another scam: he tells the neighborhood rabbits he's the Easter Bunny and acquires an entourage to help him get ready for Easter. After an already suspicious rabbit spots the poster, Nibbles is exposed, humiliated, and abandoned by his friends. But when he makes all the deliveries alone, he wins back the admiration of the rabbit community. The content nicely veers between sophisticated and silly, and bold acrylic art fills the pages. The only spread that doesn't work shows Nibbles delivering the eggs--readers never see the recipients. Still, older preschoolers and primary-graders will find this offbeat Easter story fun. --Ilene Cooper

K-Gr 3-Every day, a slick city rabbit steals produce from a fancy restaurant, until the owner hangs WANTED posters all over town. The thief and his trusty pigeon pal flee on the back of a vegetable truck and head for the country. Eventually, they find an abandoned playhouse and, with the help of a friendly squirrel, make it into a home. The local rabbits are upset that their turf has been invaded, and when they try to force the newcomers out, Nibbles lies and tells them that he is the Easter Bunny. Thrilled to welcome their fabled hero, they help him prepare painted eggs and chocolate bunnies, until someone finds the old WANTED poster and blows the whistle on him. Disgusted with himself and eager to save face, Nibbles goes through with his commitment and, despite rain and mud, gets all the goodies delivered. The rabbits are impressed by his perseverance and welcome him into the fold. The acrylic illustrations with bright, vibrant colors perfectly capture the animals' moods and vividly reinforce the story. Children will appreciate the concept of making mistakes and then receiving redemption from friends, and will be able to picture themselves in either situation. A good choice to stimulate discussions about forgiveness.-Holly Belli, Bergen County Cooperative Library System, West Caldwell, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this Grinchly treatment by the Paraskevases (On the Day the Tall Ships Sailed), a cynical rabbit cons his neighbors into thinking he's the Easter Bunny. Nibbles O'Hare hails from the big city, where he thrives on the carrots he steals from a chic restaurant in Lincoln Park. His sharp navy-blue suit and well-appointed burrow testify to upper-class comfort. But when an angry chef posts a bulletin ("Wanted for Produce Stealing: Nibbles O'Hare"), Nibbles skips town with his friend Struts, a pigeon whose newsboy cap gives him the look of a seasoned bookie. They hightail it to an abandoned rural shack, where Nibbles convinces the local rabbits that he's a holiday big shot. The story's sudden transitions make for a bumpy ride: Nibbles charms the unsuspecting townsfolk, coordinates a chocolate-bunny-making effort and then repents for his lies on a rainy Easter day. On the other hand, Nibbles perfectly fits the city-slicker stereotype, and gets good comic support from the timid Struts, a hyper squirrel named Wacky Shellhammer and a codgerly skeptic-rabbit called One-Eyed Jack. This disjointed tale gets by on its winning premise and likable grifters. Ages 5-8. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Nibbles O'Hare says he's the Easter Bunny to appease local rabbits who aren't thrilled that he and his friends have taken over an abandoned country playhouse for themselves. Forced into proving his claim, Nibbles is at first challenged but is finally accepted by the locals. There are some gaps in this unorthodox holiday story, but the irresistibly bright, textured illustrations enhance the text. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.