Bunny Made Tea
by Amanda Baehr Fuller; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Owlkids    32 pp.
2/25    9781771476812    $18.95

Bunny peers out into a blustery, unpleasant day and decides tea is the remedy. Gathering herbs and petals, Bunny makes some; the scent of a fresh brew attracts Opossum, also in need of a cuppa. The larger animal drinks all of Bunny’s tea, so Bunny sets out again to collect ingredients for a second pot. Just as Bunny is about to drink the tea, Opossum and her four babies arrive, startling Bunny, who spills it. Now clearly annoyed, Bunny sets out to gather more ingredients in larger quantities, but this time with the quiet assistance of one emotionally attuned Opossum baby, who senses the rabbit’s frustration. After the Opossums enjoy Bunny’s hospitality, there’s no tea left, and Bunny goes to bed without. The next day, a cheery pink teapot that matches the morning sky appears at the doorstep, and as Baby Opossum watches from a distance, Bunny finally has that elusive cup of tea. Short, direct sentences using clever repetition tell the story, while clues about the passing of time appear in the boldly textured illustrations. Readers will sense the animals’ moods through their body language and expressive eyes. Themes of sharing, gratitude, and unlikely animal gatherings call for paired readings with books such as Bear Snores On; Mine! (rev. 7/23); Mother Bruce; and The Little Red Hen, whether at bedtime or with a story-hour crowd.

From the ">May/June 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.