Bunny Will Not Smile! and Kiwi Cannot Reach! by Jason Tharp

Today's guest contributor, Anna Taylor, is the Head of Youth Services for Darien Library in CT. She currently serves on ALCT's Cataloging of Children's Materials Committee and is active in ALSC and YALSA.

Image from Simon & Schuster website

Bunny Will Not Smile!
Written and illustrated by Jason Tharp

Two characters, Bunny and Bear, star in this “Ready-to-Read Level 1” book. Blue Bear immediately breaks the fourth wall by asking readers if they can help him with a big problem. We find out the big problem is purple Bunny will not smile. With help from the reader, Bear is able to make Bunny smile.

Playing on the graphic novel trend in picture books, Bunny and Bear talk in color-coordinated speech bubbles (i.e. Bunny is purple and has purple speech bubbles). The limited color palette of primarily purple and blue helps focus the story on the text, and the pops of color that come in help with text clues.

Image from Simon & Schuster website

All of the font in the story is the same size, color, and format. The only time the font is different is on the cover of the book and title page.

Image from Simon & Schuster website

Kiwi Cannot Reach! 
Written and illustrated by Jason Tharp

In this early reader book we meet one character called Kiwi, who is a kiwi bird. While also a “Ready-to-Read Level 1” book, Kiwi uses more text, colors, and illustrations to have readers help Kiwi pull an overhead rope. Readers brainstorm with Kiwi to figure out how to reach the rope hanging far above their head.

Kiwi also uses graphic novel bubbles but incorporates them for both speech and thought. Unlike Bunny, Kiwi has various font sizes to emphasize words as well as sound effect using various text colors, sizes, and font. While Bunny focused more on the text and some visual cues, Kiwi relies more on visual cues to problem-solve. At times there is more than one thing happening on a page, cluttering the small trim size.

Image from Simon & Schuster website

Conclusion:

Both books serve as good read aloud for young readers, however, when it comes to the purpose of a learning to read tool, one is superior. Bunny Will Not Smile hits everything on the head. Fun characters, easy-to-read text and words, entertaining story, and readability. I believe it is a contender for the Geisel Award.