I WILL RACE YOU THROUGH THIS BOOK!

A highly competitive rabbit
challenges readers to a race through the book it stars in.

In rhyming couplets, Book-it Bunny
makes introductions and then declares, “No one reads as fast as ME! / So turn
the page and take a look. // I will RACE you through this book!” Begging a
false start, the bunny then tries to trick readers into closing their eyes,
which leads to a very funny wordless double-page spread in which BiB is caught
tiptoeing off the recto. The shenanigans continue as BiB takes off running
before the count of three and tries to distract readers with reports of a cow
in flight before losing stride upon sighting the supposedly imaginary winged
cow. When (of course) readers do beat the bunny, BiB pretends not to care and
then chooses another book—and another opponent: a snail. Fenske’s humorous
metafictive competition pares down visual distractions so that readers can
concentrate on decoding and on the book’s sense of play. The only setting is a
blue floor and white background, both given solidity by BiB’s digitally thrown
shadow. The bunny is a standard-issue cartoon, with sticking-up ears, buck
teeth, and cotton-ball tail, all white save for touches of pink in ears and on
nose. The occasional panel in yellow provides some variety.

Since finishing this book means
winning a race, it delivers an extra sense of satisfaction for beginning
readers. (Early reader. 4-8)