From the PublisherRecommended as part of the Building Bridges progam for Infants to 2nd Class tosupport children's use of predicting.Recommended as part of the Building Bridges progam for Infants to 2nd Class tosupport children's use of connections.The adventures of a lost toy, by the two-time Kate Greenaway MedalistCooper sends the beloved bunny on a train ride to a meal at the Three Bears'cottage, a run-in with pirates, and a flight on dragon-back to the moon.Finally Tatty Ratty returns to Earth, where the girl is reunited with him.Cooper's exuberant, richly colored pictures will have children returning tothe story again and again.Publishers WeeklyIt looks like Molly's eponymous stuffed rabbit may be missing for good, butthe girl takes comfort in imagining a picaresque future for him: a circuitousjourney home that includes encounters with the Three Bears, Cinderella, fiercepirates, a friendly dragon and the Man in the Moon. But Tatty Ratty makes ErrolFlynn-like moves and proves himself both resourceful and savvy ('He'll find away to escape,' says Mom when Molly throws in the pirate plot as acomplication. 'He always does'), and he does not shy away from bitingCinderella when she tries to brush his fur. Mom and Dad bring the saga to aclose by suggesting that Molly look for Tatty Ratty in a rabbit-themed toyshop. With a knowing wink, Cooper (Pumpkin Soup) gives Dad a plum quote,'Remember, he might look different,' while Mom chimes in, 'And he'll be veryclean and fluffy.' Sure enough, Tatty Ratty awaits Molly on a shelf literallyas good as new. On each spread, small realistic spot illustrations of Mollyunspooling her story (with assistance from her understanding parents) duringmeals, bath and bedtime serve as counterpoint to full-page, fanciful picturesof the bunny's adventures, and inject an immediacy and improvisational verveinto every new escapade. Never patronizing or sentimental, this is a wise andrespectful tribute to children's storytelling powers. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.Children's LiteratureMolly's beloved stuffed rabbit Tatty Ratty is lost, and of course she is veryupset. But Molly herself seems to know where he is, for she pictures him havinga series of exciting adventures¾eating porridge with the Three Bears, riding inCinderella's coach, seafaring with pirates, off in space with the Man in theMoon, then finally back 'somewhere' all cleaned up and ready to be 'found' byMolly amid many others at the Kingdom of Bunny store. The twin tales of thefamily interactions and the rabbit's adventures are depicted in full-color,real-life vignettes interlarded with larger, more detailed scenes ofimagination, all filled with affection and a warm sense of humor. How Molly andher family deal with a familiar crisis, with Molly herself finding a way toaccept the loss and deal with a substitution, can be a useful lesson. 2001,Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.00. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and SylviaMarantzSchool Library JournalPreS-Gr 2-When Molly leaves her favorite stuffed animal on a bus, she isinconsolable. At bedtime, Dad comforts her by suggesting that Tatty Ratty hashopped off the bus and is on his way home. Over the next few days, Molly andher parents contribute different twists to the rabbit's adventures, as he callson the Three Bears (they fatten him up on porridge), travels in Cinderella'scoach (she brushes and mends his fur), and meets a band of pirates (after acleansing dip in the ocean). After a trip to the moon, he finally returns toearth via floating umbrella. Early the next morning, the family visits a toystore, where Molly finds Tatty Ratty on the shelf, looking just like new.Cooper presents a common dilemma and then allows her protagonist to confrontthe problem by using her imagination. Realistic scenes of everyday life arepunctuated by forays into a fanciful world where anything can happen. Acombination of small vignettes and larger, boxed illustrations help readers tokeep the story lines straight, while bright colors and amusing details keepthem interested in Tatty Ratty's doings. Backgrounds in soothing pastel huesand a carefully balanced layout add to the artwork's strong appeal. Loose endsare neatly tied up, as the specifics of the r"
