Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Splash!

PreS-Gr 1—Watch out, Mr. McGreely! The pesky trio of bunnies from Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! (S & S, 2002) are back in this continuing adventure. Mr. McGreely wants to take a beach day to get away from the rabbits. Readers will quickly guess who's going to stow away in the backseat of the car. They even "click, clack, snap" the three seatbelts in the style of imitation onomatopoeia, which peppers the entire story. Admirers of Karas's signature folksy illustrations will not be disappointed with the lively and whimsical depictions of Mr. McGreely being mildly dismayed to find the stowaways have followed him. Once again, he is plagued by a case of bunnies, who have a penchant for turning every pleasurable, mundanely beachy activity, such as shell-finding, into an intense competition, leaving poor McGreely infuriated and outmatched. He tries surfing and sinks as the bunnies sing, "cowa-bunny!" He is losing the sand castle contest and even starts to cry, until the bunnies save the day by lending a hand to the reluctant and downtrodden gardener. All together, bunnies and man work on the epic sand castle until McGreely is declared the winner, finally grinning and exclaiming, "Now THAT… was fun!" Appropriate for read-alouds and beach-themed lessons.—Ellie Lease, Harford County Public Library, MD