Will You Be My Friend? A Bunny and Bird Story - Hardcover

Tafuri, Nancy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590637827 ISBN 13: 9780590637824

Publisher: Scholastic, 2000

Synopsis

Although Bunny is interested in becoming Bird's friend, Bird is too shy to try, yet after a storm ruins Bird's nest and Bunny comes to assist, a special friendship is suddenly formed between them.

About this title

About the Author

Nancy Tafuri is the acclaimed author/illustrator of more than 30 children's books, including the Caldecott Honor Book Have You Seen My Duckling? "I feel honored to be creating literature for young children," she says. "Seeing how very important these early years are in children's lives, I hope that my books contribute in some small way to their growth, with the feelings I try to project through line, color, shape, and story." Tafuri, who studied at New York's School of Visual Arts, lives with her husband, Tom, and their daughter, Cristina, in rural Connecticut.
For more information about Nancy Tafuri, visit: scholastic.com/tradebooks

From the Inside Flap

Bunny and Bird live in an old apple tree. Bunny is eager to be friends. But Bird feels too shy.

Then one night, Bird's nest is ruined in a rainstorm. With Bunny's help, Bird builds a new nest, overcomes her shyness, and discovers what friendship is all about.

With simple, lyrical language, perfect for reading alond or for children just beginning to read on their own, and beautiful, classically rendered illustrations, Nancy Tafuri has created a delightfully reassuring friendship story brimming with all the emotions of childhood.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 1-Bunny asks a bird to be his friend but she is too shy to respond until a storm forces her to take shelter in his hole. Then, he helps her rebuild her nest and she sings him a special song of thanks. This simple story of friendship is presented in picture-book format, but the text, set in 32-point type, uses the short declarative sentences of an easy-reader. This results in a somewhat stilted text and lessens the book's appeal as a read-aloud. Unlike Tafuri's previous books, such as Have You Seen My Duckling? (Greenwillow, 1984), which feature strong, large shapes that fill the page, the muted watercolor-and-ink illustrations pictured here often take up only a corner of the page and are surrounded by lots of white space. This technique allows for a clear presentation of the text, but reduces the impact of the art. This is an adequate but not necessary purchase.
Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In a departure from her previous books, which are aimed at very young children, Tafuri targets beginning readers with a lean yet evocative text. Bunny and Bird both make their homes in an apple tree, and Bunny loves to hear Bird sing, but they aren't friends--Bird is too shy. As is often the case in friendship stories, the two finally come together under duress: Bird's nest gets waterlogged in a fierce storm, and she seeks refuge in Bunny's hutch. The next day Bunny organizes all the forest creatures, and they create a cozy new home for their timid feathered friend. Bird is so moved that she finally sheds her shyness, and proudly sings "a special song of thanks for her good friend Bunny." Tafuri never belabors the emotional content: "Bird felt much better now," she writes after Bird flees her nest. "She was warm and dry. Bunny and Bird fell asleep on the soft, sweet grass." However, those expecting the dynamic, painstakingly rendered nature scenes of Tafuri's recent titles (e.g., I Love You, Little One; Snowy Flowy Blowy) may be disappointed with the illustrations here: by comparison they are restrained, even subdued. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this very simple yet comforting story, a little bunny wants to befriend a shy bird with whom he shares a tree (bunny in the bottom hole, bird on a limb). When a rainstorm ruins the bird's nest, Bird comes to stay with Bunny, and Bunny and his friends help Bird rebuild his home. Although this looks like a conventional picture book, the flap copy says Tafuri also intended it to be a book children can read to themselves. The text is simple enough to be a reader, and the large type will make reading easy. Like Tafuri's other books, this features good-size drawings that are easy on the eyes. There's not much color contrast in the pictures--lots of shades of browns and grays, against expanses of white--but there's a certain sweetness to the art that makes it livelier than the palette suggests. Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590637827
• ISBN 13: 9780590637824
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32