Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake
1 Hardcover/1 CD

Starred Review "Precocious Betty Bunny is a handful. When her mother asks her to try chocolate cake for dessert, Betty, 'who was not very good at trying new things,' announces: 'I hate chocolate cake. Chocolate cake is yucky'. She finally relents. 'It was the yummiest thing she had ever put in her mouth. When I grow up, I am going to marry chocolate cake!' After Betty sneaks a piece of chocolate cake to school in her pants pocket, she is shocked that it turns into a 'brown, goopy mess.' Although there is no evidence that the family of bunnies are British, versatile narrator Kellgren reads in a British accent, enhancing the charmingly hilarious story. Through tonal changes and vocal expressiveness, Kellgren captures Betty's defiance, determination, and lack of patience. In her portrayal of Betty's parents, Kellgren effectively conveys their love and occasional frustration with temperamental Betty. Appropriate and low-key background sound effects, including laughing, opening doors, clanking dishes, automobile engines, playground sounds, and more enhance Kellgren's reading of television writer Kaplan's debut children's book, featuring Stephane Jorisch's watercolor illustrations depicting flop-eared Betty and family attired in modern, casual clothes. Sure to become a favorite with young listeners, who will want to hear exuberant Betty's story over and over again."

PreS-Gr 2- "Betty Bunny declares that chocolate cakes is "yucky", until she tries it. Then she loves it so much she wants to marry it. Thus begins Kaplan's luscious lark (Dial, 2011) into the world of little Betty Bunny's mischievous interplay with cake, tantrums, and the struggle to be patient. Stephane Jorisch's delectably detailed illustrations perfectly depict the interaction of the four Bunny siblings and their requisite teasing. The eyes and expressions of all the characters are lively and adorable. Youngster's eyes will go wide when Betty calls her family and her school "yucky" and they will anticipate the goopy results when Betty sneaks cake into her pocket! The narrative performance of British-educated Katherine Kellgren enhances the story. Her voice varies with the characters but retains a sweetness that fits the light-hearted frolic. She places appropriate emphasis on the bold words in the text and her crisp enunciation and pacing allow listeners to grasp the details. Subtle and amusing sound effects such as cute kissy sounds when Betty's mother says she loves her and the "boing" of chair springs when Betty bounces are a nice touch. The story could be useful in lessons on patience and consequences. Page-turn signals are optional. Children will appreciate the silliness and laugh-out-loud antics of the adorably real Betty Bunny."

"Oh, how Betty Bunny comes to love the taste of chocolate cake! She can think of nothing else--certainly not the fact that she will need to eat a healthy dinner before she can have a piece or that a piece of cake may not fare well during the school day tucked in her pocket. Katherine Kellgren's elegant voice may be a bit out of place amid the rough give-and-take of the bunny family, but she uses it to heighten the drama and individualize the characters. As Betty, she sounds imperious and prone to tantrums; as Betty's older brother, mocking; and as Betty's mother, authoritative. Kellgren draws out important phrases: "I can't belie-e-e-ve you put cake in your pocket."