Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Wolves have a bad reputation in traditional folktales. But our curious young rabbit hero seems to be seeking only factual information from the book he checks out from the library. As he begins to read, two parallel visual stories fill the double pages. Our rabbit becomes absorbed in the informative text he holds, while the open book itself reveals its text and illustration alongside of him. On the next spread it looms larger behind him, while suddenly a hooded wolf peers at him from behind the book. Next, the rabbit reads the book intently; behind him we see a menacing wolf depicted on a page telling where wolves roam. On the next spread, the tiny rabbit and book are dwarfed by huge wolf legs and “sharp claws.” As the rabbit reads on about tails, dense fur, powerful teeth, and jaws, he is then seen walking along the nose of a huge, salivating wolf, knife and fork at the ready. Suddenly the wide-eyed rabbit closes the book, centered between the wolf’s eyes, made aware of what wolves eat. A dreadful end seems evident from the clawed and chewed book on the next spread. But we are reassured, as the author slyly offers an alternative and amusing happy ending. Added fun are the postcards and letters sent to the rabbit on the title and final pages. Included is a take-out flyer from a “Carrotenese” restaurant, the Burrowed Wok. A small, circular note from “your local library” emphasizes the humorous intent. The visual contrast between the roughly drawn charcoal wolves and the plump, off-white bunny helps create a growing tension. The illustration for the alternate ending, produced with torn bits of rabbit/wolf drawings assembled like a collage, defuses the tension and entices another reading. Lift the jacket to see a duplicate of the book the rabbit is reading inside. 2005, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 13))
With a nod to David Wiesner's classic, The Three Pigs (2001), newcomer Gravett creates a postmodern story that can easily be enjoyed by a less sophisticated audience. A rabbit checks out a book of information on wolves from the library. As he reads, absorbed, he fails to notice a wolf stepping out of the book, ever larger and more menacing. Wolves "have bushy tails," reads Rabbit, while trodding unaware on the wolf's tail. The wolf creeps up on the feckless bunny until Rabbit comes upon the information that wolves eat rabbits! The rabbit is bug-eyed with alarm, while the consummate page-turn reveals the library book clawed to shreds . . . the rabbit gone. Never fear, delicate readers, there is an alternate ending in which the rabbit and the wolf, who is a vegetarian, share a sandwich. Like many postmodern picture books, the mixed-media illustrations call attention to the book itself, and establish an ironic relationship between the deadpan text and the endearingly expressive rabbit stalked by the slavering wolf. Brilliant fun. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 40p, $15.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 5 to 8. Starred Review. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Beverly Combs (Library Media Connection, January 2007)
This is a book about a book about wolves. In this book, a rabbit goes in search of a book about wolves. He finds one that gives him all kinds of information about this classic enemy of the rabbit. He finds out how wolves live, how many teeth they have, and many more important facts. As the rabbit reads, we see (but he doesn't) that a wolf has snuck up on him. The author's illustrations show readers the part of the wolf that the rabbit is learning about. We are led to believe that the wolf eats the rabbit. But on the next page we are told that no rabbits were eaten in the course of making the book because the wolf in the book was a vegetarian. This is a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek treatment of the role of the wolf in the life of the rabbit. Once fractured fairy tales have been introduced in a language arts classroom, this is a nice way to extend the idea that the original fairy tales have not told us the "whole story." Recommended. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 40pp., $15.95 hc. Ages 5 to 9.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2007)
Rabbit goes to the library to read a book about wolves and unknowingly calls forth a wolf from the pages. The story includes two endings, one in which the wolf eats Rabbit and another (for "sensitive readers") where they become best friends. The mixed-media art is creative and enticing, but this sly story seems more for adults than children. Category: Picture Books. 2006, Simon, 32pp, 15.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.