Review: The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas

The Easter Bunny’s Assistant
By Jan Thomas

Harper (HarperCollins)

ISBN: 9780061692864
$12.99
Grades PreK-2
In Stores

*Best New Book*

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

In terms of consistency, few picture book creators in the world are operating at the level of Jan Thomas right now. Since her debut in 2007, What Will Fat Cat Sit On?, each release has been winning – bold in both artwork and humor. She just keeps knocking out read-aloud winners, and her latest, The Easter Bunny’s Assistant, falls right in line. It’s par for the course, which is to say it’s not to be missed.

As with most of Thomas’s books, the characters directly address the reader. Here the cast is small – you have the snowy-white Easter bunny and her assistant – Skunk. Skunk sets the book in motion:

Today we will show you how to make BEAUTIFUL Easter eggs!

The pair try teach the reader how to dye eggs, but there’s a problem – whenever Skunk gets excited, he sprays. And he gets excited a lot. Eventually, the Easter bunny has to add a new step in the Easter-egg making process – remove Skunk from room. But all ends well – the Easter bunny needs an assistant to hide the eggs, right?

If you’ve seen Thomas’s other books, than you know what to expect from the illustrations. The vivid colors and thick black outlines set against spare backgrounds are tailor-made to be viewed from a distance. The purpose is clear – this is a book meant to be shared with a group.

Make sure you add The Easter Bunny’s Assistant to the growing ranks of Jan Thomas read-aloud standards.

Review copy from the publisher.

Also reviewed by Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Lori Calabrese, The Children’s Book Review.