Magnolia the Bunny explores the grove she lives in and has created a map of all the wonderful places she and her friends are able to see there. However, she has one spot she has not completed on the map. Can she finish it in time for the big revel at the Walnut Animal Society Soiree? To try and finish her map, Magnolia and a couple of her friends (who are curious like their manifesto tells them to be) go off to explore that last spot and find a delightful surprise.
This is the second book in the Walnut Animals Society series (the first Henry’s Bright Idea) which I missed. This probably explains why there are a few holes in the story. It seemed to me that the book started in the middle of the story. However, it can be enjoyed as a standalone story as well.
There are delightfully whimsical and airy illustrations. The text and feel of the illustrations give it a classic, old world field. Some language I felt might have been a little adult or European in nature (to be honest I was taken back by the use of the word soiree). The names of the characters (while delightfully unique) are also “old fashioned” to the modern reader: Margaux the Kitty and Chester the Raccoon and of course, Magnolia the Bunny. However, I love that it is not Cat the Kitty or Katie Kat (also delightful names, but the “double letter” always sound harsh to my ear).
As usual, I think that a very young reader might not sit for the whole story, but a toddler to around age five could enjoy. I would also say it might be a fun book for an adult. It might not work for the classroom outside of a read-aloud. I am not sure how (unless you were studying maps and map making) how it could fit into the curriculum.