June 1, 2022
A mysterious present at the park offers temptations. Sonny, a fox whom readers may recognize from Sonny Says Mine! (2021), has a problem. Should he or shouldn't he? He finds a box wrapped in polka-dot wrapping paper with a tag that says "For: Honey," and he's eager to know what's inside. He pokes and sniffs the box. "Something smells delicious." When Sonny's friends join him, he gives in to his curiosity and opens the box. Boo, a bespectacled rabbit, looks inside with him, but Meemo, a dog clad in wristbands and a headband, disapproves, repeatedly pointing to the gift tag, barking, and finally silently leaving with slumped shoulders. Meanwhile, Sonny and Boo do more than just peek inside the box. They dismantle the cake one delicious decoration at a time and then chunk by chunk. Honey arrives, sees Sonny's chocolaty hands, Boo's chocolaty face, and the open box, and sobs. Sonny and Boo feel horrible and apologize, but Honey continues to cry. Finally, Sonny suggests that they all bake a delicious new cake together, and even Meemo joins them, the friendships restored. Brightly colored illustrations and simple text combine for an all-too-relatable tale--with a delightful ending and a solid lesson--that will appeal to preschoolers. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Just the thing to help children deal with making a mistake--and amends. (Picture book. 3-6)
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October 24, 2022
Following Sonny Says Mine!, Hart and OHora’s second Sonny book finds the little round-headed fox and pals navigating impulse control. While playing hide-and-seek with yellow rabbit Boo, who sports red glasses, and black-and-gray dog Meemo, who’s decked out in exercise wear, green-hatted Sonny discovers an enticing polka-dotted gift box labeled “FOR HONEY”—a pink rodent friend who’s not on the scene. Sonny “really wants to know what’s inside,” but instead of waiting, or even asking first, Sonny opens the box and finds a “huge chocolate cake, covered in juicy, red strawberries!” Meemo barks objections and gestures emphatically to the gift tag, but Sonny and Boo “quick-quick” pick off the decorations and eat half the cake. Honey appears, regards the remaining cake and the chocolate-covered friends, and bursts into tears: “That was MY cake!” Realizing that an apology alone won’t make things right, Sonny instigates a cake-baking project. Is the new cake as conventionally cake-shop chic as the one Sonny and Boo thoughtlessly consumed? Maybe not, but as a symbol of a friendship repaired, it’s delicious. Crisp digital cartooning employs simple shapes, whimsical detailing, and a saturated color palette reminiscent of rainbow cake sprinkles, combining with play-by-play text for an age-appropriate exploration of how to handle regret. Ages 3–6.