A great picture book for beginning readers relies on two simple, repeated phrases and illustrations to tell the story of two animal friends, a rabbit and a mouse, and their picnic (mis)adventure. “Good news!” The rabbit holds up a picnic basket. Careful readers may or may not notice the foreshadowing in the illustration: The sky above rabbit’s head is blue, but there’s an ominous wall of gray clouds approaching behind mouse. This sets the stage for “Bad news” as a turn of the page reveals mouse in the rain. “Good news” is that rabbit has an umbrella. “Bad news” is that the wind catches it, blowing umbrella and mouse toward a tree. And so it goes, with rabbit ever the optimist, and mouse ever the pessimist—or just unlucky—as the day delivers not just rain, but a worm in his apple, a bear in a cave, and, the final straw, a friend who is always looking up. It takes a little tantrum, and rabbit’s hurt feelings, for mouse to finally see the bright side of life in Jeff Mack’s engaging, funny story. (Ages 3–6)

Good news, Rabbit and Mouse are going on a picnic. Bad news, it is starting to rain. Good news, Rabbit has an umbrella. Bad news, the stormy winds blow the umbrella (and Mouse!) into a tree.

So begins this clever story about two friends with very different dispositions. Using just four words, Jeff Mack has created a text with remarkable flair that is both funny and touching, and pairs perfectly with his energetic, and hilarious, illustrations.

Good news, this is a book kids will clamor to read again and again!