ALA Booklist (Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Adorable bunnies jostle for space in this stylish book about quiet time. One bunny, Jack, is tired of all the noise and activity from his neighboring bunnies, since he just wants to read his book, Space Bunny, in peace. A loud "SHUSH!" goes unheeded, as does the red boundary he uses to mark off the space he's claiming for himself. It's not until Jack makes a racket that the other bunnies finally leave him alone, and his book is exactly as satisfying as he'd hoped. Only, daydreaming about meeting aliens makes him remember all the things he loves about earth, like his other bunny friends. There's not much to the story per se, but Crane's appealing illustrations make up for the slim narrative. Her warm palette and round, expressive bunny characters flop pleasantly around the pages, and almost every scene is crowded with rabbits engaging in a wide variety of activities. Little ones who crave privacy will relate to Jack's plight, and his ultimate realization that company can be nice, too, is a lovely lesson.

Kirkus Reviews (Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

After finally succeeding in getting some privacy for reading, a little rabbit learns about balancing isolation and socialization.Although the cinnamon-brown bunny in a red turtleneck sweater is admirably gender-neutral throughout the text, the book cover ascribes it a male pronoun and the name Jack. Regardless, the uncomplicated text and the humorous art combine to create a story appealing to all. The layout consists of pure white, double-page spreads, filled with brightly contrasting rabbits. In the first spread, 21 comical, anthropomorphic rabbits do such things as dance ballet, leap, play musical instruments, and kick a soccer ball. The red-sweatered bunny is trying to read a book, the slyly titled Space Bunny. Large print announces the bunny's cross plaint over the general mayhem: "SHUSH! I want to look at my book!" Taking matters in paw, the bunny uses a red marker to draw a circle for privacy, eventually leading to two particularly engaging sequences of art: one documenting the physical process of settling in to read a book and one showing the bunny's imagination taking off with space creatures. A smaller, beige rabbit in a blue dress—possibly the protagonist's little sibling—crosses the line at a perfect time: the reader is feeling more than ready to leave solitary confinement and rejoin the other rabbits. A sweetly balanced affirmation of the child's right to space. (Picture book. 2-5)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In the midst of a crowd of dancing, singing, instrument-playing rabbits, another rabbit just wants a quiet place to read. He wears a cuddly red turtleneck, but he-s not a cuddly type: -Oi! All of you! Go away and play somewhere else! This is my space!- He draws a red line around himself. -Nothing is allowed over this line,- he writes in red letters. But when he finishes his book and emerges from its spell, the crowd he shooed away is off having fun without him. Suddenly he-s very much alone-until a small rabbit, a sibling perhaps, softens his mood with a wisp of magic. Goodheart (Little Nelly-s Big Book) affectionately explores the way children handle seesawing emotions and competing desires for privacy and companionship. Debut illustrator Crane-s noisy rabbits aren-t just filling space; each has a distinctive shape, props (pirate costume, trumpet, skateboard), and a winning expression. As a bonus, readers get a peek inside Space Bunny, the story that has so engrossed Goodheart-s main character, in which a rabbit astronaut wins over a group of green, three-eyed alien bunnies. Ages 3-5. (July)

School Library Journal (Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

PreS-Gr 1In a large rabbit family, it can be hard to find a quiet place. Little Rabbit just wants to be left alone to read his book, but there is so much noisy activity going on around him that he can't concentrate. He finally draws a large circle around himself and warns everyone else to keep out. After enjoying his book, Little Rabbit looks up and realizes that he is alone. He can smell something yummy and hear music and laughter, but, sadly, he is not a part of it. When Little Rabbit decides to share his space after all, the other rabbits drag, stretch, and reassemble the line that made up Little Rabbit's circle until everyone is a part of the space and having fun together again. Little Rabbit concludes that he needs a bit of space to himself from time to time. The rabbits are all different sizes and shapes with distinct personalities. Little Rabbit, wearing a red sweater, is easily recognizable, as is the younger sister who follows him everywhere and eventually gets him to open up his circle. VERDICT A general purchase for larger collections everywhere, this is an exuberant read-aloud for one-on-one and small group sharing.Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA