Bunbun has the cutest bunny nose! The cutest bunny tail! TWO of the cutest bunny ears! But despite best efforts and indelible enthusiasm, Bunbun's missing the most important thing friend ("Hello, bird!" the little rabbit cheerfully waves in one panel; "Good-bye, bird," in the next, adorable ears drooping). Enter Bonbon, who Bunbun mistakes for a rock ("Hello, rock!"). Boy, does Bonbon set him straight: "I'm talking, but I'm not a rock!" Nope, Bonbon's a purple candy, with a purple candy shell and TWO candy eyes. A friendship is born. In a series of infectiously playful vignettes, Bunbon and Bonbon have a fancy party with fancy food where they use fancy words ("Like croissant?" asks Bonbon while Bunbun juggles flaky pastries). They eat donuts for lunch, and cement their new friendship. Large panels, visual cues, and clever page turns make this graphic novel from Keating, known for, among other things, her slickly entertaining nonfiction books, a dynamic pick for early readers. Its warmth and humor will earn it a bevy of young fans.

A perky rabbit and a fancy candy become best friends in this cheerful graphic novel.Bunbun, an all-white rabbit, has almost everything: "a delightful Bunbun nose, a winning Bunbun smile, a ridiculously cute Bunbun tail," and so on. But the one thing Bunbun does not have is a friend! Enter Bonbon. Initially mistaken for a talking rock, Bonbon is a bouncy, purple, and effervescently cheerful anthropomorphic piece of candy. The pair immediately becomes fast friends as they discover mutual passions for bouncing and for all things fancy: fancy vocabulary whether or not they know the meaning ("like croissant"), music, food ("fancy french fries and fancy ketchup!"). This all leads them to co-plan a fancy party! The story is virtually conflict-free; the most tension-filled moment is when the duo comes across a snake whom they assume to be a predator but who in fact is just looking for friendship too and ultimately joins their party. Both Bunbun and Bonbon remain ungendered throughout; neither is referred to with pronouns. Thick lines, clear borders, bright colors, and a bold, highly readable san serif type make this title ideal for newly independent readers or younger children looking for a first graphic novel to share with a grown-up. The multitalented Keating's debut graphic novel is perfect for fans of Ben Clanton's Narwhal and Jelly and Heather Ayris Burnell and Hazel Quintanilla's Unicorn and Yeti.This sweet volume is sure to bounce off the shelves. (Graphic early reader. 5-8)