Title: The Adventures of Mr. Fuzzy Ears: The Mystery of the Missing Bunnies
Author: Donna Carr Roberts
Publisher: Mr. Fuzzy Ears LLC
ISBN: 978-0-578-63576-7
Pages: 54
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Hollywood Book Reviews
A daring dog leads the way to the enjoyment of nature as he cooperates with the cops and locates a group of mischievous bunnies.
Life for Mr. Fuzzy Ears seems ideal – he has some adopted siblings, a lovely cottage to live in and a garden where they can play together. One day his Dad comes home from work and suggests Mr. Fuzzy Ears might like to become a K9 Dog Police Officer for the University. What a great opportunity! Not only could he chase down bad guys, but he’d get to eat police donuts! The next day he is hired, gets a uniform and tours the campus, carefully peeing “on every tree” to make his presence known. Soon he gets his first assignment: find the campus bunnies who’ve all disappeared. He enlists the help of a mouse, Sqweekie, who can crawl in places that Mr. Fuzzy Ears can’t. After a delicious donut, they talk to an annoying squirrel, an evasive chipmunk, and a wise owl who gives them a clue to the missing bunnies’ whereabouts. Mr. Fuzzy Ears find the bunnies hopping around inside the Computer Building, enchanted with the Screen Things. He chastises them for messing with such nonsense and chases them outdoors to enjoy sunshine, companionship and carrots.
This is an engaging fantasy enhanced wonderfully well by the author’s vivid, believable artworks. Mr. Fuzzy Ears is perky yet winsome and the rabbits are soft and playful under Roberts’ deft brushwork. The plot is an easily understandable parable, suggesting that there’s no real vitality in Screen Things as compared with the joys of friendship, family and the great outdoors. Award-winner Roberts, who lives happily with four fuzzy-eared friends that undoubtedly inspired this fable, is projecting an idea many parents will agree with and wish to share with their children: put down the tablet and explore the outside world for a healthy change of perspective. Her book will make an enjoyable parent/grandparent read-to as well as good reading exercise for younger children, and all will appreciate the colorful illustrations splashing across the pages.