Publisher's Weekly Review

Readers in need of a little flattery will have no trouble finding it as Houran's unseen narrator insists that a parade of increasingly adorable animals is nothing compared to a certain young human. "Next to you," she begins, "the softest puppy in the world is only kind of cute.... A squirrel eating a doughnut with his tiny hands? Adorable, sure. But next to you? Meh. Just OK." Hanson (D Is for Duck Calls) doesn't drop the ball on her end-her impossibly fuzzy ducklings, wobbly-legged fawns, and baby bunnies with eyes as big as their ears set a high bar for cuteness. (They also create a bit of a Golden Books feel, fitting given Houran's former role as editorial director of that imprint.) Is there such a thing as cute overload? Maybe. As unequivocally cuddly as these animals are, the conceit starts to drag after a while. But Houran's irreverent tone and some clever details like an opening page where gift-givers can write the name of their favorite child, "who is just the cutest," get the job done. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.