I Love You Bunny

It's bedtime for Suzy, but she's scared that a monster might come into her room when she's asleep. Fortunately, she has Bunny to look after her – but, in the early hours, when a shadow crosses the room, Bunny disappears. Where is Bunny, and who will chase the monsters away for Suzy now? Poor Suzy is upset until Misty the cat appears, holding Bunny in her mouth, and Mummy reminds Suzy that things can look bigger and scarier in the dark. And, Suzy's lucky that now she has Bunny and Misty to look after her.

Alina Surnaite's debut picture book is quiet but full of emotional resonance. Exploring the common experience of children being afraid of monsters in the shadows, Suzy's story doesn't shy away from how scary it can be to imagine there are bad things in your room at night, but shows children that there's nothing to be afraid of. The soft pastel artwork, often full of shadow, is a perfect context for the story and Surnaite has a lovely eye for the warmth of detail in drawing animals and young children. If you liked The Lost Kitten by Kamako Sakai Lee, this has a similar feel.