While We Were Out

Ho Baek Lee
Kane/Miller

This is a wonderfully imaginative story about a pet rabbit who takes advantage of her family's absence. After they leave one afternoon, she slips inside to explore the apartment and experience the things she has longed to try.

The illustrations are absolutely hilarious - the rabbit enjoying a treat on the couch, applying lipstick, reading books and playing with toys. The activities are just so un-bunny-like and ridiculous that you can't help but laugh. She leans back on the couch, sitting just like a human would, with a bag of chips wedged between her paws.

Right before the family returns, the bunny slips back into her place, hoping to keep her visit a secret. But will she remain undetected? It seems as if she has inadvertently left behind a trail of evidence.

The very best part of this book is how it get the readers engaged in imagining the wild things that might happen in their own homes. Does the dog browse the cupboards and eat the best snacks? Does the hamster build block towers and conduct toy car races on the wood floors? The possibilities are endless ....