Children will cheer for the bunnies—or for Mr. McGreely—as they delight in award-winning author Candace Fleming's clever sound effects and G. Brian Karas's vibrant, funny illustrations. Tippy, tippy, tippy, Pat! That's the sound three hungry bunnies make when the sun goes down and the moon comes up and Mr. McGreely's garden smells yum, yum, yummy. While he's dreaming of his mouth-watering carrots, the bunnies are diving over fences and swimming trenches to get the veggies first! Hammer, hammer, hammer, Saw! That's the sound Mr. McGreely makes when the sun comes up and the moon goes down and he sees what those twitch-whiskers have done....Nibbled leaves! Empty stalks! Mr. McGreely will build something bigger and better, sure to keep even pesky puff-tails away. After years of dreaming of planting a garden, Mr. McGreely finally takes hoe and watering can in hand and makes his dream come true. Unfortunately for him (but luckily for readers), this is not the happily-ever-after part of the story. Late one night, three hungry bunnies appear: "Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat! Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The next morning finds our farmer gnashing his teeth over the gnawed sprouts. So he builds a small wire fence. That night... "Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" So Mr. McGreely builds a tall wooden wall. You get the idea. Young readers will hang on every word until they find out, once and for all, who will win the battle of the broccoli. Packed with repetitive and onomatopoeic phrases, Candace Fleming's tale of man against nature will keep kids giggling--it may even inspire them to chomp on a few carrots themselves! G. Brian Karas's lively illustrations in gouache and pencil are full of visual wit, as the audacious "twitch-whiskers" patiently watch Mr. McGreely at his seemingly futile endeavors. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter Kindergarten-Grade 2-Mr. McGreely has always wanted a vegetable garden and when he finally plants one, he can't wait to taste his crisp, yummy produce. Apparently, three neighborhood rabbits are anticipating sampling the veggies as well, for "one night, when the sun went down and the moon came up," they appear. The next morning, the gardener awakens to find gnawed vegetables. In frustration, he begins to build a series of fences to keep the creatures away. Fleming has fun with language throughout the story, repeating the "Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" refrain every time the thieves sneak past the ever-extended and elaborate barricades into the garden. Finally, after building a stone guard tower, Mr. McGreely is able to thwart the animals-or is he? The surprise ending will have youngsters giggling. Illustrations, rendered in gouache with acrylic and pencil and utilizing deep shades of brown and green, have an earthy feel to them. They exude warmth and lend personality to the plotting pests. Pair this with Janet Stevens's Tops and Bottoms (Harcourt, 1995) for a hilarious hop through the garden at storytime. Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. *Starred Review* Ages 3-7. Like Phyllis Root's Rattletrap Car [BKL Ap 1 01], this charming picture book is filled with hilarious, slapdash problem solving and irresistible sounds. After years of wishful thinking, Mr. McGreely plants a garden and eagerly awaits his fresh vegetables. Unfortunately, a group of naughty rabbits nibbles his crop. Angry and determined, Mr. McGreely surrounds his plot first with a fence, then with a moat--but the rabbits easily overcome each obstacle. Finally, having surrounded the garden with a fortress akin to a maximum-security prison, Mr. McGreely is sure his vegetables are safe--until he opens the door to harvest his crop. Karas' sketchy, childlike illustrations wonderfully echo the story's humor and farce and make lovable characters of McGreely and the rabbits alike. But it's the words that will really capture the audience. Fleming describes the rabbits' shenanigans in playful streams of onomatopoeia ("Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat! Dig-scrablee, Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!") that will keep kids gleefully chanting along, while the rest of the story unfolds with the simple, captivating language of a good folktale. With all the lively action and slapstick comedy, this delightful offering is sure to be a huge crowd pleaser and a story hour favorite. Gillian Engberg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved G. Brian Karas has illustrated many children’s books, including Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! And Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide! by Candace Fleming; Incredible Me by Kathi Appelt; the High-Rise Private Eyes series by Cynthia Rylant; and Ivan by Catherine Applegate, which was a New York Times bestseller. His books have been named ALA Notables, Booklist Editor Choices, SLJ Best Books, and Boston Globe Horn Book Honor books. He lives in upstate New York. Visit him online at GBrianKaras.com. Candace Fleming has been honored with both the Margaret A