  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 09/02/2012 With his combat boots, collar spikes, and pointy claws, Big Mean Mike is one tough dog. He is therefore appalled by the adorable fuzzy bunnies that have taken up residence in his muscle car. The cute creatures threaten Mike’s bad boy reputation, particularly when they accompany Mike to a monster truck show, but by that point Mike’s heart is already softening (“Gosh, you guys are cute”). In fact, when confronted by some fellow toughs after the show, he stands up for his newfound friendship: “I can hang out with whoever I want! I like these bunnies. They know how to have a good time. And they’re adorable! Any of you got a problem with that?” Knudsen’s oddball friendship story is immensely appealing, and the humorous combination of Mike’s tough-guy trappings with adorable, fuzzy bunnies ensures that this will reach a wide swath of the juvenile population. While the involving storytelling and clear illustrations make this a natural readaloud choice, the straightforward vocabulary and short, direct sentence structure make this accessible for young solo readers as well. Magoon’s digitally created illustrations feature saturated, slightly smoky colors, black outlines, and strong compositions, and the contrast between the toothy, heavy-browed Big Mean Mike and the smudgy, rosy-cheeked, white bunnies is both striking and hilarious. A parting scene in which the bunnies, clad in cool black shades, cruise around with Mike in his flame-emblazoned purple muscle car is particularly rib-tickling. It’s rare to find a book that will appeal to both the lovers of monster trucks and the kids who go into raptures at the sight of a fuzzy little critter; this is that book. JH - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Booklist - 09/02/2012 The eternal struggle between tough and tender gets a workout in this adorable book—although the protagonist would be furious at the word adorable. That’s because he’s Big Mean Mike, “the biggest, toughest dog in the whole neighborhood.” With spiked collar and leather jacket, he is the canine on the block that no one messes with, whether he’s buying new combat boots or heading to the gym. Potential embarrassment arrives in the form of a “very cute” bunny who pops up in his hot rod. Mike later finds two bunnies, and then three more. Boy, “their sweet little fuzzy faces” really get him steamed! It takes a showdown with canine bullies at the monster truck show for Mike to fess up how much he likes these cuddly little suckers. Knudsen has a blast picking away at Mike’s bad-boy exterior, while Magoon’s digital cartoon work contrasts the dog’s sharp lines and angry expressions with the cottony textures of the bunnies. Every kid likes something that isn’t cool to his or her peers; they should follow Mike’s not-so-mean example. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. School Library Journal - 10/01/2012 K-Gr 2—Big Mean Mike is a dog whose image is not supposed to include fuzzy bunny friends. As the toughest canine in the neighborhood, he wears silver spikes and combat boots and drives a big mean car that makes a lot of mean noises. One afternoon he finds a fluffy bunny in his car and leaves the sad rabbit on the sidewalk eating dust as he peels away. The persistent animal keeps returning with friends until the day of the Monster Truck Show when there are four incredibly endearing bunnies gazing at him. Dropping his macho image for just a moment, Mike gives in to their sweet, pleading faces and takes them in to watch the show. Knudsen has created a tough guy with a soft heart who ultimately chooses his friends despite what others may think and still manages to be himself. Magoon's bunnies are digitally rendered with soft, fuzzy edges but are just as tough on the inside as Mike is on the outside when they growl at the crossbones-adorned bullies picking on their large companion for hanging out with uncool friends. Readers will fall for the adorable bunnies and cheer Mike's new devotion to them. Share this doggedly worthy read-aloud during your favorite friendship-themed storyhours for a lot of growls and laughs.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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