Easter Bunny Helper (Uni the Unicorn)

K-Gr 2--The latest title in the "Uni the Unicorn" picture book series originally created by the late Rosenthal is a cute, albeit bland, addition to Uni's adventures. In this story by Webster, Uni volunteers to find the Easter Bunny's missing eggs. Uni, as it turns out, is not a skilled egg hunter at all, but young readers will enjoy finding eggs hidden on each page while the unicorn remains cheerfully oblivious. Uni and the Easter Bunny work together to arrive at a predictable, happy solution that saves the holiday for the neighborhood children. Fiorentino's illustrations maintain the almost Rankin-and-Bass style of Barrager's originals, and the story pulls off a blithe, agnostic approach to Easter, much like the other holiday-themed Uni spinoffs. Although unicorns are an ever-popular subject for this age group, and one library can never have too many, this title does not offer the draw and pizzazz of similar books, particularly the originals from its own series. VERDICT A typical Easter tale that, for all its sparkle, lacks imagination. Purchase only where "Uni the Unicorn" is exceedingly popular.--Alexandra Quay