ANNOTATION

Sophie is unhappy when she loses her stuffed rabbit at the airport on the way home from summer vacation, but then she begins receiving letters from him as he visits various places before returning home for Christmas.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Curious children of all ages will be amazed as they share the adventures and letters of a stuffed rabbit who travels the globe.

At the end of vacation something terrible happens: Sophie's cuddly rabbit, Felix, disappears in the airport. This is very, very bad, because Sophie and Felix are inseparable. But when school starts again, suddenly a letter for Sophie arrives from London-a letter from Felix!

And that is only the first letter that her cuddly rabbit sends her from his trip around the world. More letters come-from Paris, Rome, Cairo, a safari in Kenya, and New York. Felix's humorous and informative letters describing the lands and people he visits are included here in six genuine, stamped envelopes.

Curious bookworms of all ages will be delighted as they experience the adventures in this touching stuffed-animal story. Real letters and a little suitcase with souvenir travel stickers make this world tour spring to life.

Other Details: Over 50 full-color illustrations 32 pages 8 1/2 x 8 1/2" Published 1994

Author Biography: Annette Langen is the author of all of Felix's adventures. Constanza Droop is a graphic designer and artist whose work has been published in numerous books, including all of the Felix story books.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In one of the inaugural titles from the Abbeville Kids imprint, Sophie's family is returning from vacation when her stuffed rabbit, Felix, disappears in a crowded airport. Readers will spot the lost toy on the luggage conveyor depicted in the first of Droop's cheery, busy spreads. As the distressed child goes home, Felix embarks on a whirlwind international tour, communicating with Sophie via five letters (which can be removed from envelopes attached to the pages). After each epistle describes the rabbit's sightseeing adventures in London, Paris, Rome, Cairo, Kenya and New York City, Langen fleshes out Felix's travelogue with additional information about the locales. Though its format obviously recalls the Jolly Postman books, Langen's wordy, occasionally awkward narrative lacks the ingenuity of those works. There are, however, several fetching extras: also tucked into the envelopes are a color snapshot of Felix in front of the Eiffel Tower and a ``secret pyramid map'' from Egypt; and-when he finally arrives home on Christmas Eve-Felix carries a suitcase containing six travel decals. All ages. (Oct.)

Children's Literature - Marya Jansen-Gruber

Sophie's dearest treasure and her best friend is missing. When Sophie and her family were in the airport on their way home from their vacation her toy rabbit, Felix, disappeared. The family searched and searched for him but they could not find Felix anywhere. So, heartbroken, Sophie had to come home without her beloved rabbit. Some time after she got back she got a letter. It was from London and it was from none other than Felix, her missing rabbit. Felix was seeing the sites and getting a feel for London and the English people. Sophie is so excited that she asks her father to find some more information about London and soon the two of them are looking the city up in an encyclopedia. The next stopping point for Felix is Paris and with her Grandmother's help Sophie learns something about the city and about French food. Felix goes on to visit Rome, Cairo, Kenya, and New York. From each place he sends his mistress a letter describing the things he has seen and experienced. As soon as she gets the letters Sophie tries to find out more information about the country Felix is in. Her family helps her do this, and by knowing something about the place where Felix has landed himself, Sophie feels closer to her favorite toy. Always, in the back of her mind, Sophie wonders when Felix will come home to her. She misses him dreadfully and he has been gone such a long time. In this charming, colorful book the reader will discover all sorts of new things. Each of Felix's letters can be taken out of its envelop and read. The facts about Felix's destinations are presented in an engaging way; so much so that the reader won't realize that he or she is having a mini geography and history lesson. Cities faraway seem closer and more accessible, and the reader can enjoy the pleasure of wondering where Felix will go next and when he will return to Sophie. 2003 (orig. 1994), Parklane Publishing, Ages 7 to 10.