Description: David Litchfield's luminous illustrations beautifully flesh out these characters. . . Maguire's descriptions of [Cress's] dark moods, bursts of anger and fear that she will end up like her father are piercing and sensitively written. . . . the story strikes a resonant chord: Like Cress, we must all continue to seek pleasure and connections in a dangerous and uncertain world. --The New York Times Book Review Maguire's narrative offers wry puns, rich vocabulary, and entertaining dialogue, and Litchfield's glowing, slightly stylized, full-color illustrations present an enchanting, magical peek into this woodland world. . . . Warmhearted and utterly charming . --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) In this richly imagined woodland adventure, a grieving rabbit family--Mama, Cress, and baby Kip (with stuffed carrot "Rotty" always in tow)--must leave their comfortable warren to start over without their lost Papa. . . . Dark and shimmery full-color digital illustrations build on the text's singular atmosphere. . . . With its brisk plot, witty details, and thought-provoking concepts , this gloriously illustrated chapter book makes an ideal family read-aloud. --The Horn Book (starred review) A hungry fox, a sneaky snake, a blundering bear, and "human beanpoles" add drama and suspense to Cress' mini adventures, which are luminously depicted in Litchfield's color illustrations. . . this novel of family and friendship will please fans of animal fantasies . --Booklist A surreal episodic narrative. . . . Maguire channels multiple children's literary golden ages, with allusions to Beatrix Potter and Kenneth Grahame alongside nonsense notes of Norton Juster and Russell Hoban. Theatrical situations abound . . . . Suitable for sharing and reading aloud, this exuberant tale revels in the performative and the flavor of language. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) This coming-of-age story with a female rabbit as the main character will appeal to readers who enjoy gentle adventure stories with an emphasis on character development. . . . Themes of family, friends, relationships, and independence abound in this novel. --School Library Connection David Litchfield's illustrations (see right) have such bright, glowing colors that even the nocturnal scenes seem bathed in light. --The Wall Street Journal 'Wicked' creator Gregory Maguire offers a marvelously eccentric cast of animal characters and vivid poetry celebrating the wonders of the natural world in this beautifully written coming-of-age tale of a young rabbit. . . The glorious full-color illustrations, with the dramatic use of light reminiscent of the best movie animated classics, are by English artist David Litchfield. --The Buffalo News Charming . . . There's plenty to chew on here, with Cress' story never preachy but sure to resonate in all kinds of ways with young readers. David Litchfield's illustrations -- many full-page -- glow with the colors of the forest and the faces of its critters. --The Star Tribune The book is rife with similes and metaphors, and the chapters are short, which makes it a wonderful read-aloud . It is a tale of moving on, while remembering the past. --The Denton-Record Chronicle Who knew that rabbits and squirrels had so much to teach us about both the hard and tender times of life? Gregory Maguire, that's who. Cress Watercress is a clear-eyed lesson in picking up and moving forward, living with unanswered questions, and making new friends. I will recommend this beautifully written (and perfectly illustrated!) book to everyone . --Ann Patchett, New York Times best-selling author of The Dutch House

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