Just six weeks after little Shylo left his mother and family out in the country warren, he is being called upon by the Royal Rabbits of London to help save the Queen’s reputation. If the reader has not read the first book in this series, never fear, the highlights are recapped in chapter one. (The Royal Rabbits are true rabbits that protect the royal humans in England and have been doing so undetected for centuries.)
In this story, the nasty, foul Ratzis (no ordinary rats, but rats just the same) are out to humiliate the the President of the United States (POTUS) and the King and Queen of England at their state dinner in London. The head Ratzi – Papa Ratzi- has numerous TV stations and Internet web sites. He will destroy both of these world leaders and their countries’ alliance to each other in one embarrassing event on live TV. BAD NEWS SELLS!!
Papa Ratsi wants small, meek- mannered, brainy Shylo caught for ruining their last attempt to humiliate the Queen. Papa Ratsi wants Shylo interrogated to get all the information he knows about their nemicus the Royal Rabbits of London.
Meanwhile, the Royal Rabbits do not want to work with the Rabbits of the United States (ROTUS) in their mission to protect these two leaders on their home soil. And the ROTUS do not want to work with the Royal Rabbits to protect their president. Thank goodness the two leaders of these two groups insist both sides work together.
In a diversion, the Ratzis grab Shylo. Once this is known, the Royal Rabbits and ROTUS decide that their mission to protect their leaders comes before trying to rescue Shylo. Shylo, being the smart bunny that he is, figures this out for himself. He is on his own to escape. Shylo outwits his guard, escapes his prison, and succeeds in stopping the Ratzis plot.
Shylo, the small, smart, unassuming ‘bunkin’, saves the day, once again! Time to celebrate with the finest carrot juice and dancing down in The Grand Burrow beneath Buckingham Palace!
Meanwhile, Papa Ratzi , AKA Nibbles, is off in America “with his plans to cause havoc in the world, and neither was he finished with his plans for a weak but troublesome little bunny called Shylo.” (201)
After the story ends, the readers will have the chance to test their knowledge on 1) London Landmarks, 2) make a recipe from the story, 3) take a personality quiz, and 4) read ‘Top Ten Facts about the US President and the White House’.
Illustrator Kate Hindley’s illustrations (one per chapter) add to a rabbit’s point-of-view, how the reader will relate to the rabbits’ point-of-view, how stylish the Royal Rabbits are, and how foul the Ratzis are with great charm.
“The text of this book was set in Aged Book” which adds to the allure of British charm this book strives to present to the reader.