FICTION

Friendship Is like a Seesaw

by Shona INNES
9780764167485. ea vol: illus. by Irisz Agócs. 32p. (Big Hug). Barron's. 2014. Tr. $10.99.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—These two adorable picture books take on the themes of friendship and death. In Friendship, a variety of creatures (hedgehog, rabbit, elephant) dole out wisdom ("When a friendship is even on both sides, it is balanced"), advising kids on what to do when arguments or fights occur between pals. In Life, the animals are back, helping children deal with the concept of death. The author doesn't sugarcoat anything, instead illustrating the very real emotions that are part of the grieving process. The texts are simple and convey information in an understandable, age-appropriate way, while the soft drawings are pleasant, depicting the animals with expressive faces. Both books conclude with a note from the author aimed at parents. Gentle introductions on the complexity of friendship and the pain of loss.—Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH
In Friendship, animals illustrate a narrative describing the general ups and downs of friendship. In Life, animals model ways to cope when life "leaves the body" of a loved one. That these are overly purposeful self-help books for kids is mostly masked by the warm tone and affecting watercolors: it's hard not to feel compassion for a big-eyed porcupine excluded from a game. Review covers these titles: Friendship Is like a Seesaw and Life Is like the Wind.
Reviewed by Kris Hickey , Dec 01, 2014

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