12/17/2018
Davis (the Ladybug Girl series) and Potter (Independence Cake ) celebrate a canine pair’s differences through four stories in this quiet picture book. Pekoe is a lolloping pup with boundless energy; Olive, Pekoe’s elderly dog friend, plods along behind him. The two walk a familiar path in the woods (“Pekoe adores playing with sticks... Olive prefers resting in the mud and grass”), get caught in a storm, meet a chipmunk (“Olive is not impressed.... Pekoe can’t believe how great it is that the world has chipmunks in it!”), and confront a mean bully at the dog park. In her characteristic paint-and-colored-pencil style, Potter pairs Pekoe’s frenetic leaps with Olive’s sedate poise, showing the two against the vibrant greens and chestnuts of woods, a yard, and a park. Pekoe’s youthful enthusiasm (“Pekoe cannot wait to meet another chipmunk”) and Olive’s hard-won wisdom (“Olive knows that there are many more chipmunks in the forest”) are equally beguiling. Despite their differences, they are loyal friends, focused on what’s most important: “It’s time for a snack!” The tales make for calming bedtime readalouds, all with the same peaceable message: dogs (and people) are who they are, no apologies necessary. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)
Warm, colorful, somehow both fanciful and sophisticated. . . . A good reminder that one of the strongest cases for having a friend who is different is that you get to see the world through a different set of eyes.” — New York Times Book Review
“Potter’s impressive expressively naïve-style watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations perfectly nuance author Davis’s witty text. . . .this clever design visually and textually summarizes the story’s theme of friendship’s togetherness. A delight.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Davis’s understated, just-the-facts text. . .is the perfect foil for Potter’s expressive art. The illustrations capture the ups-and-downs of canine life and friendship with understanding and humor—especially when it comes to Pekoe’s innocent naiveté. The book will touch the hearts and tickle the funny bones of dog-story readers and friendship-story readers alike.” — Horn Book (starred review)
“Davis and Potter celebrate a canine pair’s differences . . . Pekoe’s youthful enthusiasm and Olive’s hard-won wisdom are equally beguiling. Despite their differences, they are loyal friends, focused on what’s most important” — Publishers Weekly
“This picture book highlights the joy that can be shared among friends when they respect and celebrate each other’s differences. With simple illustrations and accessible text, this title will delight young readers and help them to appreciate their friendships in new and exciting ways.” — School Library Journal
Warm, colorful, somehow both fanciful and sophisticated. . . . A good reminder that one of the strongest cases for having a friend who is different is that you get to see the world through a different set of eyes.
New York Times Book Review
Davis’s understated, just-the-facts text. . .is the perfect foil for Potter’s expressive art. The illustrations capture the ups-and-downs of canine life and friendship with understanding and humor—especially when it comes to Pekoe’s innocent naiveté. The book will touch the hearts and tickle the funny bones of dog-story readers and friendship-story readers alike.
Horn Book (starred review)
03/01/2019
PreS-Gr 2— Olive and Pekoe are very good friends, but they are as different as two dogs can be. Pekoe, a young puppy, is adventurous and curious. Olive, an older dog with short legs, enjoys resting. On their walks, Pekoe tries to rouse Olive into play. Olive appreciates the gesture but never joins in. It becomes clear that Pekoe has much to learn about life. Olive gives the pup the space to explore and wonder about all the things they encounter. On one outing, Pekoe gets into a tough situation. Olive rescues him, and "they sit together and enjoy the day as good friends do." This picture book highlights the joy that can be shared among friends when they respect and celebrate each other's differences. VERDICT With its simple illustrations and accessible text, this title will delight young readers and help them to appreciate their friendships in new and exciting ways.—Maegen Rose, Rye Country Day School, NY
★ 2018-11-21
Olive and Pekoe are very different dogs, but they are the best of friends.
The friendship between Olive, an old, small dog, and Pekoe, a lively, large puppy, is presented in four vignettes of the walks the two dogs take together. Illustrator Potter's impressively expressive naïve-style watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations perfectly nuance author Davis' witty text. In "Walk One," Olive and Pekoe explore the woods, where "Pekoe adores playing with sticks" while "Olive prefers resting in the mud and grass." The friendship theme is humorously underscored when Pekoe brings Olive a "good stick," which Olive "just looks at…but she appreciates the gesture." "Walk Two" finds the duo unhappily caught in a thunderstorm—and here, Potter's illustrations relay atmosphere and dog expression with striking sophistication given their inherent simplicity. "Walk Three" features chipmunks, and "Walk Four," a canine bully. Each story contrasts, with a light, dryly humorous touch, the behavior of the elder, experienced Olive and the younger, enthusiastic Pekoe; and in each the theme of friendship is presented in a fresh, nonsaccharine way. Davis uses large words to convey the feelings of Olive ("Olive isn't overly concerned about the chipmunk's whereabouts"), but it fits the droll tone. The layout is consistent, presenting a full-page illustration opposite a page of text from spread to spread—until the final page, where the words and illustration are presented together; this clever design visually and textually summarizes the story's theme of friendship's togetherness.
A delight. (Picture book. 3-7)
