A pair of pears and an orange

A duo of pears adjusts to a new playmate. Together, a "pair of pears" teeter on a seesaw, play table tennis, and ride a tandem bike. Then Orange arrives and asks to join them. Little Pear immediately agrees, but Big Pear isn't so sure. The trio try playing tic-tac-toe, rowing a boat, and having a tug of war, but three's a crowd. Orange and Little Pear don't mind, but Big Pear feels "squeezed out" by "someone new and zesty" and leaves in search of a new playmate. When Big Pear encounters three peas jumping rope, she asks to join them. So the three peas and Big Pear try playing piggy in the middle and making a cheerleading pyramid, activities designed best for three. As the peas tuck into their night pod, Big Pear just doesn't fit. Missing her old friends, Big Pear returns with new games "perfect for three." Using humorous wordplay, the text sends the message there's always room for one more, a concept reinforced by the droll, quiet illustrations. Simple flat shapes in lime, orange, and ocher represent the pears, orange, and peas with minimal black lines suggesting their faces, limbs, and accessories. Variations in perspective, size, and placement of pear, orange, and pea shapes against the plain white, aqua, and gray backgrounds effectively create illusions of depth, time, and emotion for this small but expanding circle of friends. A mindful, whimsical lesson in inclusivity. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.