Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a stirring picture book centering friendship, Sanders highlights the reassuring sentiments and moments that can exist between contrasting ideas. After one child moves house, a growing relationship forms with a new neighborhood playmate: "Between strangers and friends.../ 'Hello.' " Figueroa's visual storytelling overlays smudgy coloring with scratchy textures as the duo's interactions provide opportunity for text to encourage empathy ("Between 'What?' and understanding.../ Listening"), sharing ("Between mine and yours.../ Ours"), and more. As the children romp across green fields amid skies and trees washed in varied shades of pink, they engage in play, occasionally accompanied by round monster-like beings. Turning to inky, starry nighttime scenes, the book concludes by gesturing toward the infinite well of experiences and understanding to be found in companionship, closing out a moving picture of bonds that can connect. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Dec.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two children meet and become friends. A young Black child watches new neighbors move into the house across the street. Along with all the moving boxes, the youngster spots a light-skinned, red-headed child wearing a bright green froggy hat. As the vivid illustrations clearly chart the budding bond between these two, the words illuminate the ups and downs of forging friendship. The text consists of phrases beginning with the wordbetween: "Between yesterday and tomorrow…Today." "Between strangers and friends…'Hello.'" Sanders and Figueroa provide glimpses into the intricate dance that is making friends. Waiting and listening, for instance, are crucial to building the trust that friendship requires. The illustrations help readers see that those in-between moments are made up of seemingly small but important decisions--early examples of developing emotional intelligence. As the narrative progresses, the friendship blossoms, and the two children embark on heartwarming, imaginative adventures. Scenes depicting the kids' wild flights of fancy incorporate objects from the real world: Cute plushies become adorable creatures that chase the friends; cardboard boxes turn into flying contraptions. The visuals feature deeply saturated blues, purples, and pinks as the pair romp through trees, ride a flying bed over a waterfall, and more. This successful marriage of word and image respects the internal feelings of the very young. The beginning of a beautiful friendship, lovingly depicted.(Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
