Ten Things I Love About You

November 5, 2012
Kirk borrows from the comic rhythms of Abbott and Costello (or is it Burns and Allen?) in his funny tribute to friendship. Pig is sitting thoughtfully at his desk when Rabbit stops by to announce that he's making a list of "ten things I love about you." This is all well and good ("Wow, ten!" says Pig), except that Rabbit is a wee bit obsessive about it. Everything Pig says or does becomes fodder for the list, including his growing frustration with Rabbit's relentlessness. "I'm starting to lose my patience!" immediately inspires entry "Number 6âI love Pig because he's not afraid to show his feelings." Kirk (the Library Mouse series) pulls a sweet switcheroo in the final pages of his storyâPig turns out to have list-making ambitions of his ownâbut not before readers will be chuckling at how two like-minded souls can find themselves at cross-purposes. Kirk's visual style is a departure of sorts: instead of his customary sculptural renderings, his digitally colored drawings, painted on plywood and outlined in scraggly ink, give the proceedings a warm, handcrafted feel. Ages 5â8.

Starred review from November 1, 2012
Rabbit and Pig join the ranks of duos that grapple with the intricacies of friendship--and impressively stand out. Small, gray Rabbit adores Pig so much that he is writing a list of 10 favorite things he loves about his porcine pal. While Pig is touched, he is also "kind of busy." As Rabbit repeatedly interrupts and often annoys Pig, his friend's exasperated remarks actually inspire more "things" for Rabbit's list. Both young readers and adults will chuckle as Rabbit's unflappable good nature and earnest requests for help progressively take a toll on Pig's patience. When Pig begs Rabbit to leave him alone with a strongly expressed "PLEASE, RABBIT," Rabbit smiles and writes, "Number 7--I love Pig because he is polite and always says please." In less-deft hands this back and forth could grow tiresome, but Kirk gets the comic timing just right. His pictures engage the eye as well, with a technique in which painted wood panels and ink-on-paper drawings are scanned and then digitally augmented with colors and more textures. The story comes full circle when Rabbit notices a sheet of paper that Pig has dropped. Although great for reading aloud, put this at the top of the list for using as a springboard for creative writing or a discussion starter about what qualities make a good friend. (Picture book. 5-8)

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March 1, 2013

K-Gr 1-A sweet book about friendship and having a positive outlook. Rabbit decides to make a list of the 10 things he likes best about his friend, Pig. Pig is a little impatient with Rabbit's frequent interruptions to show him his progress, but each little annoyance from Pig becomes a positive thing for Rabbit to add to his list. When Rabbit rings Pig's bell to ask for his help with the list, Pig replies, "This is your list, Rabbit. Only you know what to say." This sentiment is reflected in item #3 on the list: "I love Pig because he believes in me." The positive twists are refreshing-there are two ways to interpret Pig's impatience, and Rabbit unfailingly looks on the bright side. The book ends with Rabbit discovering why Pig has been so busy-he has been writing his own list of reasons why he likes Rabbit. Kirk's illustrations perfectly capture Rabbit's always cheerful nature and Pig's growing irritation. Large, simple figures on uncluttered backgrounds make this title ideal for group sharing. The story provides a framework for looking for admirable traits in classmates and feeling acknowledged by others and would be a good choice to prompt discussions, suggesting that students find positive things to say about one another.-Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME

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