Two Brothers, One Tail

May 1, 2019
The unconditional love and companionship between a boy and his dog are celebrated in a poetic ode. Though physically different in obvious ways--one has two hands, the other four paws; one has 10 fingers, the other 10 claws--emotionally, they are one and the same, with an inseparable affection for each other. Throughout the day as they lie on the grass together, share an ice cream, sing and croon a tune, enjoy a car ride, run and play, and eventually wind down with a good read in bed, the unnamed dark-haired, beige-skinned boy and the beagle remain devoted to each other as playmates, friends, and, yes, brothers. Minimally detailed, curved pencil drawings with digitally added color and texture achieve a bold outlined style and provide sweet visuals with a flat perspective. The rhymed text of short quatrains mostly reads aloud with ease. "Two brothers one coat / Two brothers with hair / Two brothers one sheds / Two brothers who cares!" Devoted dog owners who encourage a siblinglike relationship between child and pet will readily identify. A gentle and loving illustration of the absolute bond between a boy and his canine buddy. (Picture book. 3-6)

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October 11, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-Two creatures do not need to be exactly alike in order to be best friends. A boy and his dog do everything together, and spend time counting the body parts they share and the ones they do not. While they both have ears and they both have eyes, only one has a tail and a snout. And only the other has hands and hair. Despite their differences, it is their similarities that shine, creating a bond of love and devotion that lasts through each day and into a lifetime. Dog lovers of all kinds will appreciate the unabashed affection portrayed by the two characters throughout this book. Delightfully simple illustrations depict the many adventures these two friends share, using a limited color palette to bring their world to life. The images are the primary focus of each page, as the text is limited in order to be accessible to very young readers. Short rhyming sentences carry the book, with each line being no longer than five words. Young children who are just learning to count will appreciate the opportunity to count along with the numbers described by the pictures, although not every illustration presents this opportunity. VERDICT Share this enjoyable read-aloud with preschool audiences, who will appreciate the repetition and rhyming that form the foundation of the text and the large, glossy illustrations on each page.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library

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