17 Aug / Friends by Mies van Hout
Oh, oh, oh … just look at the mutually devoted eyeballs on that cover. Don’t you want to be a part of all that adoration and delight? All you need to do is open this beckoning book …
Welcome to Dutch artist Mies van Hout’s imaginative world of ingenious simplicity: one verb + one illustration of two friends = goofy, gleeful joy. Put all the stupendous spreads together and you have a succinct, perfect picture of the stages of friendship, from thrilling “play,” to the occasional “bore,” to a moment to “cry,” then “hope,” to finally “make up” and return to “laugh” and “cuddle.” All in a day’s work …
Van Hout’s fantastical creatures romp and battle, hang and emote, whine and grin, glance and dance, as they figure out the intricate details of how to care and nurture their relationships. While the intended audience might be our youngest readers, we would all – including every world leader, ahem! – do well to keep a well-thumbed copy on their desk!
Tidbit: Need more? Don’t we all? Be sure to grab some Happy, as well as Surprise!
Readers: Children
Published: 2012, 2013 (United States)