This happy tale of two friends focuses on the differences between a pair of best buddies and why they don’t matter. The duo is as disparate as night and day, from favorite colors and foods to clothes and playtime activities. Snappy, rhyming verses catalogue the partialities of each girl, alternately describing a tomboy and an aspiring glamour girl with a taste for finery. “I like jeans / and you like gowns. / I like caps / and you like crowns.” Their many differences notwithstanding, this high-spirited pair does find some common ground, as each set of dissimilarities is followed up with a description of things upon which they agree. The phrase “we both like being friends” becomes the rallying call for a more subtle meaning: beneath the playful tone lies a vital message for readers concerning not only the need for tolerance and acceptance but the many rewards and pleasures that result. Allen’s (Exploding Gravy, p. 337, etc.) energetic, full-bleed illustrations capture the unique individuality of each girl through dress, action, and expression. The comical background antics of the girls’ pets add to the overall charm. A delight to look at and a treat to read: a gem for best friends of any age to share. (Picture book. 3-8)
