MOMO AND SNAP ARE NOT FRIENDS!

A crocodile and a monkey learn the value of friendship.

When Momo and Snap first meet, they are anything but friends. In fact, they are downright rivals. Momo shows off his impressive monkey sounds: “Ooo ooo aaa!”; Snap responds with a loud “Rrrrrg!” Momo snarls and says, “Scree!”; Snaps lets out an angry “Hiss!” Momo jumps into a one-handed handstand, but Snap can do acrobatics too. And juggling bananas? Snap can balance them on his snout! This one-upmanship continues on land and in water, until a trio of lionesses come looking for dinner. Snap suddenly scoops Momo up and rushes to the nearby bushes to hide. Their differences are forgotten, and a friendship is born! However, this simple plot has a twist in its telling. Anderson uses only sounds and bright, cheery illustrations to convey the story. Before Snap meets Momo, for example, he is out for a walk casually humming an adorable “Tum ti tum!” And when Momo is underwater, he bubbles, “Blip blip blip!” With few words, Snap, the stubby-legged crocodile, and Momo, the chubby, round monkey, give young readers a chance to turn into young storytellers.

A sweet reminder of how one act of kindness can change the course of many an argument.