RAFI AND RITA

One-upmanship—with an emphasis on the “up”!

To the average viewer, twin giraffes Rafi and Rita are identical. They will be quick to correct you on that point, however, since Rafi is the tall one. Or is it Rita? Wild boasts begin with factual accuracy (Rafi says the animals below him “look like bugs”; Rita points out, “They are bugs”), then swiftly veer into extraordinary territory. While Rita explains that “I’m so tall that three people have tried to climb me and had to be rescued halfway up,” Rafi counters with, “I wear clouds as hats. That’s how tall I am. Clouds.” After Rita talks about how “traumatizing” it was to almost be hit by a shooting star, their battle of the brags is interrupted from above. Mama’s there to both put them to bed and to assure them that they are her “teeny-tiny littlest lovelies.” It’s all about perspective. Adult readers should be prepared for the many vertical flips the book physically requires, as the young giraffes’ exaggerations warrant the tallest read possible. Judge’s art relies on thick black lines and bright bold colors. The giraffes may never solve the question of who the tallest is, but readers will enjoy every step of the debate.

Sibling rivalry and braggadocio bolster this droll competition.