DUET

Sora and Sarah learn an unusual but satisfactory solution to the eternal problem of “two’s company, three’s a crowd” when Sora’s new friend, Kay, enters the world of the sisterly “duet.”

A pretty series of line drawings filled with partial watercolor washes and decorated with such whimsies as flowers, musical notes, cupcakes and leaves illustrates the tale. The text is composed of large-type phrases and sentences about the closeness of Sora and Sarah throughout the seasons. “Twin souls, friends forever. ‘I know your mind, Sarah.’ / ‘I feel your feelings, Sora.’ ” One particularly sweet and original sentiment finds one suggesting, “Let’s put soil and seeds into our winter boots. When shoots peek out we’ll have grown, too.” Sora, apparently the slightly older of the two, goes off to school, leading to the arrival of Kay on a cold winter’s day. The fact that Sora’s initial reaction is to banish Sarah to a closet is an unexpectedly dark note in an otherwise light tone. Fortunately, the closet is a pretty one and not entirely black: “Sarah sits in blue darkness.” Young readers will readily identify both with Sarah’s hurt and with Sora’s discomfort about hiding Sarah from Kay, and they will be relieved as Kay inadvertently offers a perfect solution for everyone.

The delightful illustrations do not quite make up for Sora’s breathtaking, virtually unquestioned unkindness.