Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/reading-matters/5024469/
In the ‘70s, my children and I loved Arnold Lobel’s stories of Frog and Toad, amphibians whose feelings and traits explored what it means to be, well, human. They were forever falling out and making up, as best friends often do. Thirty years later, Mo Willems’ series featuring Elephant and Piggie were my grandchildren’s favorites—they were best pals who, over and over again, argued, worked out their issues and moved on to new adventures. The making and keeping of friends is never without conflict but it is a skill that young children learn every day. Characters in some recent books can offer children stories that illustrate conflict resolution in action.
Yak and Dove are a new pair of unlikely friends. Yak is quiet, Dove is loud. One is furry-headed and one is flighty. You get the picture. After a terrible argument threatens to destroy their bond, Yak auditions all the other animals to be his new best friend and learns (of course!) that there is only one who is perfect. Kyo Maclear explores the arc of a special friendship in three very short, very funny stories. Yak and Dove by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Esme Shapiro (Tundra Books, 2017) ...