Don’t Laugh at Giraffe

Although Bird and Giraffe are constantly annoying each other, “you rarely see them apart.” When the odd couple, first seen in Giraffe and Bird, heads to the pond for a drink, Bird joins in with a zebra, flamingo, and hippo to laugh at Giraffe as he awkwardly tries to bend down and reach the water—eventually falling in. But Bird turns contrite when a humiliated Giraffe leaves the pond and conspires to include Giraffe in some good-natured laughter. Bender paints the animals against a bright savanna backdrop, emphasizing their emotional ups and downs with exaggerated facial expressions. The conversational text gracefully delivers a message about kindness and having a sense of humor. Ages 4–up. (Aug.)