Between You and Me

In a stirring picture book centering friendship, Sanders highlights the reassuring sentiments and moments that can exist between contrasting ideas. After one child moves house, a growing relationship forms with a new neighborhood playmate: “Between strangers and friends.../ ‘Hello.’ ” Figueroa’s visual storytelling overlays smudgy coloring with scratchy textures as the duo’s interactions provide opportunity for text to encourage empathy (“Between ‘What?’ and understanding.../ Listening”), sharing (“Between mine and yours.../ Ours”), and more. As the children romp across green fields amid skies and trees washed in varied shades of pink, they engage in play, occasionally accompanied by round monster-like beings. Turning to inky, starry nighttime scenes, the book concludes by gesturing toward the infinite well of experiences and understanding to be found in companionship, closing out a moving picture of bonds that can connect. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)