We Are Going to Be Pals!

Even a classic symbiotic relationship can get off to a rocky start, Teague (King Kong’s Cousin) shows in this verbally and visually rich comedy. The impassive Rhino—the book’s acrylic spreads home in on its sculptural bulk—seems perfectly content alone. An incessantly chatty egret is determined to get the relationship wheels turning, though, and with the sun-drenched, blue skies of the savanna forming a single-plane backdrop, the bird tries to ingratiate itself, unctuously prattling about the principles of friendship and even trotting out dad jokes (“You will have no egrets about that. Ha-ha”). When the rhino momentarily drops its stolid demeanor, bucking the egret off its horn, the bird presses on: “Let that be a lesson to both of us—a lesson about respecting personal boundaries!” But even though its unrelenting delivery receives little response, the egret is right about what it takes to be a good a friend—respect, compromise, communication, and kindness (“And loyalty and honesty and appreciation, of course”)—and when the bird gets trapped in quicksand, the rhino exhibits all these qualities in its own inimitable way. Birds of a feather may flock together, but successful friendships involve finding someone whose heart is in the right place. Ages 4–8. (June)