"I know, Jeff. I know. I chopped and I baked
all morning. And now all I have to show for it is
... a pile of sludge. I can't believe I've let you
down like this."
Jory John knows how to pen friendship stories for little ones that speak to them about some of the issues they face themselves. Anders, a hare, and Jeff, a bear, are good friends. In fact, Anders has started his day making a pie to take for their picnic later in the day. He leaves the warm pie on the windowsill while he heads outdoors for his morning constitutional. How is he to know it's going to rain?
When it does, he hustles back to save the pie. TOO LATE! As luck would have it, Jeff shows up at the door just as Anders slips and falls with the sodden pie lands directly on him. Jeff is totally oblivious to the problem. Anders does his best to come up with something special for their picnic now that the pie ruined. Jeff is left to wonder why Anders is out of sorts; he sets about trying to figure it all out. Anders insists it's nothing. Jeff is not so sure. The rest of the trip to their picnic spot features Jeff asking questions, offering help at every turn, and finally, setting up the picnic.
"OK, Jeff. OK. But please keep your expectations
at a 'medium.' Or a 'low.' Ot a 'super low.'"
It's time for Anders to tell the whole story. Jeff is unconcerned, as best friends are in the face of disappointment. Their next move in delightful!
Erin Kraan created her expressive and engaging artwork using woodcut and linocut prints, colored pencils, and then assembling the illustrations digitally. They give readers a clear look at setting and forest characters as the story is told.
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