"A big dog. A little dog.
A spotted dog. A curly dog.
It didn't matter.
She'd know her dog when she saw him."
I really enjoy books that provide parallel stories sure to intrigue young readers. Such is the case here where a girl and a dog live lives that are similar, while never knowing the other exists. Joy has always loved dogs, and has hungered each day to have one. It can be a dog of any type. Jump loves kids. He always has; he always will. The type of kid matters not at all.
In each season, the two use familiar natural elements to fashion what their hearts desire. In spring, Joy uses flowers to build her dog. Jump uses ferns. Tulip, Joy's dog and Fern, Jump's kid satisfy for a short time, and then wither. Summer brings seashells and sand; thus, Shelby and Sandy. Waves bring them to their too-soon demise.
Through fall and winter, Joy and Jump continue with their mission to find a friend in the natural materials that are available to them. Readers watch these scenes play out on facing pages. A full spread in the middle of the book shows the two separated by a river, alone and dispirited.
When spring arrives once more, they make an amazing discovery. Flowers bloom where Tulip had once been; ferns flourish where Fern had been. As they revel in these discoveries, they just happen to spy one another. The resulting joy is palpable and will be much appreciated by young listeners.
"And Joy jumped for joy and
Jump jumped for Joy."
This is a clever and most satisfying story, accompanied by exceptional collaged artwork. Hadley Hooper's sepia-colored characters find their way to each other on pages filled with black-and-white images that will encourage careful attention and spark interest. When they finally find each other, their world is filled with brilliant color and much 'joy'. It's a book you will read countless times.
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