Paul & Antoinette

Kerascoët (the French duo of Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset) presents a lovely slice-of-life story featuring a pair of thoroughly independent pigs who have little in common. Younger sibling Antoinette favors messiness, rambunctiousness, and outdoor play: tidying up after breakfast is one of her chores, since "licking the plates and sticky knives is her favorite thing," and she's no less shy about licking a wild snail out in the meadow, as Paul looks on with disgust. Paul's idea of a good time is cleaning the house and making intricate model ships, but although his conversations with Antoinette often highlight his cerebral side (on the meanings of flowers: "The gold button evokes joy, the daisy embodies innocence, the red poppy signifies remembrance"), the expressive watercolor artwork reveals his rich inner life (during one of Paul's cleaning spells, he imagines himself as a pirate, washing the floor like a swabbie and wielding a spray bottle like a pistol). It's a gently funny and emotionally observant portrait of the rewards of spending time with people who aren't just carbon copies of yourself. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr 2-This sweet story has many themes: sibling love, individual differences, acceptance, and sharing. Piggy siblings Paul and Antoinette get along well and are respectful of their dissimilarities. Antoinette likes her toast with jam and chocolate and offers to make some for Paul. He prefers just butter on his toast. Paul likes things to be clean and neat, and his sister likes to clear the table and lick the plates as she does. Antoinette wants to go outside and look for some juicy bugs. Paul wants to brush his teeth and work on a model boat. But eventually they go outside together. They are so different yet still take pleasure in each other's company. Paul gets ready for bed, and Antoinette surprises him with a decadent Everything Tart, which they both enjoy. Cheerful illustrations keep the story light and friendly, while the text explores some important issues. This is a celebration of how people can be different and still love each other and appreciate what each contributes to the other's life. The tale could spark discussions about introverts, extroverts, and individuality. VERDICT A tender and rewarding read-aloud for all collections.-Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Two sibling pigs who couldnt be more different spend the day together.Paul is a neatnik who loves to make sure everything is sparkling and in its place. Antoinette likes cleaning too, so long as it involves licking the plates and sticky knives after shes made her Two-Taste Toasts. Pauls idea of a good day is tweezing the parts of a model ship into place. Antoinettes is finding dead birds, bugs, and beetles. When Antoinette finally hauls Paul outside, hes inspired to think deeply about Ikebana, while she licks a snail, names it Edmond, and then tucks it into her pocket. Working in deeply hued watercolors, Kerascot (duo Marie Pommepuy and Sbastian Cosset) creates an appealing, adult-free world, neatly expanding on their wry text. When Antoinette throws herself at what Paul sees as a ferocious beastperhaps a bison, yeti, or werewolfreaders see an enormous, benign brown dog. Boisterous Antoinette has a perpetual (if ever changing) stain around her mouth; prim Paul wears glasses. It would be easy to paint Paul as an irredeemable prig, simply a foil to the dynamic Antoinette, but Kerascot refrains, simply endowing each little pig with oodles of personality, however contrasting; Antoinette splashes in every mud puddle, while Paul leaps elegantly over each one. No matter the differences, the affection between the siblings is manifest. That each little pig thoroughly subverts gender stereotypes is simply icing on one perfectly delightful cake. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kerascoët (the French duo of Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset) presents a lovely slice-of-life story featuring a pair of thoroughly independent pigs who have little in common. Younger sibling Antoinette favors messiness, rambunctiousness, and outdoor play: tidying up after breakfast is one of her chores, since "licking the plates and sticky knives is her favorite thing," and she's no less shy about licking a wild snail out in the meadow, as Paul looks on with disgust. Paul's idea of a good time is cleaning the house and making intricate model ships, but although his conversations with Antoinette often highlight his cerebral side (on the meanings of flowers: "The gold button evokes joy, the daisy embodies innocence, the red poppy signifies remembrance"), the expressive watercolor artwork reveals his rich inner life (during one of Paul's cleaning spells, he imagines himself as a pirate, washing the floor like a swabbie and wielding a spray bottle like a pistol). It's a gently funny and emotionally observant portrait of the rewards of spending time with people who aren't just carbon copies of yourself. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 2—This sweet story has many themes: sibling love, individual differences, acceptance, and sharing. Piggy siblings Paul and Antoinette get along well and are respectful of their dissimilarities. Antoinette likes her toast with jam and chocolate and offers to make some for Paul. He prefers just butter on his toast. Paul likes things to be clean and neat, and his sister likes to clear the table and lick the plates as she does. Antoinette wants to go outside and look for some juicy bugs. Paul wants to brush his teeth and work on a model boat. But eventually they go outside together. They are so different yet still take pleasure in each other's company. Paul gets ready for bed, and Antoinette surprises him with a decadent Everything Tart, which they both enjoy. Cheerful illustrations keep the story light and friendly, while the text explores some important issues. This is a celebration of how people can be different and still love each other and appreciate what each contributes to the other's life. The tale could spark discussions about introverts, extroverts, and individuality. VERDICT A tender and rewarding read-aloud for all collections.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME. Copyright 2016 School Library Journal.