Starring Me and You, by Geneviève Côté

This book is all kinds of adorable. A pig and a rabbit want to put on a play but they can't seem to get it together. First they're both too shy, then they can't agree on the costumes (pig wants to be a pirate, rabbit wants to be a flower), then they get frustrated and bread each other's stuff, until finally they're able to come to a compromise and put on a show together.

Geneviève Côté does a great job of helping children name their feelings--when I'm shy, sometimes I hide or sometimes I fake a smile--as well as identifying what other people are feeling based on their behaviour--when you smile like that, you look eager. This is an important skill that children need help to learn because it does not come naturally. If children have the language to talk about their feelings it can really help them express themselves without having a tantrum.

Speaking of language, I wonder if the book was translated from French. you don't always see the phrase "When I'm eager" in a children's book. It's not incorrect, it's just more common to see a word like "excited" instead. I should try to track down the French version (if one exists)!


BOOK DETAILS:
Starring Me and You
Author/Illustrator: Geneviève Côté
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2014
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Source: NetGalley
About the Author/Illustrator

ILLUSTRATIONS:

MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR:

Entre toi et moi
(it does exist!)

Mr. King's Castle
(my review)

Without You