When Andy Met Sandy (Andy & Sandy)

DePaola and Muppets writer Lewis kick off a picture-book series with a sunny story of first friendship, which follows a short, brown-skinned boy named Andy as he gets to know Sandy, a girl with round eyeglasses and a mop of curly red hair. The narrative bounces effortlessly between the children's perspectives. "She is new here," thinks Andy, as Sandy returns his gaze, wondering, "Is this his playground?" Rather than have the two connect instantly, dePaola and Lewis credibly portray each child's tentativeness, while emphasizing what they have in common through parallel phrases. "I bet she has lots of friends," thinks Andy; "I bet he wants to play by himself," muses Sandy. After each child imagines the benefits of playing together, they enjoy a playground activity that requires trust and cooperation: a seesaw. The acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations are classic dePaola, with spare lines, rich colors, and facial expressions that transmit heaps of personality and heart. Short sentences, large type, and the early-reader trim size will give beginning readers' confidence a boost. Simultaneously available: Andy & Sandy's Anything Adventure. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2--In a brand-new, not-to-be-missed series for young children, dePaola and Lewis introduce readers to Andy and Sandy. When Andy Met Sandy opens with a boy excited to see an empty playground, but within moments, a girl arrives. The two play independently, confident that the other will not want to be bothered, but after spying the seesaw, they realize playing together could have its advantages, and they become fast friends. In the second installment of the series, Andy and Sandy are playing dress-up on a rainy day. Once again dePaola and Lewis highlight the children making independent costume choices before realizing that teamwork allows them to dress up as a dragon. The authors carefully craft their story to avoid gender stereotypes when assigning each character's costume. The design layout in these early readers is flawless. Wordless spreads show sequencing and slow readers down as they digest the stories. Watercolor illustrations that help readers decode text are expressive and appealing. The repetition of sight words and simple sentence structures surrounded by plenty of white space are ideal for young readers and encourage independent reading. The depth of the stories also make them perfect for shared readings and discussions. VERDICT Andy and Sandy belong in every beginning reader collection.--Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH