Pepper and Frannie
(Pepper and Frannie)

Pepper the rabbit is "practical and prepared, and follows the rules." Frannie, her friend, is "fancy and free, and follows her own path." Frannie's headed to Wheels in the Woods, a skateboarding festival, but she misses her bus; Pepper, who was planning a photography jaunt, gives her a lift. "STAY! STAY! STAY!" Frannie pleads, and Pepper finds herself learning how to skateboard. Despite her scatterbrained temperament, Frannie proves a gifted teacher, encouraging Pepper to persist through tumbles ("TRY! TRY... TRY!"), captured by Odell in lively vignettes. Though the skateboarding jargon sounds shoehorned in ("They shred"), the triumph Pepper expresses registers as completely genuine. "If I can do this," she says, surveying the forest skateboard path the two have just conquered, "I can do anything!" Odell's artwork conveys the joy of skateboarding at speed, the rabbits' ears flying behind them as they lean into the curves. Rule-follower Pepper's the hero, but so is impulsive Frannie--the story, about the joy of friends supporting each other and the elation of taking risks, needs them both. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2-Two rabbits are best friends and adventurers. Pepper is practical and likes to follow rules. Frannie is carefree and does her own thing. One day they both set out on separate trips, and Frannie gets in a mishap and Pepper comes to her rescue. Although they are both different, they find a way to share their interests and learn new things, such as skateboarding. The illustrations are soft, yet fun watercolors with pops of color where it is important. It is a mix between modern and classic images, such as the modern home Pepper lives in, and the classic Volkswagon bus Frannie misses. The text is easy to read and is punctuated with speech bubbles and attention-getting exclamations--STAY! TRY! SKATE! VERDICT A sweet story that teaches the meaning of friendship and the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and trying new things.-Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC