Navigating through friendships can be tricky sometimes -- especially when friends see the world in different ways. Sometimes these differences cause friends to disagree.
Author/illustrator Kelly Light's latest book Louise and Andie: The Art of Friendship (Balzer + Bray, 2016) is indeed a story of friendship. Light's previous work is the first book in this series, Louise Loves Art (Balzer + Bray, 2014).
Light, K. (2016). Louise and Andie: The Art of Friendship. New York: HarperCollins Children's Books.
New neighbors are moving in, and Louise and her brother Art (and her cat) head out to greet them, hopeful for a good connection. When they meet Andie and her dog Bacon, Louise is happy to know that Andie loves art, too. The new friends decide to collaborate on a drawing, and all is well for a bit. But when the two friends disagree over "artistic differences", Louise and Andie part ways. Determined to fix things, Andie takes the first step and visits Louise (who is feeling just as sad about their squabble). Realizing the creative potential of their alliance, their friendship is restored, and they make plans for future projects. Using Prismacolor pencil, Light illustrates the lighthearted story in vibrant and vivid shades of blue, red, and later, yellow, reminiscent of everyone's first (and well-loved) watercolor sets. The girls' pets add humor and a second layer to the story, as they, too, become friends. Sparse text and dynamic panels and spreads combine to give readers a tale of a friendship tested and nurtured.
The title of this book is fitting: Louise and Andie do show that friendship is sometimes an art. Each takes a different approach. Louise shows how to make a friend: she visits Louise first, excited upon Andie's arrival. And Andie, after their disagreement, breaks the ice by going to over to Louise's -- earnestly trying to fix it all. In a friendship, both will be required to lead the way to resolutions.
Finally, the word "art" in the title alludes to the ways Light uses color and character to act out this story. Bacon (Andie's dog) and Louise's cat are -- through their own interaction -- working out their own mini-version of their owners' friendship, through perhaps in their own way. Bacon is the more outwardly friendly (vs. Louise being the first to reach out to Andie), and The Cat is the one that must be won over. In regards to color, Louise's signature red eyeglass trim, and Andie's cool blue tint on her glasses further makes their differences clear. They literally view the world through different lenses. Notice also that Louise wears sneakers and Andie wears boots.
I found many layers to this story, as I usually like to do with picture books. Read it several times, just like I did.
Read it for the story, then the pictures, then read it again --
Just because.
Here's the book trailer for Lousie and Andie: The Art of Friendship.
Just because.
Here's the book trailer for Lousie and Andie: The Art of Friendship.