Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley
Kindergarten-Grade 1—A simple tale of friendship between two children who are as different as night and day. Where Pearl is loud and boisterous, Charlie is quiet and thoughtful. When Pearl forgets her mittens on a cold day, Charlie helps to keep her hands warm. Conversely, when Charlie is feeling down, Pearl cheers him up. Clearly the audience can see that these children admire the opposing personality traits that they find in one another. Blabey's painterly illustrations, rendered in acrylics and mixed media on board, allow readers to see the texture of the canvas in the characters' faces, clothes, and even in the scenery. The sometimes curving text adds levity to Pearl's exuberant moments. Use this offering as a supplement for friendship-themed storytimes.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.