Between You and Me

K-Gr 2–When a young white girl with red hair moves into a new home, a young Black girl with braids next door visits, and the two become fast friends. Over the course of the day, they climb trees, talk through cups on a string, and frolic through a world created by their shared imaginations. Each spread includes the prompt, “between (blank) and (blank)” followed by a line describing what happens in the middle. For instance, between “what?” and “understanding” is “listening.” Heady stuff! The philosophical text is paired with, at times, psychedelic illustrations filled with cute monsters and toys flying through the night sky. Artwork is digital, in a pen-and-ink-meets-watercolor style. Both mundane and fantastic realms have a near-tangible texture that keep the characters rooted in their environment, whether they are exploring their backyard or outer space. The lighting is especially nice, with the time of day progressing as the girls’ friendship develops. The night glows when their stars come together and shine.