Ewe and Aye

PreS-Gr 1—"Ewe and Aye were different. Ewe loved wheels, and Aye loved wings." Two eponymous cartoon animals provide the vehicle for this pun-based tale about a sheep and an aye-aye (or lemur). The animals unsuccessfully try to fly using either wings or wheels, and each comes to the other's rescue as their plans fail. Eventually they realize that by combining their expertise they can achieve their dream together. The exuberant cartoon art is drawn with strong black outlines and bright, flat colors. The goggle-wearing animals in their heart-soled sneakers are expressive and charming. The wordplay allows for two different ways to interpret the story: the specific story of the sheep and the aye-aye's friendship and their dream of flight and a broad, first- person account of friendship amid life's ups and downs: ("But Ewe couldn't hold on./And Aye couldn't let go./When Ewe got into trouble, Aye was there to help."). Unfortunately, the combined total of both interpretations feels more saccharine than satisfying. The wordplay is clever, and the art is sweet, but amid the vast field of picture books about friendship, this story never quite takes off.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN