Olive & Pekoe: In Four Short Walks – A Heartwarming Tale About Dog Friendship for Children (Ages 4-8)

Olive & Pekoe: In Four Short Walks – A Heartwarming Tale About Dog Friendship for Children (Ages 4-8)

A funny and engaging story about two dogs—one old and tiny and wise; one young and huge and boisterous—told in four short chapters by Jacky Davis, the bestselling author of the Ladybug Girl series. A perfect choice for emerging readers, fans of Dav Pilkey’s Big Dog and Little Dog, and dog people everywhere! Olive and Pekoe are best friends. Olive is an older dog who likes to take her time; Pekoe is a bouncy puppy with a nose for exploration. Together they make the perfect team. Pekoe fetches sticks for Olive, and Olive protects Pekoe from bigger, meaner dogs. They go on walks, encounter a chipmunk, and get caught in a rainstorm, among other adventures. Their escapades may be small but are nevertheless filled with excitement and love. In four short and easy-to-read chapters (or walks), New York Times– bestselling author Jacky Davis explores the nature of friendship in all its humor and drama. Giselle Potter’s lively and engaging watercolors are the perfect match to the story. Ideal for emerging readers, fans of Kelly DiPucchio’s Gaston , and anyone who loves dogs of all shapes and sizes! PreS-Gr 2—Olive and Pekoe are very good friends, but they are as different as two dogs can be. Pekoe, a young puppy, is adventurous and curious. Olive, an older dog with short legs, enjoys resting. On their walks, Pekoe tries to rouse Olive into play. Olive appreciates the gesture but never joins in. It becomes clear that Pekoe has much to learn about life. Olive gives the pup the space to explore and wonder about all the things they encounter. On one outing, Pekoe gets into a tough situation. Olive rescues him, and "they sit together and enjoy the day as good friends do." This picture book highlights the joy that can be shared among friends when they respect and celebrate each other's differences. VERDICT With its simple illustrations and accessible text, this title will delight young readers and help them to appreciate their friendships in new and exciting ways.—Maegen Rose, Rye Country Day School, NY “Potter’s impressive expressively naïve-style watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations perfectly nuance author Davis’s witty text. . . .this clever design visually and textually summarizes the story’s theme of friendship’s togetherness. A delight.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Davis and Potter celebrate a canine pair’s differences . . . Pekoe’s youthful enthusiasm and Olive’s hard-won wisdom are equally beguiling. Despite their differences, they are loyal friends, focused on what’s most important” - Publishers Weekly “Davis’s understated, just-the-facts text. . .is the perfect foil for Potter’s expressive art. The illustrations capture the ups-and-downs of canine life and friendship with understanding and humor—especially when it comes to Pekoe’s innocent naiveté. The book will touch the hearts and tickle the funny bones of dog-story readers and friendship-story readers alike.” - Horn Book (starred review) “Warm, colorful, somehow both fanciful and sophisticated. . . . A good reminder that one of the strongest cases for having a friend who is different is that you get to see the world through a different set of eyes.” - New York Times Book Review “This picture book highlights the joy that can be shared among friends when they respect and celebrate each other’s differences. With simple illustrations and accessible text, this title will delight young readers and help them to appreciate their friendships in new and exciting ways.” - School Library Journal Olive and Pekoe are best friends. Olive is old and very knowledgeable. Pekoe is young and very enthusiastic. Olive is small and slow. Pekoe is big and bouncy. Still, even though these dogs are opposites in almost every way, they each appreciate the other and enjoy wonderful walks together, including the four eventful excursions in this book. Jacky Davis,  along with her husband, David Soman, is the creator of the bestselling Ladybug Girl series as well as Agent Lion , a picture book about a silly but determined detective. The author lives with her family in New York’s Hudson Valley. You can visit her at blackpolka.com.