Even before I became a mother, I have always had a special love for picture books. For my Master’s degree, I chose to write about some of my favourite picture books. Later, when Little Dude showed up on the scene, I revelled in finally having a “reason” to buy as many gorgeous picture books as my arms could carry. For me, the very best picture books are the ones that tell a multi-layered story through sharply honed prose and pictures. I was already a fan of Kyo Maclear’s other books, but Yak & Dove is a new favourite. Luckily, I was given an advanced review copy of Yak & Dove from Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books.
Adorable Characters
Yak and Dove are instantly lovable because they are so forthright in their discussions about what it would be like to be twins, or in the minor annoyances that they face on a daily basis such as being too loud or too quiet. The pictures by Esme Shapiro compliment the quirky dialogue with the whimsical, brightly coloured creatures too. Yak & Dove‘s hilarious antics will have kids (and their adult counterparts) flipping pages pretty quickly!
Snappy Vignettes
What I loved most was the structure of this book. Each segment of the story was broken up by a beautifully illustrated heading, such as “Twins” and “The Audition.” It gave the story a larger, sprawling feel and even though the through-line carried along in all the vignettes, I felt like the story had layers. Because the words are all a dialogue between Yak & Dove, the pacing of this book is quite fast too. Even though the book isn’t longer than other picture books, I loved feeling like I had a longer time with the adorable Yak & Dove.
A Unique Message
I think what makes this story so honest and heartfelt are all of the moments where Yak & Dove discover how they are different, but find that they are still happiest together. The message carries through all of the vignettes in a fun, lighthearted way and it is a pleasure to watch Yak & Dove embark on their adventures together. (My favourite being “Yak & Quiet,” because I could not stop laughing at Yak’s “quiet garden.”)
The idea of being different, but compatible is a unique message, and I like that. Whether Yak & Dove were squabbling about being too loud and quiet or making up after a big fight, the message is clear: people who are different can love each other. I love this. I love this book. If you haven’t already, go and pick up a copy when it hits the shelves on September 19th. (And then, because all of her books are equal parts beautiful and funny, pick up the rest of Kyo Maclear’s books too).
The Novel Shrink 