Meet Mo and Ella: (Mo & Ella Are Friends; Mo & Ella at the Playground) (First Friends)

Despite their differences, Mo the mouse and Ella the elephant are best friends.

Preschool-Grade 1--Mo the mouse and Ella the elephant are an unlikely duo. Ella cannot help but clomp her big feet wherever she goes. Mo, on the other hand, squeaks his way through conversations. When Ella nearly steps on him, he wonders, "How can they be friends?" After a little contemplation, she lifts him onto her head with her trunk and they are pals. In the second story, the mismatched animals go to the playground. Unfortunately, the swing, slide, and seesaw are either too big or too small. Eventually they head for the lake, where they find it to be just the right size. The characters are endearing and their friendship is ripe with potential story lines. That said, the writing is awkward and assumes that certain inferences will be made, some of which may be beyond the target audience. For example, the text reads, "Ella has big feet/Can she go/Clomp clomp clomp!/now?/No!" Readers must now infer that Ella might stomp on Mo. Still, the repetitive nature of the text will suit most new readers. The cartoon art is detailed and mildly expressive, but the fine lines and flawless shading have a sterile, greeting-card look to them.

Louie Lahana, New York City Public Schools

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