When Andy Met Sandy

December 7, 2015
DePaola and Muppets writer Lewis kick off a picture-book series with a sunny story of first friendship, which follows a short, brown-skinned boy named Andy as he gets to know Sandy, a girl with round eyeglasses and a mop of curly red hair. The narrative bounces effortlessly between the children’s perspectives. “She is new here,” thinks Andy, as Sandy returns his gaze, wondering, “Is this his playground?” Rather than have the two connect instantly, dePaola and Lewis credibly portray each child’s tentativeness, while emphasizing what they have in common through parallel phrases. “I bet she has lots of friends,” thinks Andy; “I bet he wants to play by himself,” muses Sandy. After each child imagines the benefits of playing together, they enjoy a playground activity that requires trust and cooperation: a seesaw. The acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations are classic dePaola, with spare lines, rich colors, and facial expressions that transmit heaps of personality and heart. Short sentences, large type, and the early-reader trim size will give beginning readers’ confidence a boost. Simultaneously available: Andy & Sandy’s Anything Adventure. Ages 4–8.

January 15, 2016
DePaola and Lewis' new early-reader series features a boy and girl who become fast friends in the first book and go on to have adventures there and in the second book, too. When Andy goes to the playground, he sees a new girl there, and she sees him, too. The two children are different from each other in appearance and temperament: Shy Andy has light brown skin and dark, straight hair, while exuberant Sandy has curly ginger hair and fair skin. In a move reminiscent of Chris Raschka's Yo! Yes? (1993), excellent book design positions the children on facing pages with the gutter separating them until they become friends. This allows the physical book to reinforce their initial reticence while also clearly delineating which thoughts in the text belong to which child as they individually play on different playground equipment. A seesaw ultimately unites them since they need each other to make it work. The second title, Andy & Sandy's Anything Adventure, finds Andy and Sandy, now fast friends, engaged in indoor play that culminates in dress-up shenanigans. The soft colors and distinctive stylized art from dePaola will immediately attract fans, but the sweetness of this friendship and the accessibility of the text are what will keep new readers loyal. Good to meet you, Andy and Sandy. (Early reader. 5-7)

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January 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-In a brand-new, not-to-be-missed series for young children, dePaola and Lewis introduce readers to Andy and Sandy. When Andy Met Sandy opens with a boy excited to see an empty playground, but within moments, a girl arrives. The two play independently, confident that the other will not want to be bothered, but after spying the seesaw, they realize playing together could have its advantages, and they become fast friends. In the second installment of the series, Andy and Sandy are playing dress-up on a rainy day. Once again dePaola and Lewis highlight the children making independent costume choices before realizing that teamwork allows them to dress up as a dragon. The authors carefully craft their story to avoid gender stereotypes when assigning each character's costume. The design layout in these early readers is flawless. Wordless spreads show sequencing and slow readers down as they digest the stories. Watercolor illustrations that help readers decode text are expressive and appealing. The repetition of sight words and simple sentence structures surrounded by plenty of white space are ideal for young readers and encourage independent reading. The depth of the stories also make them perfect for shared readings and discussions. VERDICT Andy and Sandy belong in every beginning reader collection.-Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
Grades K-2 In this first Andy and Sandy book, geared toward emerging independent readers, Andy arrives at the playground thinking, Today I have the place to myself! Meanwhile, someone new appearsSandy, who's thinking, I've never been to this playground before. Initially, they each play separately (Andy thinks, I bet she has lots of friends, while Sandy wonders, He probably wants to play by himself ). But, gradually, they both realize that certain activities, like kicking the ball and swinging, might be more fun together. It's when they spy the seesaw, however, that those thoughts become spoken words, and Sandy asks Andy if he'd like to play. He does, and after enjoying their seesaw ride, they announce simultaneously, We are friends! Spare, uncomplicated text makes this easy to read for little ones starting out on their own, and dePaola's ever-appealing multimedia illustrations subtly reinforce the concept through Andy's and Sandy's varying, sometimes overlapping perspectives. The scenario and supportive, insightful approach will likely resonate with many kids, especially shyer ones, highlighting how reaching out can bring rewards like fun and friendship.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Sandy shows up at the playground that Andy was enjoying having all to himself, and they dance around whether and how to approach each other (When). In Adventure, the two have a playdate at Andy's house. Both books use large font, repetition, and strong picture clues to support new readers. Andy and Sandy's friendship--and this series--is off to a good start.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 1, 2016
Andy and Sandy are the friends in this new series for just-beginning readers. They first meet in When Andy Met Sandy: Sandy shows up at the playground that Andy was enjoying having all to himself. One simple sentence per page allows readers into the minds of both characters as they dance around whether and how to approach each other. She is new here. Is this his playground? Clean design and expressive art in acrylics with colored pencil bring out the nuances of anticipation and reserve that can occur with meeting someone new. The mandatory teamwork imposed by the seesaw brings the two together at last, no longer separated by the book's gutter. In Andy & Sandy's Anything Adventure, the two have a playdate at Andy's house. After a couple of false starts, they decide to play dress-up. This story, too, uses words and pictures to choreograph a deepening of teamwork and friendship as Andy and Sandy try on different items, then experiment with complementing outfits, then share an outfit, and finally switch places entirely. Both books use large font, repetition, and strong picture clues to support new readers; endpapers feature line drawings that add more detail. Andy and Sandy's friendshipand this seriesis off to a good start. julie roach [Review covers these titles: Andy & Sandy's Anything Adventure and When Andy Met Sandy]

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)