Chalk & Cheese

My 2 year old son and I take turns repeating this book line for line- even without the book around. It's one of his favorites. I can't ask my son how he is feeling without him answering, 'Flumpy.' He doesn't watch any TV and it's nice to have a children's book that is so rich with real character dialogue. Chalk and Cheese's conversations cover a range of things, including nurturing, sarcasm, joy, empathy, silliness, disagreement, apologizing and love. Many of the locations and Kong references are over his head, but it gives us something more to chat about. As he gets older this book will grow with him. Don't let the author's previous religious book scare you away if that's not your thing. He has created delightful characters that will appeal to everyone. Yeesssirreee.

Chalk & Cheese? Hmmm, you might think, those two probably go together like oil and water. Not so as young readers will discover in this imaginative story about two dissimilar friends who find that despite differences they care very much about each other. An appropriate lesson for youngsters to learn considering the world in which we live! Chalk is a New York City dog and Cheese is an English country mouse. They've been exchanging postcards for a while and Cheese is very curious about Chalk's home. For instance, he asks, "Do skyscrapers really scrape the sky?" While it's a long way from Cornwall in the UK Cheese decides to pay Chalk a visit and see some of the sights in the Big Apple. He is amazed by what he sees - an awesome mailbox, and he is intimidated by the subway. Cheese's legs are so short that he has difficultly keeping up with Chalk, so Chalk carries him. After all, that's what friends are for. And, this is what the story is all about - friendship between two who discover that while they are very different they are also very much alike. - Gail Cooke

This book is a 100% success with my almost-four-year-old son. He practically giggles his way through the entire book. Thank goodness the library had it in a featured display so I would notice it...this would make a wonderful Christmas gift.

My son, who is 3, is just captivated by this book! I bought it the second I first saw it due to the amazingly imaginative style in which it is written and illustrated. It looks a lot like a comic book, with asides and side-panels and speech balloons. Chalk, a New-York-City dog, and Cheese, an English country mouse, have a day out in Manhattan together. They couldn't be more different, but in the end, they see how much they are alike. Try reading Cheese's voice in a squeaky British accent! You're guaranteed to get laughs from your child!