George and Lenny Are Always Together

Jon Agee is a Books for Keeps favourite and his latest picture book definitely gets the BfK seal of approval. George and Lenny are best friends and always together. Until one day, Lenny (the smaller of the two of course) decideds he wants to find out what it’s like to be alone. George, whizzing down a slide, arms in the air, is certain nothing could be as much fun as being together, and when Lenny says he’s off to find a quite place to be alone, suggests he’d better come too. The two friends have a tetchy moment, quickly resolved, and Lenny finds his perfect place in a small tree house. It will be no surprise to anyone that after a while he’s missing George – where is his friend? In a wonderful visual gag, readers will spot exactly where George is. He too has found the perfect spot to be alone and it’s even better now because the two of them are together. Agee’s characters, outlined in his characteristic minimalist black line, are wonderfully expressive and the text, all dialogue, is also simple but full of meaning. A perfect description of friendship, the need to balance it sometimes with time alone, all delivered with real warmth and humour.