Ten Things I Love About You

K-Gr 1—A sweet book about friendship and having a positive outlook. Rabbit decides to make a list of the 10 things he likes best about his friend, Pig. Pig is a little impatient with Rabbit's frequent interruptions to show him his progress, but each little annoyance from Pig becomes a positive thing for Rabbit to add to his list. When Rabbit rings Pig's bell to ask for his help with the list, Pig replies, "This is your list, Rabbit. Only you know what to say." This sentiment is reflected in item #3 on the list: "I love Pig because he believes in me." The positive twists are refreshing-there are two ways to interpret Pig's impatience, and Rabbit unfailingly looks on the bright side. The book ends with Rabbit discovering why Pig has been so busy-he has been writing his own list of reasons why he likes Rabbit. Kirk's illustrations perfectly capture Rabbit's always cheerful nature and Pig's growing irritation. Large, simple figures on uncluttered backgrounds make this title ideal for group sharing. The story provides a framework for looking for admirable traits in classmates and feeling acknowledged by others and would be a good choice to prompt discussions, suggesting that students find positive things to say about one another.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME