SKINNY AND FATS, BEST FRIENDS

Meister, author of the Tiny the dog stories (Tiny the Snow Dog, 2001, etc.), offers a mid-level easy reader about two best friends, a dimwitted pig called Fats and a smart rabbit called Skinny. Three short chapters focus on their friendship: their decision to be best friends, an ill-fated but funny plot to fly to Mars via a spring-loaded chair, and Skinny’s creation of a carrot cookie pie instead of the famous marshmallow pie that is the pig’s specialty. (A simple recipe for a gooey marshmallow pie is included on the final page.) The stories utilize the same sort of teasing best-friends relationship that Frog and Toad or Bert and Ernie share, with hints of deadpan humor that young readers will like. Björkman’s jaunty, loose watercolors add to the overall effect, especially the amusing expressions on the animal’s faces. Despite the work’s strengths, many adults will take issue with the choice of names and the characterization of the pig as “very, very fat.” In fact, he is just about as plump as a healthy pig should be. Name-calling and weight problems are real issues in the elementary school world, and it’s unfortunate that Fats and Skinny have names that serve as labels for their weight. (Easy reader. 6-8)