Duet. Sleepless Kao (Kaori Kasai). Vancouver, BC: Simply Read Books, 2014. 32 pp., hardcover, $18.95. ISBN 978-1-897476-76-5. Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 4-6. Review by Inderjit Deogun. **½ /4

excerpt:

Sora and Sarah
are always together.

So begins the tale of “forever friends” who share everything from sweets to tunes. Each friend not only knows what the other is thinking but also what the other is feeling.

Duet is a story about friendship that can also be referred to when discussing topics of sharing, nature and the seasons. Sora and Sarah teach youngsters that friendship comes in all forms, including imaginary. Though there are differences that come to light between the girls as the story progresses, young readers may not understand that Sarah isn’t actually a real girl until it is pointed out at the end.

Kaori Kasai’s illustrations are light, soft and beautifully simple. Her decision to be minimilistic allows for Sora and Sarah’s many endeavours to be the literal highlight of each page. Thus, readers will be able to “hear the whispers of a little bird” just like the girls do. Kasai’s artwork begins with a primarily pastel palette that grows deeper with the changing of seasons.

     Even though Duet falls short in its execution, it remains a worthwhile read.

Recommended.

Inderjit Deogun is a communications professional in Toronto, ON.

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Updated: October 17, 2014 (hsd)