Freddie & Gingersnap

PreS-Gr 2—A dinosaur and a dragon share similar dreams. Freddie yearns to have his "head in the clouds" like the bigger dinosaurs and Gingersnap longs to flap her wings and fly. When she lands on him during a failed attempt at flight, a standoff ensues: "They stared eye to eye. They scowled and they growled. They clicked the pointed claws on their fingers-CLICK! CLICK! and they clacked the pointed claws on their toes-CLICK! CLICK!" Freddie catches Gingersnap just before she falls over a cliff, and fold-down pages show the dramatic descent. While reflecting among the thistles and thorns, the pair decide to join forces and scale new heights together. Kirsch's fluid watercolor and ink illustrations are beautifully choreographed. Like their legendary dancing namesakes, this high-stepping duo dances cheek to cheek (with purple and green tails intertwined). This stylish tale of an unlikely friendship has an infectious rhythm.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada