Two Girls Can [Hardcover]

Keiko Narahashi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

In this happy playful book for small children, a fine artist whose work has been widely praised and greatly enjoyed by young and old demonstrates many of the ways in which little girls share their activities with each other.

Two girls can fly a kite, seesaw, play leapfrog, climb a tree, pretend they're twins, be quiet together and read -- any number of simple, easy, fun-to-do things. All of these and more are enchantingly pictured in Keiko Narahashi's glowing watercolor paintings that catch the essence of little girls and their friendships.

Young readers will see themselves in these gaily colored, action-filled pictures and will delight in this charming recognition of all the things they can do.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Narahashi's (I Have a Friend) tribute to girlfriend power is both hip and energetic. Beginning with the electric pink cover featuring two girls in sunglasses with plenty of attitude, the book overflows with liveliness and a multicultural, capable cast of girls. They can "hold hands,/ give bear hugs,/ be best friends." Various pairs of girls climb trees, share treats and jokes, and even "get really, really mad,/ then make up and [are] brave together." In the grand finale, all the girls join together in an exuberant conga line dance. The text occasionally substitutes activities too arbitrary to demonstrate real friendship ("Two girls can stay dry, or get wet, and dry again"). But the illustrations buoy any shortcomings in the text with enthusiasm. Narahashi's vibrant watercolors of exuberant girls echo the joyful pleasures children find in one another. Readers will feel empowered by the confidence emanating from the girls in these pages as they celebrate the everyday things they can do together. Ages 3-7. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This cheerful picture book considers things that two girls can do together: from climbing a wall to climbing a tree; from getting "really, really mad" at a companion to making up; from sharing a treat to sharing a joke to sharing a friend. The simple text has two things going for it. First, the activities chosen have an appealing, childlike quality. Second, they lend themselves beautifully to illustration, which is a strong point for Narahashi, best known as the illustrator of Serfozo's Who Said Red (1988) and her own I Have a Friend (1987). Set off with plenty of white space that contributes to the overall spirit of light and buoyancy, the airy watercolor paintings depict a racially mixed group of girls pairing off to have some fun in a variety of ways. Given toddlers' fascination for watching preschoolers at play, the book will please a wide age range of young children. The satisfying final spread shows all the children coming together for a freestyle dance. A blithe celebration of girlhood friendship. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry; 1st edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689826184
• ISBN-13: 978-0689826184
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,402,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars catching and adorable, May 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Girls Can (Hardcover)

This book caught my eye as a gift for twin girls,and on reading it, It is a catchy, friendly, heartwarming and simple book to share with any little girl - I've bought it for the twins and anothergirlas a gift - seems appropriate for 3-5 year-olds.

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from Books That Heal Kids, April 9, 2010

By 

Books That Heal Kids "Roxanne" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Girls Can (Hardcover)

It's amazing to me that girls start to have friendship troubles so early in life. Relational aggression is happening in our kindergarten classes. Two Girls Can is a wonderful read for girls. Start teaching friendship skills as soon as you can! This book starts out with a friendship between two girls but ends with many girls being included in the friendship. I want my girl students to know that we can all be friends - we never have to stop being friends and push others out. You'll want this book as part of a friendship unit. Trust me. I wish there were more like this out there for girls! As a school counselor, this is helpful literature!

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book for Girls Cousins, Sisters, or Just Friends, June 5, 2008

By 

P. Hall (Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Girls Can (Hardcover)

My three granddaughters, ages 5, 4, and 3 all have made this a favorite book!!! As I've read it to each of them, we've acted it out. We "hold hands," "give bear hugs," sing a song "Jesus Loves Me," and take a bite from the apple on the tree. My daughter-in-law bought me this book when my second granddaughter was born only five months after her cousin.
Since then, we've used it with big and little sister two. This is a very special book. Rose Hall