From the creator of "Rainbow Fish" comes this tale of brotherly love and cooperation, as two mole brothers who want to play can't agree on what to do. Full color.

---

Two young mole brothers fight over whether they should build a hill or dig a hole, but when each works on his own project, they get surprising results.

From the creator of the Rainbow Fish books comes another fable, this time about two mole brothers. Tim tends to do what comes naturally; his idea of fun is to dig a deep hole. Matt is the rebel; he yearns to build a hill to "see over the tall grass and find out what else there is out there in the world." Naturally, the two squabble, and stalk off in opposite directions to pursue their own thing, only to sheepishly discover that they had both accomplished the same thing: "By digging a hole, Tim had tossed up a pile of dirt, making a small hill. By building up a hill, Matt had had to dig up dirt, leaving a small hole." Unfortunately, Matt and Tim don't exude much personality (not until several pages in will readers know who's who), and the consistently straight-on perspective grows a bit wearisome. Surprisingly, the moralistic wrap-up proves to be the book's biggest plus. Considerably less preachy than the lessons parceled out to Rainbow Fish, the ending arises authentically out of the comedy inherent in a familiar domestic rivalry. Even more importantly, it exhibits a playful sense of logic--readers will likely chuckle when they realize, along with the brothers, that a hole and a hill require pretty much the same effort. Ages 4-up. (May)

[Page 54]. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

---

K-Gr 2 -Two young mole brothers are sitting in a field arguing about what to play. They can't agree on whether to make a hill or a hole and, before long, they are arguing and wrestling on the ground. Tim stomps off and begins to dig a hole. Matt starts building a hill. Both moles come to realize that the work is lonely and hard, and their anger slowly fades away. When they peek at the other's project, they discover that digging a hole creates a hill. They laugh and decide to work together. The warm, earth-toned illustrations with touches of bright flora and fauna have child appeal. The moles have humanlike hands and feet (with sharp, talonlike nails) and walk upright; one of them wears spectacles. While this story of brotherly cooperation isn't stellar, it is suitable for larger collections, for one-on-one sharing.-DeAnn Okamura, San Anselmo Public Library, CA

[Page 124]. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.