School Library Journal Review

PreS-K-Mousse is a big, red-orange dog who enjoys the feel of the rain on his back. Nut is a small, mostly black dog with a red umbrella. When they meet on a rainy day, their friendship is immediate, but when their differences become apparent, things begin to sour. Mousse loves to swim, while Nut does not know how. Mousse can't climb a wall like Nut does. They can't agree on anything. The story of how they become friends again will satisfy young readers. The plot is reminiscent of P. D. Eastman's Big Dog-Little Dog (Random, 2003), but Simmons focuses more on how their differences almost end their friendship. There are no mean words or hurt feelings, but a brief separation allows them to realize how much they miss one another. The acrylic paintings are rich with saturated color, and Simmons's dogs buzz with personality. Children will feel comforted by the boisterous pups and their antics together.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.