*
In the pantheon of books that feature friends coming to terms with their differences, IT IS OKAY stands out with its quirky, expressive, and detailed illustrations, and for its understated text that allows the reader to absorb “the message” without moralizing. Plus, its characters, Goat with his blue plaid cardigan, and Bunny in a grey sweater with a jaunty black scarf, are quite lovable.
The opening image shows Goat at home, preparing breakfast. His kitchen is a pleasant jumble, but he’s out of canned grass, the food he absolutely, positively MUST have on toast every morning. (Avocado toast, anyone?)
So Goat heads to the grocery store, where he meets Bunny. Turns out Bunny and Goat’s favorite canned grass is the same!
And just like that, they become friends.
This rings so true for how kids begin their friendships. From there on, Goat and Bunny meet every morning to enjoy their canned grass together. And discover they have other things in common, like a favorite coffee shop.
Uh oh! Goat thinks that Bunny puts too much sugar in his coffee. But does he harangue Bunny? No. After all, they can still enjoy their coffee together. Crisis averted!
As they see more of each other, they discover they both enjoy exploring.
But sometimes Bunny feels like they’ve gotten lost. Goat holds the map, and tries to figure things out, while Bunny despairs. The situation resolves, because Goat can always find the way back.
Then after a day of exploring, they miss the train home, and Bunny discovers that Goat is not as strong as he looks. It turns out okay, however, because they can take the next train. (Three cheers for introducing a note about being flexible without giving it a specific name!)
I love how Goat and Bunny don’t harangue or try to change each other, and when something comes along that could be an obstruction in their relationship, they find a way to enjoy each other’s company through some sort of compromise. The thing that matters most is not their differences, but the fact that they enjoy spending time together.
Kudos to the author for dancing around the topic, and giving the reader space to figure this out for themselves. The text on the final spread acknowledges that “Goat and Bunny are very different. But it is okay.” The author doesn’t states why it’s okay, or that it should be okay, or offer up any other kind of longwinded explanation. Acceptance should be that simple.
Illustrations: I think kids will enjoy the illustrations (created in pencil, colored pencil, pastel and wax pastel, watercolor pen, ink, and collage) that depict an animal world, where the animals replace humans in all daily activities, including walking on two legs and wearing little black boots, shopping in stores, and taking the train. But Bunny still lives underground in a wonderful warren-like apartment building, a situation that creates a conflict at a crucial moment in the story.
Cover/End papers: Bunny reaching for more sugar, and Goat with his hand on the sugar bowl, both characters smiling, distills the essence of the book in one image. And the end papers, with their cross-hatch of various shades of blues and greens overlaying a muted green and grey background, serve as a wonderful metaphor for how similarities and differences can form a pleasing relationship fabric. Fabulous!
A note on craft: The omniscient narrator initially follows Goat’s train of thought, but Bunny’s thoughts infiltrate the story as Goat and Bunny discover the activities they enjoy sharing, as well as their separate worries or concerns about their interactions. The omniscient narrator allows for an artful presentation of the dual perspective.
Activities:
Before reading the book, ask the question, “Why do you think Goat and Bunny both have their hands on or in the sugar bowl?” Ask the same question afterward to see how the answers change.
Watch this Sesame Workshop video about how friends can be different.
Make a list of friends and add two columns to the sheet of paper. How are you the same? How are you different? How do you show your friends that being different is okay?
Title: It Is Okay
Author/Illustrator: Ye Guo
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2024
Ages: PreK- elementary school
Themes: Friendship, accepting differences, being flexible
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.