PreS-Gr 1 "Ewe and Aye were different. Ewe loved wheels, and Aye loved wings." Two eponymous cartoon animals provide the vehicle for this pun-based tale about a sheep and an aye-aye (or lemur). The animals unsuccessfully try to fly using either wings or wheels, and each comes to the other's rescue as their plans fail. Eventually they realize that by combining their expertise they can achieve their dream together. The exuberant cartoon art is drawn with strong black outlines and bright, flat colors. The goggle-wearing animals in their heart-soled sneakers are expressive and charming. The wordplay allows for two different ways to interpret the story: the specific story of the sheep and the aye-aye's friendship and their dream of flight and a broad, first- person account of friendship amid life's ups and downs: ("But Ewe couldn't hold on./And Aye couldn't let go./When Ewe got into trouble, Aye was there to help."). Unfortunately, the combined total of both interpretations feels more saccharine than satisfying. The wordplay is clever, and the art is sweet, but amid the vast field of picture books about friendship, this story never quite takes off. Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN—SLJ
A sporty sheep and an equally sporty primate find a way to realize a common aspiration: to fly. New readers will find the homophones appealing and the brief text amusing. "Ewe and Aye were different. / Ewe loved wheels, and Aye loved wings." Though the jacket notes will have to be consulted to understand that Aye is an aye-aye lemur (and perhaps to learn a ewe is a female sheep), once that is established, the resulting wordplay is pretty funny. Ryan's punning is nicely expanded in Ruble's zippy illustrations. Ewe seems quite nimble and Aye quite jolly, with their sneakered feet and round goggles making them look like kindred spirits. Ruble's rich, flat colors and simple, solid cartoon shapes are appropriately comical and keep the action going. The two communicate their plan in pictographs. A double gatefold offers a chance to show the two splendidly aloft among bubbly clouds: " there's nowhere Aye and Ewe can't fly," though the first part of that sentence ("And now together") is positioned awkwardly on the right side of the closed page opening. And their exuberant shout of "Weeeeeeeeee!" seems to break the homonymic theme, though it works anyway. Young readers may want to turn right back to the beginning to see how all the silliness fits together so neatly. Lots of fun. (Picture book. 3-6)—Kirkus
Collaboration is the name of the game in this energetic title featuring two very different friends who share dreams of flying. Ewe is a sheep who loves things with wheels. Aye is a lemur who prefers to use wings. Each has a knack for building imaginative vehicles, but neither has the engineering skills to actually make them work. Then the friends start talking and sharing ideas, and before too long, Ewe and Aye have built the ultimate flying machine that will carry them both into the sky. Ruble's cartoon-style illustrations feature bright colors and expressive figures, both of which serve the upbeat tone of the book nicely. Ryan's text celebrates the strengths of both characters but emphasizes the success that can come when two people share ideas. Older readers will delight in the clever wordplay throughout the narration and the spectacular failures of Ewe and Aye's experiments. Positive and inspirational, this will strike a chord with young readers who have big dreams. Summer Hayes—Booklist
Ewe, a sheep, and Aye, a lemur (named after an actual species of lemur, the aye-aye) yearn to fly, and they are willing to try anything, no matter how kooky or dubious, to get airborne. Although the two animals are always supportive of one another ("When Eye got into trouble, Aye was there to help. And when Aye got stuck, Ewe came to the rescue"), each is strictly a solo act (Ewe prefers working with wheels, while Aye uses wings). Eventually, they realize that by working together, they can achieve liftoff. This slight story seems intended mostly as a showcase for Ryan's wordplay ("Ewe got a flat tire, and Aye got flat tired"), which continues in the punny vein of her previous books, Ribbit Rabbit and Moo Hoo. But the real attraction is debut illustrator Ruble-she brings an exuberant energy to each scene, and her purple-driven palette is eye-catching, deepening from lavender to luscious grape as the action moves from day to night. Ages 3 5.—PW
10/01/2014
PreS-Gr 1—"Ewe and Aye were different. Ewe loved wheels, and Aye loved wings." Two eponymous cartoon animals provide the vehicle for this pun-based tale about a sheep and an aye-aye (or lemur). The animals unsuccessfully try to fly using either wings or wheels, and each comes to the other's rescue as their plans fail. Eventually they realize that by combining their expertise they can achieve their dream together. The exuberant cartoon art is drawn with strong black outlines and bright, flat colors. The goggle-wearing animals in their heart-soled sneakers are expressive and charming. The wordplay allows for two different ways to interpret the story: the specific story of the sheep and the aye-aye's friendship and their dream of flight and a broad, first- person account of friendship amid life's ups and downs: ("But Ewe couldn't hold on./And Aye couldn't let go./When Ewe got into trouble, Aye was there to help."). Unfortunately, the combined total of both interpretations feels more saccharine than satisfying. The wordplay is clever, and the art is sweet, but amid the vast field of picture books about friendship, this story never quite takes off.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN
2014-10-01
A sporty sheep and an equally sporty primate find a way to realize a common aspiration: to fly. New readers will find the homophones appealing and the brief text amusing. "Ewe and Aye were different. / Ewe loved wheels, and Aye loved wings." Though the jacket notes will have to be consulted to understand that Aye is an aye-aye lemur (and perhaps to learn a ewe is a female sheep), once that is established, the resulting wordplay is pretty funny. Ryan's punning is nicely expanded in Ruble's zippy illustrations. Ewe seems quite nimble and Aye quite jolly, with their sneakered feet and round goggles making them look like kindred spirits. Ruble's rich, flat colors and simple, solid cartoon shapes are appropriately comical and keep the action going. The two communicate their plan in pictographs. A double gatefold offers a chance to show the two splendidly aloft among bubbly clouds: "…there's nowhere Aye and Ewe can't fly," though the first part of that sentence ("And now together") is positioned awkwardly on the right side of the closed page opening. And their exuberant shout of "Weeeeeeeeee!" seems to break the homonymic theme, though it works anyway. Young readers may want to turn right back to the beginning to see how all the silliness fits together so neatly. Lots of fun. (Picture book. 3-6)
