Every sheep is different. Some white, some black. Some striped, some spotted, some with hats! They're all still sheep, and they can all play together. At least that's what Brian thinks—until the other sheep say they can be friends only with sheep that are just like them.
But when danger strikes, can Brian help the sheep come together? Can Brian the ordinary become Brian the Brave?
This lively story with bright, playful artwork will prompt conversations about friendship, teamwork, and bias based on race or language.
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This is a story that encourages children to look beyond physical differences and to band together. It uses sheep who start out trying to be friends, but as their friend group expands, one friend discriminates against another one simply because of how one looks. For example, one with black wool refuses to play with one with white wool.
There's almost a round robin of sheep going up against each other, so that more than one of them can feel what it's like to be left out. But then they learn how to band together when danger strikes and realize that they work better as a group.
Some children may pick up on what is happening just by reading it, but I would suggest using this as a launchpad for discussion about being friends in spite of surface differences. Inside, we are all the same.
The illustrations are a little reminiscent of Eric Carle's style as they are done in a multimedia way of collage and paint. It's a cute book.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for fulfilling my request for a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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