Two Is Enough

August 24, 2015
“Sure as one plus one will always be two,/ Two is enough when it’s me plus you!” writes Matthies (The Goodbye Cancer Garden) in this tribute to single parents and their singleton offspring. The book follows four parent-child dyads, diverse in ethnicity and age, through the seasons. Mourning (Princess Peepers Picks a Pet) renders her characters in full, bright colors, with calm, loving expressions, adding just enough detail to give a sense of time and place. Other than one scene in which a mother comforts her tearful child, the vignettes are devoted to everyday pleasures: a spread reading, “Two is enough for a thistledown wish,/ For passing the ball and playing Go Fish!” shows a close-up of a mother-daughter pair blowing on dandelions on a windy day, while a father and son enjoy a game of cards on a checkered picnic blanket. Matthies never explicitly compares these families to others, nor does she talk about the choices or circumstances that created the pairings. She keeps her message simple and clear: Head counts don’t matter. All you need is love. Ages 3–up. Author's agent: Kendra Marcus, Bookstop Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates.

September 1, 2015
Two is all you need for a family. Be it a mother and child, a father and child, or a grandparent and grandchild, two is plenty when you are surrounded by love. Modern families come in all shapes and combinations, and here Matthies happily celebrates the two-person family. Bouncing rhymes, always starting with the gentle platitude "two is enough," follow various ethnically diverse familial pairs as the seasons change. In winter, after a snowball fight and creating a snowman family (of two, naturally), "Two is enough for a warm-you-up hug, / For toasting hot chocolate, mug against mug." In spring, after a rainy-day bike ride, "Two is enough for scattering seeds, / For giving bouquets and a necklace of weeds." Some instances falter a bit (how many children refer to cleaning as "refreshing the nest?"), but most are honest and true. Mourning's wispy figures playfully cavort through the four seasons, with large smiles, high-fives, and hugs. There is no shortage of encouragement and love. In a bit of a design flaw, to some readers, the pairs on individual pages may automatically combine when looking at a full double-page spread to form one family, since the background landscapes are often shared. Readers in this living situation (both adult and child) will find comfort in the reminder that two is enough for support and love. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-More is not always merrier when it comes to forming a family. A cast of diverse characters highlights the special relationships found between single caregiver and child within an enthusiastic rhyming text. These dynamic duos engage in age-appropriate interactions and highlight both indoor and outdoor activities; a child and an adult participate in ice-skating in winter, while another pair plant a garden as the weather turns warm. Conflict is absent in these sweet reflections as cheerful expressions highlight the thrill of close familial bonds. Even when the text provides a glimpse into the natural ebb and flow of emotions, the words always comfort: "Two is enough for drying your tears, /For cuddling close till the storm disappears." These relationships offer a portrayal of healthy and happy environments. "Two is enough/for refreshing the nest, /For a sweep and a shine/so it's looking its best." Nimble lines accentuate the fluidity of movement against spare backgrounds. VERDICT Here is a refreshing and soothing examination of the joy to be found in families, regardless of their size or makeup.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

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