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*Gigi and Lulu's Gigantic Fight* by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Henry Cole

 
Also illustrated by Henry Cole:

Little Bo in London: The Ultimate Adventures of Bonnie Boadicea

Mouse Was Mad
 
Gigi and Lulu's Gigantic Fight
by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Henry Cole
ages 4-8 40 pages Katherine Tegen Books September 2004 Hardcover    

Gigi and Lulu are best friends. Never mind that Gigi is a pig and Lulu a mouse; they still do everything together - dress in identical outfits, bring the same things everyday for lunch at school, and without fail wear their "absolutely-the-same green sneakers with spotted yellow laces." Their teacher says, "You're like two peas in a pod."

And they are, until one day they have a gigantic fight about Gigi knocking over Lulu's house of blocks. Each vows to never speak to the other again, and they stick to it despite the best efforts of their parents and teacher to make up. Then their teacher announces "Twin Day," where everyone in the class is to pair up with a special person and dress alike and bring the same lunch at school the next day.

When everyone else has paired up except for Gigi and Lulu, who refuse to, the teachers tells them they may wear their own favorite clothes and bring their own favorite foods to lunch. At school the next morning, they are surprised to discover that their favorite foods are different, their favorite clothes aren't their identical outfits, and that they don't share the same taste in bows - but they have both worn their favorite absolutely-the-same green sneakers with spotted yellow laces. Learning more about each other brings them together even more closely as they put the fight behind them.

Stiff paper finger puppets of Gigi and Lulu are included, along with some ideas for grown-ups to help children understand and appreciate the feelings of themselves and others. The story, while never overbearing in its message, is a great opportunity to discuss differences of opinion, hurt feelings and forgiveness. A must for early el-ed classrooms.
   


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