https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMNYS42Y
Editorial Review For Neither This Nor That
Maverick and Darwin spend a day looking at clouds and arguing about what
each one looks like. Is it a banana or a boat? A cat or a bear? They ask
around, trying to settle their disagreement, but everyone sees something
different. Even the animals they ask can’t agree. By the end, the two friends
stop trying to be right and start laughing instead. They realize it’s okay to
see things differently.
The strongest part of Neither This Nor That is its pacing. The
back-and-forth between Darwin and Maverick keeps the rhythm tight. Their little
spat plays out in a way that feels familiar, like two kids arguing over nothing
and everything at once. The writing captures the silliness without dragging it
out. It also sticks to very simple language, which makes it feel natural and a
bit like a conversation you’d overhear on a playground. The ending is solid. It
doesn’t force a lesson but lets it land anyway.
This book fits right into picture books that lean on minimal storytelling
to spark imagination. It’s part of that growing group of stories that don’t try
to teach something straight-on but sneak a little meaning in there anyway. If
you're used to neat endings where someone is clearly right, this one doesn’t
bother with that.
Kids who like silly arguments and seeing things in clouds will enjoy
this. It also works well for grownups reading aloud—there’s room to be
dramatic, to take sides, to argue just for fun. It’s quick, and it’s not trying
too hard to be anything other than what it is.
The book doesn’t stretch too far. It just does what it does and leaves
the sky open. Worth a read—especially if you’ve ever fought with someone about
something pointless and loved every minute of it.