Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Al and Teddy

Al and Teddy

Neil Waldman
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Dream Yard Press, 2013   ISBN: 978-0615729695

Late at night, when “Saturn circles in the midnight sky,” Teddy’s big brother Al sneaks out of the house, climbs into his rocket, and goes to distant places. Teddy asks if he can go along, but Al thinks that Teddy is too little for such adventures. In the morning Al is always back in his room and he is drawing pictures of the places he has been.

   One morning Teddy looks at Al’s latest picture and he finds out that Al is the ruler of a kingdom, even though he is only seven years old. Al explains that his real name is King Alejandro and that a little white pony called Snowflake is waiting for Teddy in Al’s kingdom. Teddy is eager to go to Al’s kingdom and is furious when Al says that Teddy has to be five years old before he can go there. Teddy is only four. “Seconds and millions of minutes” later Teddy is five and he is ready to go to Al’s kingdom, but the rules have changed.

   Being a younger sibling can be very trying sometimes, and certainly Teddy has a hard time putting up with being too young to have adventures with his big brother. Luckily for Teddy and Al their love for each other, their imaginations, and the art they create together makes anything possible.