I laughed when I first realised the meaning of the title of this book. ‘Good for you, good for me’ is what Dormouse says to his friend Bear when he’s making him a deal. It’s funny because in our household I’m known as the I-don’t-do-deals-Mama. From early in our relationship I established with my husband that I don’t do deals. I’m not sure why but it immediately raises my hackles as soon as someone utters “I’ll do you a deal…” Now Rowan too knows and has been known to say to someone “Mama doesn’t do deals”.
Dormouse is the ultimate deal-maker in Good for You, Good for Me:
‘You give me your flute and I’ll give you music. Good for you, good for me.’
‘If you carry me, I’ll show you the way. Good for you, good for me.’
Increasingly, the deals offered by Dormouse are perplexing for Bear – and scratching behind his ear he wonders if Dormouse is being fair… But all the deal-broking leads Bear to some significant and philosophical realisations – that possessions aren’t the most important things and that giving and sharing can be the things that make you happiest of all.
Sounds pretty heavy, but these huge messages are conveyed in a beautifully meandering style with a non-formulaic narrative. In a few words and together with beautiful soft illustrations, the distinctive characters of Bear and Dormouse are perfectly drawn. This is a treasure of a book that should prompt much reflection from a thinking preschooler and would be great for discussion with readers of any age. I’m sure a few adults could learn a thing or two from Bear…
||Good for You, Good for Me is available from the We Heart Books store||
