Review by Booklist Review
Little Cheetah doesn't stop to think much about his Little Shadow; he just knows that it follows him everywhere. After the shadow abruptly goes missing, Cheetah finds it pouting in a tree. Little Shadow complains about the unfairness of their relationship: Little Cheetah always gets to decide where they go, and Little Shadow never gets to go there first. Taking these issues to heart, the cheetah lets its delighted shadow take the lead, and after spending time in each other's shoes, the pair quickly learn to approach life side by side and be grateful for each other's company. A gratifying resolution sees the pair happily tucked up in Little Cheetah's cottage, both having gained perspective and compassion. Dubuc's sweet illustrations, softly composed of colored pencils and watercolors, are cozily detailed but also leave plenty of white space to focus on the main players. The snug village atmosphere makes a handsome backdrop to a winning story about the importance of empathy and equality.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This gentle lesson in conflict resolution by Dubuc (Up the Mountain Path) opens as Little Cheetah casts about with a flashlight, looking for Little Shadow. Little Cheetah finds the shadow--who is just like him, only soft and gray rather than yellow and spotted--in a tree, brooding. Asked why he ran away, Little Shadow complains: "You always get to choose where we go. And you always catch my tail in the door." They try switching places. Now Little Shadow walks ahead. Sure enough, Little Shadow inadvertently shuts the door on Little Cheetah's tail. "That hurt a lot," says Little Cheetah, "who now understood why Little Shadow had been upset." Without a mean or spiteful word, the two work out their differences so that both feel things are fair. Dubuc's writing is straightforward and unsentimental, and she draws with precision, furnishing Little Cheetah's house with plants, pictures, even crumbs on the table. The lessons to be learned are made more interesting by the characters' distinctive relationship. Though they're not siblings, they're together all the time, so working things out is a necessity--one approached with clear generosity and affection. Ages 3--7. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Little Cheetah and his Little Shadow each decide to spend a day walking in the other's shoes by switching roles to allow Little Shadow to lead the day's activities. Little Cheetah and Little Shadow learn a lot about each other's experiences and develop a new appreciation for each other. The two realize that each was a little misunderstood, and they begin to be considerate of each other in new ways. Their friendship thrives in this new revelation. Set in a tidy house in a cute town, this title is the perfect picture book to introduce empathy to young children. The characters are adorable and the scenes idyllic. The situation that Little Cheetah and his shadow find themselves in is one that anyone can relate to: the feeling of being treated unfairly. Young readers will be able to identify and name the problem in the story and will appreciate the characters' solution. Created with watercolor and colored pencils, the illustrations are soft and warm, wrapping readers in this touching story of friendship, compassion, empathy, and teamwork. VERDICT A suggested purchase. It always helps to walk a mile in another's shoes.--Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE
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Review by Horn Book Review
Little Cheetah looks under his couch with a flashlight before leaving home (trusty flashlight still in hand) to continue his search: Little Cheetah had lost something. The something is his shadow. Little Shadow has run away because hes unhappy that Little Cheetah always takes the lead, chooses their destinations, and (inadvertently) catches Little Shadows tail in closing doors. Little Cheetah feels badly and offers to let Little Shadow go first to the bakery, where Little Cheetahs tail accidentally gets caught in the door, a turn of events that helps the two better understand each other. On their walk home -- side-by-side this time -- they reach a tunnel. In the dark, I disappear! says a frightened Little Shadow, but Little Cheetah turns on his flashlight, tells his friend to stay close...dont let go -- and together, they faced the dark. Back home, at bedtime, Little Cheetah lovingly leaves a light on for Little Shadow. Dubucs (Otto and Pio, rev. 5/19) seemingly straightforward friendship tale also serves as a simplified introduction to the scientific concept of shadows. And the issues Little Cheetah and Little Shadow encounter (taking turns, being considerate, empathizing with someone else, and a fear of the dark) should resonate with preschoolers. Dubucs pastel-hued colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations contain clever details (gray Little Shadows semi-transparency; a picture in the house of Little Cheetah first without, and then with, Little Shadow), plenty of white space for parsing the plot, and near-constant forward movement to carry readers through this sweet story. Cynthia K. Ritter July/August 2020 p.112(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A shadowy revelation makes for a gentle story about friendship and understanding.Little Cheetah's shadow (fittingly named Little Shadow) has abandoned him. When Little Cheetah finally finds his companion, he learns that Little Shadow has felt neglected. Little Cheetah, his shadow says, is always in the lead and gets to choose where they go. Rather than respond defensively ("That doesn't sound very nice at all," he says instead), Little Cheetah quite literally lets his shadow take the lead (the laws of physics need not apply). Both get a sense of how it feels to walk in each other's shoes, especially when Little Shadow inadvertently lets a door close on Little Cheetah's tail, something about which Little Shadow had previously complained. The pair decides that walking side by side is bestuntil they reach a dark tunnel. Darkness erases the gray, transparent Little Shadow, so the solid, vividly orange Little Cheetah takes the lead, flashlight in hand. These empathetic characters make thoughtful efforts to gain perspective and understand each other in this earnest and sweet (but never cloying) story from the author of Otto and Pio (2019) and The Lion and the Bird (2014), two other tender tales of friendship. Dubuc's colored pencil-and-watercolor illustrations on spacious, uncluttered spreads depict a tiny, intimate village of anthropomorphized creatures; Little Cheetah's home is particularly cozy. What compassion looks likewithout a shadow of a doubt. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
