We Match! - by Chris Barton (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An afternoon of mixing and matching is underway at the dog park as dogs gleefully discover the qualities that make them similar. Some love to play with balls, others prefer chasing squirrels. Some like wet food, others prefer kibble. Some like to wear sweaters, others to destroy them ... As endless Venn diagrams of connection are shaped and reshaped, the dogs find that they may have more in common than they think!"--

Book Synopsis

In this hilarious dog book for kids, New York Times-bestselling author Chris Barton introduces social emotional learning and math concepts in a fun comics-style picture book format.

Humor and high-energy abound as a lovable bunch of dogs discover what they have in common during an action-packed day at the dog park.

An afternoon of mixing and matching is underway at the dog park as dogs gleefully discover the qualities that make them similar. Some love to play with balls, others prefer chasing squirrels. Some like wet food, others prefer kibble. Some like to wear sweaters, others to destroy them . . . As endless Venn diagrams of connection are shaped and reshaped, the dogs find that they may have more in common than they think!

Here's an entertaining comics-style picture book that will visually introduce kids ages 4 to 8 to math concepts, and encourage them to seek connections with their peers--even if they aren't immediately visible.

Review Quotes

"Eight adorably motley visitors to a local dog park raise an intriguing question: 'What truly constitutes a 'match?''... Excellent fodder for charting and diagramming exercises, it's also a funny and pointed object lesson about learning new tricks when it comes to seeking common ground." --Publishers Weekly

"Visitors to a dog park find common ground, even though they don't look the same--or even belong to the same species... In Glick's idyllic cartoon scenes, humans of diverse hue, including one who uses a wheelchair, stay in the background until the time comes for a group portrait and a collective 'WE ALLMATCH!' Best of all, character cards for the eight animals at the end offer readers opportunities to keep making connections within, and perhaps beyond, the four-legged cast. A fetching reminder to look for what brings us together." --Kirkus Reviews

"This energetic comedy takes a fond look at the ins and outs of canine behavior... Glick's zany art, in a comic-style panel layout, is well suited to Barton's concept and enthusiastic tone."--School Library Journal

"Finding common ground is humorously explored in this comic-book-style visit to a dog park... Glick's energetic and affectionate illustrations are a fine match (heh heh) for Barton's...cleverly comical text."--The Horn Book

"Love this picture book that shows young readers that we have far more in common than just the way we look. Books like this are needed now more than ever."--Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, MA

"Texas may be known for its illustrious literary figures like McCarthy and McMurtry, but the state is home to acclaimed children's book authors as well, including Chris Barton. The Austin-based writer is known for works like Shark vs. Train, and his newest title is both a delight to read and a sight to behold with beautiful illustrations by Sharon Glick. We Match! takes readers on an adventurous day at the dog park, where a pack of adorable and engaging pups discover what they have in common through mixing and matching, such as comparing and contrasting their love for balls, chasing squirrels, and unique food preferences. By the end, these canines might just discover they have far more in common than they thought. The comic-style book is also a great introduction to math concepts and peer empathy for ages 4-8."--Texas Highways

"Wonderful picture book full of happy dogs and an important message about the connections we all have to one another if we just stop and look for them... Perfect for a first day of school."--Hallsville Intermediate School, Hallsville, TX

About the Author

Chris Barton is the author of many beloved books for children including New York Times bestseller Shark Vs. Train, Sibert Honoree The Day-Glo Brothers, and three Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List books, one of which--Whoosh!--was celebrated on 20 other state lists as well.

Sharon Glick is an illustrator and art educator. Her first children's book, ¡Perros! ¡Perros! Dogs! Dogs! was a Junior Library Guild selection and made the Bank Street College Best Books list. More recently, she illustrated 11 books for the Sharpen reading program and designed the exterior of the Bozeman Public Library's bookmobile and the banners outside the Library itself.