Review Detail

The Wills and The Won'ts is wonderful book that has rhythmic text and eye-catching illustrations, but it also conveys an important message about tolerance even if you have different viewpoints.

The Wills and the Won'ts live next door to each other, but they do not get along. They have opposite viewpoints on just about everything. Eventually, they realize they can't get along and build a wall. The wall starts small and grows until both the Wills and the Won'ts realize that they are not free. In addition to dividing the two cities, insulting posters adorn the wall and create an even greater division.

There is a young Will named May who does not understand the hatred and why a wall was built. After loosening a brick, she meets a Won't who wants to be friends. As they begin to remove the bricks, both towns join in and the wall is removed. While the Wills and the Won'ts don't agree on everything, they learn that they can still be friends and live in harmony.

The illustrations in this book are outstanding. I love how illustrator Roland Garrigue uses a color palette of oranges and blue/greens to create the characters and town.

I recommend this book to all children because it has such a powerful message about friendship and tolerance.