Are we friends?

‘Are we friends?’ is an picture book aimed at pre-readers and early readers about the construction of friendship between a boy and a bear: a priori, two very different characters, but that can be complementary if they help each other. Anabel Fernández Rey structures this book in two parts, showing the points of view, desires and needs of the two protagonists in everyday situations. Because although sometimes we have to do things for others that we don't like or that cost us a certain effort, it is then when true friendship is shown: as dedication, cooperation, generosity and without selfishness. Because supporting each other through difficulties strengthens the bond of affection. Because it doesn't matter how different we are physically or how different our abilities are. Text and illustrations dialogue in the book in such a way that the visual part has as much weight as the words - or even more, in the double silent pages - which opens the reading to different interpretations and conclusions. The dialogue between the characters is established with words and gestures: one verbalises his desires while the other's response is intuited through his expressiveness. Colours and soft brushstrokes are the main artistic feature of this work, together with the variety of planes and the play with non-verbal language.