Gigi and Lulu's Gigantic Fight by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Illustrated by Henry Cole. 40 p., HarperCollins/Tegen, 2004. Sometimes it takes an argument to learn that best friends don't have to be the same in every way. Gigi (a pig) and Lulu (a mouse) are best friends, and always wear the same thing. The adults around them comment on how much they're the same, "two peas in a pod." But then, one day, Lulu accuses Gigi of knocking over her block building. Gigi accuses Lulu of putting the blocks in her way. They each declare that they'll never speak to each other again. Although the adults try to get them to make up, they refuse. Soon it's twin day at school, and neither child wants to choose someone with whom they'll dress alike and bring the same lunch. Their teacher suggests that they just wear and bring what they like best. When they get to school, each discovers that she's had misconceptions about what the other's favorites are, and that they really don't share as many tastes as they'd thought. But they do have their favorite green sneakers in common, along with a shared routine of wearing them on Wednesdays. They decide that even though they really aren't "two little peas in a pod," they can each be themselves, and can be friends again. Children will learn that it's not only possible, but maybe necessary, to be unique individuals while being friends. Ages 4-7