Ogilvy ~ Cute & Inclusive

"Ogilvy paused and looked down at the clothes.
'I'm wearing the thing that I wear, I suppose'."

    Deborah Underwood pulls out all the rhyming stops in her newest book creation, Ogilvy.
     In a town where every-bunny wears either a sweater or a dress, Ogilvy wears a favorite garment that's simultaneously neither and both.
     This book is perfectly on-point with rhyme and kid-appeal, and it seamlessly layers in the broader topic of gender classification with a subtle and lighthearted touch.
     And man, is it ever cute! Just check out adorable Ogilvy, the book's namesake, on the cover.

     llustrator T.L. McBeth scales way, way back, creating an almost entirely character-based book that focuses on feelings and reactions rather than setting and scenery. The pops of color and texture among white backgrounds and bold black lines are provided by photographic images of little knit sweaters (or dresses, or sweater-dresses)--to great effect.
     Cleverly conceived and charmingly executed, this book pairs well with Neither, by Airlie Anderson. And in a world of shorter and shorter picture books, Ogilvy has just a bit more content, plus a fun rhyming structure and strong story construction, which makes me want to recommended it for multiple readings on home bookshelves.