The Book of Boys (for Girls) & The Book of Girls (for Boys)    by David Greenberg & Joy Allen Order:  USA  Can Little, Brown & Co., 2005 (2005) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson It's a cute idea, a poetic battle of the sexes. David Greenberg's The Book of Boys (for Girls) & The Book of Girls (for Boys) compares boys and girls, from each other's perspective, via verses side by side on each page. Joy Allen's bright, funny illustrations depict lively kids of all ages doing what kids do (the 'cushion castle' picture is great). It begins with a reference to 'Sugar and spice' versus 'Snips and snails', moving on to explore both differences and similarities. After all the complaints, each narrator admits reluctantly that 'girls can be fine', and 'now and then boys are great'. Mulling it over a little longer, they go even further, concluding that 'Girls are one of the guys', and 'Boys make excellent chums'. Though the rhymes are awkward, kids will enjoy the insults to the opposite sex, and defend their own. So, if you have small siblings who fight all the time (as my brother and I used to do), read The Book of Boys (for Girls) & The Book of Girls (for Boys) with them - it may not change anything, but they'll recognize themselves in there and have fun doing so. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews