Aalfred and Aalbert

by Morag Hood

A tale of love, aardvarks, broccoli and a small blue bird.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Childrens, LGBT, Storytime, Kids

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 24, 2019

About the author

"I'm an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Edinburgh. I love making up stories, print-making and cutting and sticking. My favourite things to draw are eyebrows.

I have an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art. I used to work in theatre, but now spend my days in my Edinburgh studio with views of the hills.

One day I will manage to write a book about my very favourite animal - the duck.

I am represented by Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton."

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classifying this as an LGBTQ book is a real stretch. I don't know if I would've even picked up on that if I hadn't read the synopsis. What's wrong with two people just being friends? Why does everything have to result in two people (or aardvarks, in this case) getting paired off? Aalfred and Aalbert are both so solitary that they don't even have any other friends; you'd think their priority would simply be getting to know other like-minded aardvarks... not searching for a life partner. But that's the premise this book goes with, subtly teaching kids that everybody needs to be in some sort of monogamous, two-person relationship, even if all you want to do is have someone to play badminton and share your cheese with.

The pictures are kind of cute, I guess, and I like the aardvarks' names (I thought they were Dutch at first, though I'm pretty sure it's just a play on the double "a" in "aardvark"), but I think the message of the book is just too "off" for me to really like it. Maybe if Aalfred and Aalbert had been shown having other friends, and simply wanting a special aardvark relationship in addition to all the others, I might have liked it more. It's not like they weren't nice guys; Aalfred is shown trying to cheer the little blue bird up, so we can tell he's kind. Which makes it all the more puzzling why both of these aardvarks are such loners...

For me, Aalfred and Aalbert are just friends. They're not shown doing anything particularly couple-ish, so I don't know why there's such a push to shoehorn this into the LGBTQ category.

Thank you to NetGalley and Two Hoots for providing a digital ARC.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two lonely aardvarks never meet, as one is busy during the day, the other is nocturnal. This is the story of one poor blue bird's aawkward aatempts to bring the aardvarks together.

I liked the cute tale, AND the author's simple, bright illustrations.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Two aardvarks with many shared interests never meet despite their proximity due to conflicting sleep schedules. A well-intentioned bird interferes to bring them together. It is cute: I like Hood’s simple shapes and bright colors, and slightly quirky perspective. Plus, you know aardvarks.

Library copy

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be read as a friendship tale, or as the story of a determined bird matchmaking for his gay aardvark friends. Cute in either context.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of two aardvarks and a little bird who tries to get them together. Aalfred and Aalbert are both lonely. They are the only aardvarks around, but they have not met. Aalfred slept all day and Aalbert slept all night. They also like different things and worried about different things, but thought it would be great to be part of a pair. The little blue bird tried everything to bring them together, but nothing seemed to work. Until, something did.

This is a cute book about being friends and helping friends. Even though they were so different, they were still able to be friends. It's a funny little story with quirky pratfalls and delightfully silly illustrations. When I read the synopsis, I realized that this is an LGBTQ story, which I did not even pick up on, but it works. I read this to my granddaughter and she didn't really connect with this story. perhaps she is a bit too young for it. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apart from the illustrations, I found this book rather dull when reading to my daughter. I never picked up on the LGBTQ theme until after reading the reviews below which makes me feel that it was forced opposed to natural story telling.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aalfred and Aalbert are two aardvarks who live happy lives. But they often feel a sense of loneliness, and they cannot figure out how to resolve it.

Then a bird notices the isolation of the two aardvarks and resolves to enable the two to meet.

And, though all the plans of the bird fail, in a serendipitous way, the bird's plans also succeed.

A clever and humorous story of two creatures who lead radically different lives and yet who are able to become friends. It's a funny little story with quirky pratfalls and delightfully silly illustrations.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favourite couple! I loved this book!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not love this book more! Beautiful illustrations, beautiful message. Magic!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so cute. I love the little bird trying to bring them together. The illustrations are adorable.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming book starring two radically different aardvarks who live opposite lives.

"Aalfred loved stars, broccoli and picnics."
Aalbert loved flowers, sunshine, and cheese.
And they both loved sleeping quite a bit, except..."


... and that tiny word "except" kept the two aardvarks apart because Aalbert slept all night and Aalfred slept all day. Although they liked their separate lives they conjured up thoughts that perhaps having another aardvark in their lives would make them even more happy and content, but alas that probably would never come to pass.

A little bird who observed the two came up with a plan to try to connect the duo together so their lives would be more complete and blissful if they had someone to share it with.

Can a little bird become a successful matchmaker and have the aardvarks meet up and hopefully become fast friends?

This book is a portrait of two aardvarks who after many failed attempts finally connect and decide to share life's journey together. The engaging colourful illustrations are full of expression and activity. "Aalfred and Aalbert" is a fun book to recommend to you.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, first of all, who knew aardvarks were so cute? These two are adorable and obviously destined to be friends. Unfortunately, one sleeps all day and the other sleeps all night. A little bird though is determined to make sure they meet. This is sweet and funny and gentle and quirky. It's a delight.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book of opposites for littles. Story of two aardvarks- one sleeps all day, the other all night, so they have similar experiences. illustrations are simple and uncluttered looking and I suppose they will look wonderful in color. Nice enough and what kid doesn't love aardvarks!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an absolute sucker for cute animal stories and this one is definitely at the top of my list. Charming illustrations, simple yet sweet story, and a nice message about how life is better off when lived in community- whether you read this as a story about a "couple" of aardvarks or simply friends, the message is a nice one.

[Ellen Forkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aadorable 💕

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an F&G of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether these aardvarks like each other or like-like each other, this picture book is a charming, funny tale of connection.

[Ms.Gaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, smile-inducing story about 2 lonely aardvarks and a little blue bird who wants to bring them together. Ages 3-5

[Jess Smiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story told with simple words and charming pictures. Young readers will cheer for the bird in its attempts to bring two aardvarks together.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with extra cute pictures. I particularly liked that one of the aardvarks especially likes broccoli. :)

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC through NetGalley.
Charming picture book about two aardvarks who live opposite lives. A friendly bird thinks they would enjoy meeting each other and tries various means to make this happen. Eventually, it succeeds though the bird is indirectly involved.
Terrific book to use to talk about opposites and having different interests.
The illustrations bring the two aardvarks and the bird to life for young readers.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGAlley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book with colorful pictures. The text was short but engaging. It wasn't too deep of a book or too long, but it was fun.

[Staf · Rating 4 out of 5]

'My favourite things to draw are eyebrows,' zegt Morag Hood zelf. Dat was te zien aan het blauwe vogeltje wanneer het grappig-boos met de klok de grond uit vliegt. Dat, een kaasraspend aardvarken, bordjes met 'brokli' en 'broloci' ... Heerlijk droog!

[Gladimore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, short and sweet. A story about friendship at first sight that will warm your heart.
#Aalfredandaalbert #Netgalley

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two aardvarks BFFs.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moral of the story is cheese broccoli was created by the twitter bird. I think.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two aardvarks have never met because one sleeps all day and one sleeps all night. But there is a very determined little bird that is trying to get them to meet.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aalfred and Aalbert (of course they should have extra A's in their names!) are 2 aardvarks who live close together, but never meet, until one day when a clever bird helps them discover each other.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

1) It's a sweet book in which a little bird conspires to introduce two lonely aardvarks.

2) It's an LGBT+ matchmaking tale.

Either way, it's a nice book.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is aan aadorable book aabout two aardvarks who aare both seeking friendship but never seem to find one aanother.