Are We Friends? – Anabel Fernández Rey – Kalandraka

— I don't want to eat vegetables.
You, who are such a glutton, will you help me?
— I want to reach very high.
You, who have so much strength, will you help me?

“Are We Friends?” is an illustrated album aimed at pre-readers and early readers that addresses the development of a friendship between a boy and a bear: two characters who are initially very different, but who will complement each other by helping each other.

Anabel Fernández Rey structures the work in two parts, showcasing the different points of view, desires, and needs of the two protagonists in everyday situations. Even though we sometimes have to do things for others that we don't feel like doing or that are difficult for us, the truth is that it is in these moments that we demonstrate our true friendship: through dedication, cooperation, or selfless generosity. It is by helping each other through adversity that we strengthen our emotional bonds, no matter how different we are or how diverse our capabilities may be.

Text and illustration interact in the book in such a way that the images have as much impact as the words – or perhaps more, in the double pages without text – which opens the reading to different interpretations and conclusions.

The dialogue between the characters is established through words and gestures: one verbalizes their desires, while the other's response is intuited through their expressiveness.

Soft colors and brushstrokes constitute the main artistic features of this work, along with its variety of planes and the play established with non-verbal language.