The Brothers Zzli 
Written by Alex Cousseau
Illustrated by Anne-Lise Boutin
Translated from the French by Vineet Lal
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Mom's Review
The Brothers Zzli tells the story of three anthropomorphic bears in need of a home. When a little girl welcomes them into her abode, the neighbors shun them, complain to the police, and finally set fire to the house. As the girl and bears leave the remnants of their home, she expresses hope that somewhere they will find welcome. The final illustration shows the foursome settled in a happy community full of people and all types of animals.
The Brothers Zzli is a clear allegory for the evils of xenophobia - it is heart wrenching to see the efforts the bears make to befriend their woodland neighbors, only to be met with hostility and fear. The girl's open heart, in contrast, reaffirms readers' faith that people can and do choose kindness. We see the girl, who is christened "Welcome" by the bears, take action for those in need, even when it is not easy and she is pressured to conform to a standard she knows to be wrong. The Brothers Zzli is powerful. And Cousseau and Boutin sweep you up in their art and narration before you've even turned the second page. I judge The Brothers Zzli to be of the highest caliber on every scale.
Illustrated by Anne-Lise Boutin
Translated from the French by Vineet Lal
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Mom's Review
The Brothers Zzli tells the story of three anthropomorphic bears in need of a home. When a little girl welcomes them into her abode, the neighbors shun them, complain to the police, and finally set fire to the house. As the girl and bears leave the remnants of their home, she expresses hope that somewhere they will find welcome. The final illustration shows the foursome settled in a happy community full of people and all types of animals.
The Brothers Zzli is a clear allegory for the evils of xenophobia - it is heart wrenching to see the efforts the bears make to befriend their woodland neighbors, only to be met with hostility and fear. The girl's open heart, in contrast, reaffirms readers' faith that people can and do choose kindness. We see the girl, who is christened "Welcome" by the bears, take action for those in need, even when it is not easy and she is pressured to conform to a standard she knows to be wrong. The Brothers Zzli is powerful. And Cousseau and Boutin sweep you up in their art and narration before you've even turned the second page. I judge The Brothers Zzli to be of the highest caliber on every scale.
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