Nathan & Nicholas Alexander is an illustrated children’s picture book about sharing, personal boundaries and the unexpected beginnings of friendship. Nathan is a kind-hearted but stubborn elephant whose orderly life is disrupted when Nicholas Alexander, a mischievous and resourceful mouse, makes himself at home inside Nathan’s toy chest. Nathan has no intention of sharing his belongings, while Nicholas is equally determined to prove that there is room for both of them. Their disagreement develops through comic situations that reveal the contrast between Nathan’s cautious nature and Nicholas’s confidence, persistence and many talents. Written and illustrated by Lulu Delacre, the story approaches conflict and cooperation with gentle humour, inviting young readers to consider how two very different characters might move beyond irritation and discover a way to live—and play—together.
Author: Lulu Delacre
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Year published: 1986
Number of pages: 30
Target age: 3–7