Who among us, child and adult alike, hasn’t at one time or another dreamed up the ideal companion? With tender humour, Toronto writer and illustrator Andrea Wayne von Königslöw beguilingly captures that most universal of yearnings in Bing Finds Chutney, a prequel to her much- praised Bing and Chutney.

Bing and Chutney hardly seem kindred spirits. Sturdily clad in overalls and an apron, Bing the pig is a level-headed nester and nurturer, loving nothing more than to cook up a storm. Decked out in a red tutu and pink ballet slippers, Chutney the elephant is forever leaping into the air and adventures, dreamily absorbed in her ambition of becoming a famous dancer. Yet these two, so different in temperament, interests, and species, are the best of friends.

Von Königslöw delightfully satisfies our natural curiosity about how they met in this book, which opens with Bing moving into her new house and making it into a home. Caught up in a whirl of activities, Bing keeps her loneliness at bay. But when all is done, Bing longs for a friend to share the pleasures of her home with. Ever practical, she conjures up one possible companion after another in a series of drawings, but none have that kindred spirit she seeks. Finally she draws an elephant. And voilà, who appears at the front door but Chutney. The connection between them is immediate. They share dinner and stories into the night, and fall asleep in front of the fireplace, safe and secure within the magic circle of friendship.

Von Königslöw’s simple, direct prose says no more than it has to. Her playful, warmly whimsical pastel watercolours, buoyantly floating on the white page like dreams, wonderfully express the rest.