Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3-5. Once again Hutchins captures the simple elements of a child's life in a heartwarming story, steeped in truth. A young girl enthusiastically welcomes her best friend to spend the night. The friend can do all sorts of things the little girl hasn't quite mastered. Whether it is running, jumping, eating spaghetti, painting, untying shoes, buttoning clothes, or reading, the friend accomplishes all these tasks with aplomb. But when the light is turned out at bedtime, the friend, afraid of the dark, finds comfort in the presence of someone who is brave and reassuring. The story contains no hint of competition or jealousy, just a healthy dose of respect and sharing. The brightly hued gouache paintings depict the play and quiet times to a tee. Hutchins' distinctive characters and her superb sense of detail--such as a bespectacled friend--show a relationship all children crave. For preschool story hours, this book's a must. (Reviewed Mar. 15, 1993)0688114857Deborah Abbott
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The latest picture book from the creator of Silly Billy! and Tidy Titch offers a look at how the strengths and weaknesses of best friends tend to play off each other. Two ebullient African American girls demonstrate that someone who can run fast, climb high, untie her shoes and read books is certainly special. But being able to comfort a chum when she is frightened is equally important. Laudably, the girl who doesn't run fast or read never feels inadequate, nor does her best friend act superior. With their numerous homey touches, Hutchins's gouache paintings enliven the very slight text, making this a supportive slice of life. Ages 3-up. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-- What qualities make for a best friend? To the narrator of this book, they include knowing how to run, climb, and jump better than anybody else. The ability to eat spaghetti without dropping any on the table also helps. The two little girls appear to be about the same age, but their skill levels are quite different. One knows how to paint neatly, untie her shoelaces, and button her pajamas; the other does not. When the night wind blows the curtains, however, it is the less accomplished child who has the common sense and bravery to deal with the situation. The story is heartfelt and reassuring, and the friends gaze at one another with true affection and admiration. Hutchins's artistic skill is reflected in the juxtaposition of background scenes reflecting tidiness and chaos, but her depictions of the black children with their huge claylike heads and buck teeth are exaggerated and lifeless. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A child describes her best friend and their different abilities as they share an overnight visit. Brightly colored, cleanly lined gouache paintings are childlike, complementing the simple narrative. The children and their mothers are depicted as African Americans. From HORN BOOK 1993, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The narrator--a dark-skinned preschooler--describes the many ways her friend surpasses her: she runs faster, climbs farther, eats spaghetti neatly, can do her own buttons, and even knows how to read. ``I'm glad she's my best friend,'' the child reiterates; still, when the friend sleeps over, at bedtime her host is the one who knows that there's no monster blowing the curtains--only the wind. The implicit triumph of this satisfying turnaround is beautifully understated; it's evident mostly in Hutchins's expressive, beautifully designed gouache paintings, where the cheerful host tries to keep up despite an untied lace, makes a comically realistic mess of her supper, and happily strews paint while the visitor produces a tidy (but far less lively) picture. A deceptively simple story with real insight, refreshing as a bright spring day. (Picture book. 3-7)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
