Buddy's new buddy

K-Gr 2--This third book featuring Buddy tackles losing a friend and the path to finding a new one. When Buddy's best friend moves across town, he is sad. He knows they can visit, but it won't be the same. Buddy worries about having long, lonely days at school or on an upcoming field trip to the natural history museum. Buddy's sister tells him that to find a new friend he just needs to find someone with common interests, but he doesn't have any luck until a new student arrives from across town. When Buddy asks Sunny to be his field trip buddy, their friendship is sealed. Bower's crisp, digital illustrations ground Geist's expansive text and give it life. A cheerful mix of animated spreads and panels with plenty of color, expression, and energy are instantly engaging. The characters range in skin color from white to dark brown. Buddy is white with blonde hair, and Sunny is Black with tight curls. VERDICT Handling a relevant topic for this age group, and with a multiracial cast of characters, this is a good general purchase, especially where other Buddy books have been popular.--Catherine Callegari

How do you make a new friend when an old one moves away? Buddy (from Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can't Go to School, 2019, etc.) is feeling lonely. His best friend just moved across town. To make matters worse, there is a field trip coming up, and Buddy needs a bus partner. His sister, Lady, has some helpful advice for making a new pal: "You just need to find something you have in common." Buddy loves the game Robo Chargers and karate. Surely there is someone else who does, too! Unfortunately, there isn't. However, when a new student arrives (one day later) and asks everyone to call her Sunny instead of Alison, Buddy gets excited. No one uses his given name, either; they just call him Buddy. He secretly whispers his "real, official name" to Sunny at lunch--an indication that a true friendship is being formed. The rest of the story plods merrily along, all pieces falling exactly into place (she even likes Robo Chargers!), accompanied by Bowers' digital art, a mix of spot art and full-bleed illustrations. Friendship-building can be an emotionally charged event in a child's life--young readers will certainly see themselves in Buddy's plight--but, alas, there is not much storytelling magic to be found. Buddy and his family are White, Sunny and Mr. Teacher are Black, and Buddy's other classmates are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Making friends isn't always this easy and convenient. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.