One Cool Friend

By Toni Buzzeo.  Illustrations by David Small.  New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012.

Young Elliot is a very proper, well-mannered boy.  He wears a suit complete with bow tie.  He says "please" and "thank you."  One day while at the zoo with his father, he visits the penguin exhibit.  He is very taken with these animals, so he asks his father if he may have one.  Thinking Elliot means a stuffed animal, his father agrees and gives him some money.  Elliot takes a small penguin and puts it in his backpack.  He names it Magellan (after the explorer), and sets up his room to take care of him.  He even goes to the library to do research on Magellan.  All is going well, and his father doesn't suspect a thing, until Elliot draws a bath for Magellan, and his father decides to take a soak at the same time!  Thankfully, his father knows a thing or two about unusual pets, since he has Captain Cook.  You'll have to read this story to find out who Captain Cook is.

This is a wonderful, hilarious story about finding the right pet.  David Small's pen and ink illustrations show great details in facial expressions and give the story such depth.  One of my favorite details is the little girl running out of the Hands-on Tide Pool Exhibit with a crab attached to her finger.  Small details such as that make this a great story for sharing with children.  Early on, visual clues will help children guess what animal Elliot's father loves.  This is one cool story.  Check it out today!

Pingo

Written by Brandon Mull and illustrated by Brandon Dorman. Salt Lake City, UT: Shadow Mountain, 2009.

This picture book takes the idea of an imaginary friend and mixes it up: what if your imaginary friend turns into your enemy? That's what happens to Chad. Chad and his imaginary friend Pingo, who looks like a gremlin, grew up having fun adventures. One day, after being teased by kids about Pingo, Chad decides he doesn't want to have an imaginary friend anymore - "it's time to stop pretending that you're real." Well, Pingo just won't go away, and he decides if they can't be friends, enemies is it! Pingo makes it his mission to torment Chad in any way he can think of. As Chad grows up, Pingo continually plays tricks on him, but he grows weary of being ignored. Years later, Chad is an old man living alone at a rest home. Guess who's there with him? Chad gives up, and confesses he's missed Pingo, and the two of them continue their adventures.

I was immediately drawn to Pingo, who with his polka-dot shorts and striped scarf, is absolutely charming. His facial expressions expertly demonstrate his mischievous streak, and you just can't help falling in love with him. The illustrations are hilarious, and kids will enjoy picking out the details of Pingo and Chad's adventures. This book will have you looking at imaginary friends in a new light!

Eleven

By Lauren Myracle

I had the pleasure of hearing Lauren Myracle speak at last year's New York Library Association Annual Conference. She is a great speaker and so in tune with kids. Shamefully, I had never read any of her books. I finally did, and wow! - she definitely knows kids and tweens!

This is the first book in a trilogy. It is a year in the life of Winnie, who has just turned eleven. Turning eleven is really cool, but Winnie notices that her other friends are changing, while she seems to be staying the same. Her best friend, Amanda, seems embarrassed to play the games they used to, and would rather hang out with stuck-up Gail Grayson and talk about boys and make-up. As she and Amanda grow apart, Winnie struggles with the changes in their friendship, and in the process learns about herself and others. The year is full of ups and downs, and Winnie reflects on them with honesty and enthusiasm.

I listened to the audiobook version, and I was immediately transported back in time when I was eleven years old. NOT that I want to return to that particular period of my life, but I was amazed how the writing was so true to the pre-teen experience. There are embarrassing moments, feelings of insecurity, and not knowing where you truly fit it. I felt the exact same things Winnie did, and it connected me in a such a positive and powerful way to this book. I highly recommend this book to young girls. I think they will feel an immediate kinship to Winnie, just like I did. I can't wait to read the next two books, Twelve and Thirteen, which continue Winnie's journey through the tween years.

Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer

By Andy Runton

GRAPHIC NOVEL (all ages)



This is the perfect novel for someone who has never read a graphic novel, but was wondering what they were all about. Owly is a kind-hearted owl who knows the meaning of friendship. This graphic novel has two stories. In the first story, Owly saves a little worm, appropriately named Wormy, from a terrible rainstorm. Wormy has lost his family in the storm, so Owly helps Wormy find his home. Owly and Wormy both find out what it means to be a friend. In the second story, Owly and Wormy have a wonderful summer when they befriend two hummingbirds. But, they are very sad when the weather gets colder and their friends have to fly south. This book is very heartwarming and Owly is drawn with such expression, that you can't help but fall in love with him and the story. This graphic novel is wordless, but the illustrations portray the character's emotions perfectly. This is a wonderful story!

Jellaby

By Kean Soo

GRAPHIC NOVEL (Ages 8 and up)

Let's face it - we have all had moments in our life where we've needed a large purple monster as a friend. I sure have! Well, Portia is also having those moments. She has just moved to a new neighborhood with her mom and is having problems adjusting to life without her father. She is pretty smart, but find school boring and her classmates don't seem to want to be friends with her. That all changes one night when Portia goes exploring the woods behind her house and finds a shy, sweet-natured purple monster. She decides to name him Jellaby. Jellaby doesn't talk, but Portia discovers he is lost. Along with her school-mate Jason, they go on a journey to discover Jellaby's true home. I absolutely loved this graphic novel!! Jellaby is such an endearing monster - he has a big heart. The drawings are absolutely wonderful - Kean Soo portrays the characters with emotion and such expression. My only complaint is I have to wait until the next volume to find out what happens (fair warning...the book leaves you hanging)! You will fall in love with Jellaby!