Holly Keller

Recommended by Stephanie T.

The cutest missed connection ever: a caterpillar and a gosling become friends, but don't recognize each other after their transformations to butterfly and goose, respectively. Eventually they figure out the other's real identity, and are joyfully reunited. This story of friendship manages to be sweet without being cloying.

Goodbye, Max is a story about a child grieving the loss of his pet. Max was Ben's friend and he died of old age. The vet tried everything to help Max, but nothing worked. Max died while Ben was at school and Ben was heartbroken. When his father brings home a new puppy Ben refuses to accept him. Even when Ben's friend Zach comes over to play ball Ben refuses. While Ben and Zach deliver papers around the neighborhood, they remember all the good memories of Max and they each cry. When they show more arrive back at Ben's home, he is finally ready to name the new puppy and accept him into the family. This is a very heartfelt story. I would have acted the same way as Ben if I lost my pet. My dog Belle is 12 and I hate to see the day when it comes for her to pass. Losing a pet is very hard on anyone especially a child. They are your best friend and you try so hard to help them but sometimes nothing can be done. This can help a child who has just lost a pet to remember to think about all the good and happy memories about their pet and not just mourn over their loss. I feel the best way to deal with death is to not dwell on the sad aspects of the person's or animal’s life but how they changed your life and made you who you are today. I really like how the two boys were able to cry over Max because this shows that it is okay for boys to cry and show emotion. I feel like this was a little out of the norm where it would have been a little girl crying over her pet. show less

Library book that was loved enough to track down for our own library. It's a great cousin/ friend story. Newton comes to his cousins' house and doesn't want to take off his hat. It becomes a point of conflict with the cousins and also playground bullies, but all is resolved in the end.

Mouse has heard that snakes are dangerous to mice. he's concerned about his friend, Snake. Hedgehog tells him not to worry, but Mouse worries anyway - so much that he doesn't look where he's going and falls into a hole. How's he going to get out? All of his other forest friends have various reasons why they can't help. Who'll save the day? You guessed it!

This is fun and makes a good point about friendship (and how to say "thank you" after a good deed). I read Snake's part with a show more cowboy-style accent - just seems to suit him. show less