What James Said

Ayoung girl can’t help but be angry when she learns her best friend is talking about her behind her back.

As the title suggests, everything hinges on what exactly James said. The pint-sized, artistic narrator heard that James—her best friend—told everyone she thinks she is perfect. But she most certainly does not! She thinks she has big feet and plain hair, and she messes up in math all the time. A misunderstanding is hinted at in the very first pages, where Rosenberg and Myers set up a visual game of “Telephone”: James tells Aiden, who tells Hunter, who tells Katie (and so forth)…. But the girl knows what she heard and retaliates by giving James the silent treatment. All day at school, James tries harder and harder to be her show more friend, to no avail. Until the art show, when she suddenly realizes that perhaps James said something entirely different. This common childhood struggle is enhanced by the art, which beautifully depicts the girl’s sense of betrayal. With a dripping paintbrush in hand, she throws angry splotches over Myers’ illustrations, adding her own images in wide, watercolor strokes. She and her friend, depicted realistically, are surrounded by taunting stick figures. The little girl is Caucasian with a brown pageboy; the bespectacled little boy is African-American.

Perfectly in tune with the charged emotions involved in navigating friendship and trust. (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

Love the art - a perfect fit for the kids' feelings.
Appreciate that it's totally relevant to children as they figure out how to be ok with being irritated at each other and to still be friends.

Absolutely do not like that the kids never talked to each other about the misunderstanding. Did the girl learn anything? Will the boy ever feel like he can trust the girl again?

Good for discussion. Not so good for independent reading.

This story is all about a girl being mad at her best friend -- who can't relate to that? It shows her being miserable without him all day and then at the end she discovers the reason she was mad in the first place was just a simple misunderstanding. This would be a great book to talk about friendship and how to be a good friend. Another great book to add to the list when creating classroom community.

The illustrations are what stood out to me in this heartwarming story of friendship redeemed after bearing the brunt of gossip and misunderstanding. The figures are so lifelike in their facial expressions and body language. The background details of backpack cubbys and school bus floors give the story a sense of vivid reality and support the very plausible storyline between two elementary school friends. I would use this book as a read-aloud during a behavior/emotional guidance lesson, especially at the beginning of the year when creating a classroom community.

This was a really cute book about the dangers of listening to rumour! Our poor protagonist thinks that her best friend said something mean about her because she heard from the sister of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend who supposedly heard it from James. She ignores him for a whole day until she finds out that broken telephone isn't entirely trustworthy and they're friends again at the end.

This delightful picture book, with charming illustrations, reminds us all of the importance of clear communication and, ultimately, the power of friendship. This darling book would be wonderful for teaching lessons both on communication and friendship to students in all elementary grades.

What James Said talks about friendship through the intimate and warm story of two children who are friends. The story starts with a conflict between the two friends (main characters) that resolves towards the end unveiling the emotional fabric of friendship. The illustrations are expressive watercolors that support and elevate the story. Wonderful book for teaching empathy and compassion, and the importance of friendship through all circumstances.