The Fix-It Friends--Have No Fear!

June 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-The first in a planned series featuring Veronica Conti, an outgoing seven-year-old who wants to solve conflicts, including her new friend Maya's problem: a fear of bugs. While her heart is in the right place, Veronica's plans leave something to be desired, and everything goes disastrously awry. Maya's problem and some of the resulting action in the book are somewhat contrived and the solutions pat. However, the premise, an idea of a series about a group of friends helping others in need, makes up for some of the title's minor shortcomings. VERDICT A serviceable if not memorable beginning chapter book.-Kaela Cochran, Lincoln Township Public Library, Stevensville, MI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2017
Grades 2-4 In this first volume in the Fix-It Friends series, Veronica, a perky second-grader, spies a girl on the verge of tears at recess and decides to help. Many questions later, she discovers Maya's name and her problem: fear of insects. Veronica soon swings into action, attempting to cheer up her new friend with Groucho glasses (response: none) and a fake spider (response: terrified screams), while her older brother, Jude, tries logic, all to no avail. Only their mother's idea works: tiny steps that Maya agrees to try in order to conquer her fear. With friends and family supporting her, Maya makes progress. Distinctive grayscale pictures illustrate this chapter book, and an appended section for kids offers a toolbox for handling worrying, as well as resource lists for concerned parents. While Maya's progress toward her goal forms a predictable narrative arc, it's realistic that her improvement is small. Still, feeling happy with their success, siblings Veronica and Jude, along with their two best friends, decide to form the Fix-It Friends to help other kids solve problems.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)