My Friend!

November 16, 2020
Frequent collaborators Diggs and Evans (Chocolate Me!) offer a story about a close friend calling another out. In alternating views, two boys of color are seen waking up to the beat of Diggs’s snappy rhymes: “Time to climb out of bed!/ Do what Daddy said./ Brush those teeth.../ and comb that head!” Bright colors and bold outlines add to a feeling of movement, while painted and textured illustrations by Evans add warmth and complexity. The boys meet on the bus, where their bond is underscored: “Must grab that seat just for US./ (The one cat I trust.)” While waiting for gym class to start, though, the narrator spots his friend “spilling ill will” as he sticks a leg out and trips a classmate. Without missing a beat, the narrator takes action, pulling his pal aside: “Makes no sense, nuh-uh./ That’s not how you treat someone.” An apology is made, and the victim forgives the harm. Readers will learn from watching the narrator react to his friend’s behavior in real time, with kindness and in friendship. Ages 4–8.

December 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Few things are more adorable than two friends laughing and spending time together, which is precisely how Diggs and Evans kick off their newest collaboration. Here the boy protagonists from Chocolate Me! (2011) and Mixed Me! (2015) are revealed to be besties. The story opens with divided page spreads showing how the boys get ready for school in their respective homes before coming together on the bus--with a complex handshake, naturally. As the day progresses, young readers will recognize familiar activities, like having nap time and getting to be line leader, but the arrival of gym class ushers in the story's conflict. In an act of ill will, one of the boys purposely trips a classmate, prompting his bud to pull him aside and remind him, "That's not how you treat someone." The lesson is quickly taken to heart and an apology given. Though sweet, this story never becomes saccharine, and its rhyming lines make it a fun and easy read. Its inviting illustrations--retro-hued digital collages--create a whimsical and unique look that will further attract youngsters.

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