The Un-Friendship Bracelet

February 1, 2018

Gr 1-3-A charming first installment of a new series that focuses on crafting. The book begins by introducing "Mad-ily," the dynamic duo of crafty best friends Maddie and Emily. They share everything and their relationship is sealed by their special friendship bracelets. Their world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new student named Bella. Maddie and Bella quickly become friends, and Emily feels left out. To make matters worse, she loses her friendship bracelet and wonders if it is a sign that Mad-ily won't survive the school year. Through honest communication, creative problem-solving, and a positive attitude, Maddie and Emily mend their friendship. This is an enjoyable and wholesome book that promotes important values and skills for young children. Maddie, Emily, and Bella learn to share, consider others' feelings, and be inclusive. The text is printed in a large font, which makes it an ideal choice for early or reluctant readers. Black-and-white illustrations on every page add to the book's readability. The story also integrates various STEAM elements: crafting, coding, painting, and tinkering, making it a solid tie-in for library programming. VERDICT A must-have new series where crafters, makers, and after-school arts programs are popular.-Katherine Hickey, Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2018
A friendship story kicks off a brand-new chapter-book series.Maddie and her best friend, bespectacled Emily, are two peas in a DIY pod. The two girls have a shared passion for crafting. Maddie is a pro with jewelry, and Emily has an affinity for wood crafts. All is well and right in the world for the girls until a new student, Bella Diaz, comes to Birding Creek Elementary and disrupts the equilibrium of their friendship. Emily seeks refuge in the art room and with a new, male friend, Sam, whose prowess with paint and pencil, as well as sage advice, is just what Emily needs to mend fences. Soon all four children are combining forces on a new project: creating a craft studio out of the old shed in Bella's backyard. From coding to sewing, Emily, Maddie, and their new friends are fully engulfed in the STEAM and maker ethos of the moment. The simple text moves quickly and will readily engage other burgeoning makers, who are sure to find kindred spirits among the studio members, who are diverse culturally as well as by gender: Maddie is black, Emily is white, Bella is Latina, and Sam is South Asian, all communicated via illustrations and naming conventions. Yan's illustrations add interest and context clues for early readers, and backmatter includes instructions on how to make a friendship bracelet of one's own.Inviting, sweet, and timely. (Fiction. 5-9)

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