Best Friend in the Whole World

January 1, 2021
Having a best friend makes everything better. Roland, a white rabbit, lives a quiet life in a tree trunk. He keeps busy with drawing, dancing to music, and drinking tea, but sometimes he's quite lonely. While searching the woods for a friend, he discovers a pine cone with sticks resembling arms and a pair of eyes looking at him. He names his silent new friend Milton and happily shares his activities with him. In the woods again, he sees scattered posters seeking a missing best friend named Popkin, with many attributes very like Milton's. He tries to ignore them, but he realizes someone out there is lonely too. He returns to the spot where he discovered Milton and finds Lucy, a kitten whose lost Popkin and Milton are one and the same. Without his friend, Roland is lonelier than ever. On his next foray into the woods, there are new posters: Lucy and Milton/Popkin are looking for a friend, and that friend is none other than Roland. Salsbury never allows the tale to become maudlin or cloying, as Roland selflessly deals with disappointment, remaining a kind and compassionate friend. Watercolor illustrations, appearing as vignettes and both single- and double-page spreads, enhance the tale with lively, detailed depictions of Roland's woodsy home, his expressions of sadness and joy, the sweet-natured Lucy, and, of course, the incredible Milton/Popkin. Young readers will sympathize with Roland and strive to emulate his kindness to his friends, whether real or imaginary. Life lessons gently told. Lovely. (Picture book. 3-8)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 Roland, a rabbit, enjoys drinking tea, drawing pictures, and listening to music, but sometimes he's lonely. Walking through the woods one day, he sees an amiable face on a pine cone lying beside the path. Roland names him Milton and takes him home for tea, music, and drawing. They have great times together until, throughout the woods, Roland notices hand-drawn posters featuring a familiar-looking pine cone and the words missing, lost, and Popkin. Though initially in denial, he finally returns Milton (aka Popkin) to Lucy, a cat, who joyfully hugs them both. Back home, Roland is lonelier than ever until a new poster leads him back to Lucy's home, where his two friends welcome him warmly. The simplified forms, curving lines, and muted colors in the watercolor illustrations suit this gentle, rather melancholy story well. Adding a playful touch, the endpapers display a variety of cones. In the front of the book, all but Milton are plain, but in the back, many have black-and-white eyes and twigs for arms. An engaging picture book with craft-project potential.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.