Mabel Wants a Friend

Starred review from August 5, 2024
Prior collaborators Bernstein and Rosenthal (You Go First) once again dazzle at demonstrating social-emotional nuance in this savvy, playground-set work. A red fox sporting a pink pinafore dress, Mabel “always got what she wanted,” even when doing so requires subterfuge. (One crisply inked vignette shows her distracting an entire line of animal kids so she can head to the front of the ice cream queue.) When she’s befriended by Chester, a rabbit with a generous spirit, Mabel values his company merely for how it meets her needs: “She could finally use the seesaw. And when she told a joke, there was someone to hear it.” But Chester sees how Mabel’s wants lead to thoughtless behavior—including pilfering another child’s toy—and when Mabel declares his role is to “let me have whatever I want,” he breaks off the friendship. Missing Chester’s companionship, Mabel realizes that others have needs and feelings, too—and learns that wants can go beyond a desire for self-gratification. It’s a lesson that’s beautifully delivered in the story’s final pages, which model Chester’s humane adherence to boundaries and genuine forgiveness when asked. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. Illustrator: Holly McGhee. Pippin Properties.

Starred review from September 15, 2024
Mabel learns about making and keeping friends. FollowingYou Go First (2023), Bernstein and Rosenthal have once more created a world of winsome, sportily dressed, anthropomorphic young animals whose all-too-human behaviors will be immediately recognizable. Mabel, an egocentric fox in a pink frock, gets to the front of the long line for the ice cream vendor by tricking the others: "Mabel always [gets] what she [wants]," we're told. Obtaining privacy is a breeze for Mabel (who has no friends), and she finds a way to rationalize disappointments. ("I don't want it anymore," she tells herself when another child is enjoying a playground ride she's initially interested in.) When she inadvertently helps an adorable, red-sneakered rabbit named Chester, she discovers the advantages of friendship. It's easier to play catch when you've got a pal, and at last she can use the seesaw. Unfortunately, her selfish instincts overcome her better side until Chester becomes frustrated. Gently humorous art shows Mabel trying--unsuccessfully--to convince herself that she's better off alone. Mabel practices being patient, helpful, and kind, all of which pay off in unexpected ways. This simply told, funny, and charmingly illustrated tale delivers sound lessons in friendship, without ever verging on preachy or sentimental--no mean feat. Bernstein and Rosenthal demonstrate a keen understanding of the way children see the world, in both their desire to have their own way and their strong capacity for generosity. Sharp insights on honing social skills, wrapped up in an immensely appealing package.(Picture book. 3-6)

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