My Friend Maggie

Starred review from May 30, 2016
Paula, a beaver, has been “friends forever” with Maggie, an elephant, but when Paula gets swept into the orbit of the class mean girl, Maggie’s faults become all too apparent. Maggie is “kind of clumsy,” Paula notes, and she “stinks at hide and seek” (which, given Harrison’s affectionately funny depiction of Maggie trying to hide behind a sapling, seems true enough). Paula clearly struggles with her betrayal of Maggie, and when Maggie stands up for her (because mean girls eventually turn on everyone), the friendship is restored. Harrison tells her story with touching and expert restraint, and her acrylic illustrations have a lovely old-fashioned feel that readers of her previous books will recognize. While some may wish that the words “I’m sorry” had passed from Paula’s lips at some point (though she does look regretful) or that Maggie wasn’t dependent on a single friend, Harrison’s images speak volumes about her characters’ guilt, embarrassment, and anger, particularly during a heartbreaking and all-too-believable lunchroom scene. As in Bernice Gets Carried Away, Harrison shows a deeply sympathetic understanding of the simultaneously fragile and powerful emotions of children. Ages 4–8. Agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary.

May 15, 2016
Teasing tests the friendship of two young girls.According to narrator Paula, Maggie and she have "been friends forever." Proof of that assertion starts on the endpapers--a crayon drawing of the two friends--followed by illustrations that look like old-style photographs on the verso and title page. Whether smiling out from a class photo or pictured as infants, the two seem completely simpatico. But then bullying rears its ugly head. A classmate opines that Maggie is "too big." Her size isn't surprising: she's an elephant. But that unkind comment leads Paula, a beaver, to re-evaluate her friend in an unfortunately stereotypical but all too believable way. Maggie is "clumsy," terrible at hide-and-seek, and wears her clothes too tight. Harrison's brightly colored acrylic paintings amplify the emotions, showing mean girl Veronica (a sleek terrier) with squinting eyes and smug smile and pushover Paula casting a regretful look back at Maggie. Harrison's straightforward, first-person text, while understated, also conveys a wealth of emotion. The use of exclamation points, ellipses, and italics guides readers to give the words a distinctly conversational tone. Luckily for Paula, Maggie is bighearted enough to forgive her friend's betrayal and strong enough to defend her when necessary.Paula's final declaration that "I'll be her friend forever" shows that she's learned a valuable lesson, one that listeners would do well to heed. (Picture book. 3-7)

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July 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Paula (a beaver) and Maggie (an elephant) have been friends forever, and though they're worlds apart in terms of size and abilities, they enjoy being together-whether they are taking silly pictures in a photo booth or splashing in the mud. Then one day, Veronica (a dog) manages to divide the two pals, but not for long. After a brief yet hurtful period of disloyalty, Paula is surprised to find that she can still rely on Maggie to be the best friend ever. As in Nancy Carlson's books and the collaborations by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger, the focus is on life issues such as feelings, moral character, and self-esteem. This time she aptly addresses peer pressure and its influence on friendships. Enhancing the enlightening tale, Harrison's exemplary acrylic paintings of anthropomorphic animals serve as valuable information in helping children recognize facial expressions. VERDICT The trials of friendship and the early vestiges of mean girl culture are well portrayed in this recommended purchase; perfect for storytime or one-on-one sharing.-Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
In this meaningful story laced with humor, beaver Paula and elephant Maggie are long-time friends, but Paula turns her back on her buddy after a bully finds fault with Maggie's size. Nevertheless, when the bully harasses Paula, loyal Maggie rushes to her defense--and forgives her, too. Expressive acrylic illustrations and effective page design are essential to Harrison's storytelling.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)