In earlier posts this year I
reviewed the most recent Charlotte Zolotow award winning book, JacquelineWoodson’s Each Kindness, and one of the honor books, Mara Rockliff’s Me and Momma and Big John. Today’s the day for the second Charlotte Zolotow
honor book to have a moment in my spotlight.
Title: Flabbersmashed About
You
Author: Rachel Vail
Illustrator: Yumi Heo (Yumi has bios on several publishers sites but I couldn't find HER website. The link is to Scholastic's bio and visit kit page) For those of you on Facebook, you can go here.
Publisher: Feiwel and
Friends, 2012
Audience: The publisher
lists 4-8 but I would say 3-6 girls
Themes: Friendship, Fitting
In, Helping Others
Opening: “My name is Katie
Honors, and I’m a really friendly kid. I like to play with everybody, and they
all like to play with me, too. I go on lots of playdates.”
Synopsis: When Katie's best friend decides to play with someone else during recess, Katie is "flabbersmashed." (a word made up by author Rachel Vail that captures the emotion perfectly--and is just plain fun to say, try it!). No one is ugly to each other. Her best friend isn't intentionally mean to Katie. It effectively captures a moment when one person feels left out, even when no one is to blame, and how someone else can turn the moment around.
Resources: MacMillan has a slide show with spread from the book here.
I was surprised that so many reviewers on Goodreads didn't like it as much as I did. Some clearly didn't read the book because it isn't about friends who have a falling apart and then make up. Whether or not they make up is left to the reader's imagination, and I think that's a great talking point. What does it mean to be best friends? Do you have to do everything together? Can three people be best friends? Four?
I was surprised that so many reviewers on Goodreads didn't like it as much as I did. Some clearly didn't read the book because it isn't about friends who have a falling apart and then make up. Whether or not they make up is left to the reader's imagination, and I think that's a great talking point. What does it mean to be best friends? Do you have to do everything together? Can three people be best friends? Four?
I also learned that in 1935 the U.S. Congress proclaimed the first Sunday in August National Friendship Day. Cool holiday! These two sites one and two have a lot of friendship activities
Have you read Flabbersmashed About You yet? Are there other books about feeling left out by a friend that you would recommend?
