4.5 Stars

We have the next book in the Maddie and Mabel series. This time, they make a friend but things aren’t always that simple. 

Little Mabel and her older sister Maddie have been besties forever. They do everything together and wearing matching bunny slippers. When they spy on the arrival of a new neighbor, they make a welcome gift and try to make a new friend. As you can guess, three is a crowd, so it needs some adjustment and assurance to soothe the insecurities. 

I love the illustrations. They are simple but detailed too! For example, we see the sisters wearing bunny slippers and shoes that match their dress colors. Mabel’s curls are pretty much always messy even in pigtails. The cookie crumbs, the plush bunny (reminds me of mine), and the expressions on their faces are so, so good! I always love focusing on Mabel’s expressions. 

The book ends with three questions that make kids think about how to handle their relationships with their dear ones. Adults can discuss these to explain things that may not be apparent to littles (though I’ll say kids are more aware than adults these days). 

To summarize, Maddie and Mabel Make a Friend is an adorable book with an important message. The simple writing is easy for kiddos to read. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Kind World Publishing and Consulting, and IBPA, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MaddieAndMabelMakeAFriend