Forsythia & Me

PreS-Gr 2—Chester is, quite understandably, in awe of his best friend, Forsythia; after all, she can bake incredible cakes, play piano upside down, grow prize-winning roses, perform in the circus and the ballet, train ferocious animals, and paint royal portraits. But when she gets sick, it's Chester who shows his worth as he bakes her a special cupcake; plays the accordion (making "only thirteen mistakes"); and cheers her up with bouquets, dancing, and drawing. Chester's talent clearly is in being a good friend. Kirsch's sketchy black-and-white cartoons with splashes of color are reminiscent of those in Kay Thompson's "Eloise" books (S & S). The illustrations, combined with the measured pace of the text, give the book an elegant air that is as timeless as its message.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD