Saturday, January 15, 2011

Bink & Gollie

Bink & Gollie. Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Illustrated by Tony Fucile. 2010. [September 2010] Candlewick Press. 96 pages.

Bink and Gollie star in three delightful short stories in Kate DiCamillo's newest book. The stories are: "Don't You Need A New Pair of Socks?", "P.S. I'll Be Back Soon," and "Give a Fish a Home." My favorite of the three is "Don't You Need A Pair of Socks." It's a delightful story about the value of compromise in friendship! Here's how it begins:
"Hello, Gollie," said Bink.
"What should we do today?"
"Greetings, Bink," said Gollie.
"I long for speed."
"Let's roller-skate!"
When these two friends are out rollerskating together, Bink notices that a store is having a "bargain bonanza" of bright socks. Not just bright socks--OUTRAGEOUSLY bright socks. (Gollie is less than impressed. But Bink has to have a pair now.) Bink picks out a pair of socks that "pains" Gollie, perhaps what pains Gollie most is hearing Bink gush on and on about how wonderful her new socks are, how much she just loves, loves, loves her new socks. When Bink begs asks Gollie to make her some pancakes, Gollie has her revenge. She'll make pancakes for her friend only if the Bink will take off her new socks...

 Who will win in this battle of wills? Can a compromise be reached?

The other two stories are fun as well. But not quite as fun--for me.

I enjoyed this collection of stories. I thought they were fun and playful. I liked both Bink and Gollie.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

1 comment:

Katie said...

I've read this book three times, and I've loved it just a little bit more each time. I think what I love most is the way the illustrations highlight the differences between the two girls' personalities. Nice review!