Me, Too!

January 1, 2015
Annie is worried when her best friend, Lillemor, befriends Lilianne, the new girl at school.Annie likes the fact that she and Lillemor have so much in common, which she enumerates in large faux handwritten letters. The fourth reason adds humor to the already lighthearted art and text, when Annie declares that the girls "can both speak another language." A genuine Swedish phrase comes from Lillemor's cartoon bubble, translated on the page as "I can speak Swedish," but Annie's bubble reads, "Maka looka Oinky Boinky," translated as, "I can speak Oinky Boinky." Annie is worried when, instead of receiving her usual hug from Lillemor as she arrives at school one day, she sees Lillemor jumping rope with Lilianne. Her alarm rises as she notes all of the commonalities the other two girls share. All three girls have large heads with friendly faces on small bodies, with differing skin tones and hairdos. The backgrounds are simple, brightly colored and cartoonlike, making good use of negative space. There is no doubt that a happy ending is coming; the silliness and the frequent translations of phrases in three languages (two legitimate and one made up) are what will keep readers engaged. Besides, who can resist reading aloud such phrases as, "Maka kooka Uugghhh!" and "Ooga booga meow!"? With its familiar themes and fizzy text, this is one both listeners and readers will enjoy. (Picture book. 3-7)

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February 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-Annie and her best friend, Lillemor, have many things in common. Annie is seven, and Lillemor says, "Me, too!" They both love pink, purple, and jumping rope. Lillemor can speak English and Swedish; Annie can speak English and Oinky Boinky. (Well, she thinks that counts as a second language.) The girls revel in their similarities and enjoy sharing their differences, such as Lillemor's Swedish foods and clothing vs. Annie's American cuisine and dress. One day Annie arrives at school and Lillemor isn't there to greet her. Annie spies her jumping rope and having fun with another girl. Uh-oh-Lilianne is bilingual and has the same favorite colors and will be seven next week. Anyone who has ever experienced the angst and dynamics of adding a new friend into the fold will relate to Annie's worries. She feels left out until Lillemor reminds her of their special connections, and all three girls become best friends. Annie is relieved and realizes, "I was worrying for nothing!" The lively illustrations, rendered in pencil and colored in Photoshop, use a bright palette. Speech bubbles for the dialogue add interest and emphasis. VERDICT A good book with a strong message of inclusiveness for children experiencing some friendship growing pains.-Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Preschool-G Annie and Lillemor are BFFs: both are seven, like purple and pink, enjoy jumping rope, and speak another language (Lillemor speaks Swedish; Annie, Oinky Boinky). But when Lilianne from France joins their class, Annie fears Lillemor and Lilianne might have even more in common. After all, their names start the same and French is definitely a more legitimate language than Oinky Boinky. When Annie admits to feeling left out, Lilianne is quick to reassure her that they have lots in common. Why, she and Annie even share the Ann part of their names! And soon the happy trio are inseparable. Dunklee (My Name Is Elizabeth, 2011) writes knowingly of the concerns of primary-grade children navigating the sometimes murky waters of friendship. Smith's colorful, computer-enhanced pencil drawings highlight the girls and their activities, and the use of speech bubbles effectively incorporates the narrative into the art. Give this to fans of Grace Lin's Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same (2010) or Kate DiCamillo's Bink and Gollie (2010).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
Annie and Lillemor, who's from Sweden, are best friends who have a lot in common. But when new girl Lilianne, who seems to have even more in common with Lillemor, arrives from France, Annie feels left out. Text and speech bubbles tell this relatable story about normal friendship woes. The playful and friendly digitally colorized pencil illustrations bring the girls' activities to life.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)