#ReadYourWorld
I’m honored to be participating in Multicultural Children’s Book Day (#ReadYourWorld) for my third year! I was gifted a copy of the book so I could provide an honest review. Like many of you, I love promoting children’s books and have a special place in my heart for diverse books. MCBD has been committed to bringing attention to so many amazing books for a long time–this is their 9th year.
The book I’m reviewing this year is BEST BUDDIES by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Arthur Lin. I was gifted a copy of this book by Capstone, who is the publisher, so I could provide an honest review. Which I am happy to do of course.
The first thing that jumps out at you with this book is the adorable illustrations! They are so appealing and kid-friendly, and you know immediately that the best buddies of this story is a young boy and his dog.
After meeting right after the boy is born, the two become inseparable friends. They do everything together. That is, until it is time for the boy to start going to school. After their unbearable separation that first day, the two friends can’t imagine surviving endless days that make up the school year. But when the boy, who has Down syndrome, comes up with a clever salutation, the two buddies find a way to still feel connected even when they are physically apart.
Stories of dealing with separation anxiety brought on by the beginning of school are hardly new. But the author manages to keep this one fresh, and the illustrations keep the reader drawn to the page. Having a main character with a developmental disability without making it the central premise of the story allows the book to convey an important underlying message in a subtle and effective way.
For more details about Multicultural Children’s Book Day, take a look here. Please take a moment to note the list of generous sponsors for this important event.