“Bink & Gollie” by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile.
Candlewick Press, Somerville, Mass., 2010, 81 pages, Grades 2-4.
Early readers are some of the most difficult books to write. The stories have to be interesting and entertaining, while having a simplified vocabulary. These books are very necessary for primary grade students as they move out of picture books into more complicated texts. Children will proudly tell you that they are now reading “chapter books.” This makes them feel grown up.
Famed children’s writer Kate DiCamillo teams up with Alison McGhee to write a series of adventurous books with two young girls, Bink and Gollie. Their irrepressible personalities will draw young readers (and adults) into their charming stories. This title of the first book in the three-book series is “Bink & Gollie.”
The girls begin their day by trying to figure out what to do. They decide on roller skating. Bink is short and skates with enthusiasm. Gollie is tall and more introspective. In short order, Bink charges into a clothing store and decides to buy a pair of outrageously colored socks. Gollie is aghast and is not impressed with the audaciously colored socks that Bink favors. They go home.
Bink is hungry from all the skating and asks Gollie to make pancakes. Gollie agrees, if Bink will take off the outlandish socks. But Bink likes the socks and demands to continue wearing them. Soon it becomes obvious that both girls believe it is “my way or the highway.” With this, Bink goes home. Gollie makes an entire stack of pancakes but misses sharing them with Bink. Gollie looks at the stack of pancakes and Bink examines her outrageously colored socks. It would be nice to share the day with each other. They both think the other girl is just stubborn. After a while, they are soon on the phone talking to each other. Gollie divides the pancakes into two stacks and Bink takes off one sock. Bink starts walking over to Gollie’s house and they meet on the stairs of the house. Each child is carrying something. What is it?
Do Bink and Gollie learn how to compromise? What does Gollie learn from Bink’s adventurous spirit? What does she teach Bink? Why is friendship built on compromise? Have you ever changed a position to help someone else? Has this helped your relationship? What do Bink and Gollie learn? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this delightful book, “Bink & Gollie” by Kat DiCamillo and Alison McGhee.
“Bink & Gollie” has won any number of literary awards. It is a perfect book for beginning readers because it has compelling characters and touches the emotional level of younger children. It makes a delightful read aloud and would also make an excellent book to read with younger children. Kate DiCamillo is famous for her writing and has teamed up with Alison McGhee to create this witty series of early readers. I hope you get a chance to check out this novel or either of the remaining two books in the series. They are fun. Enjoy!
