ALMOST ALWAYS BEST, BEST FRIENDS

Poppy, a young anthropomorphic tiger, builds emotional intelligence and learns communication skills.

She and her best friend, Clementine, a young anthropomorphic sheep, like the same things and are virtually always together. So, when Clementine has a play date with a new companion, Poppy is worried: “What if Clementine thinks Georgia is a better best friend than me?” When Clementine invites Poppy over the next day, all she does is talk about her new friend. Peeved and hurt, Poppy lashes out and dashes home, where she is comforted by her dad. With his help, she figures out the best words to use to share her feelings with her best friend. After the two young animals have a heart-to-heart and reconcile, Poppy meets Georgia for the first time and gets a happy surprise. This book realistically portrays one of the common pitfalls of childhood friendships—jealousy—and successfully models strategies for having difficult but necessary conversations. Rendered in watercolor and digital ink, Stott’s charming illustrations are full of detail and depict three girly characters—Poppy wears a tutu, and all three girls sport flower wreaths and large ribbons in their hair—with a penchant for pink.

A tender tale of friendship, kindness, and forgiveness.