HAPPY TOGETHER
From the Harmony of Friends series
by Chloe Douglass ; illustrated by Chloe Douglass
The Band has a gig; will it be a success?
The Band, consisting of Fox, Seagull, Duck, and Bear, gets to play at a huge festival, on the same stage as Fox’s favorite group, The Bad Apples. Fox can’t stop talking about how great The Bad Apples are, but the others are more focused on their own style. At the festival, Fox is self-conscious about The Band—everyone else seems hipper—so he decides to act louder and cooler. His wild drumming catches the ears of none other than The Bad Apples, who ask Fox to hang out. Before the show, Fox wonders why they don’t prepare and huddle together as a group. Then onstage, the sound equipment malfunctions, and The Bad Apples are revealed as fakes. Thankfully, Fox knows how to play some songs that sound amazing and, after apologizing, realizes that being true to his friends is actually the coolest. Fox and crew are back with their individual charms, continuing their various journeys of self-realization. Readers see the value in focusing on one’s unique talents and discouraging comparison with others. At times, though, the story feels somewhat shoehorned into being a vehicle for the life lesson; still, it’s a message all kids need to hear. Illustrations feature flat colors with cute details interspersed.
A sound example of social-emotional learning.
(Picture book. 4-7)