Here we see one of the top perks of working in a library with an extensive children's literature collection: coming across quirky little books like this one, illustrated beautifully and clearly by Maurice Sendak. It's a simple, short story about friendship that should ring true to anyone who has ever had a childhood friend that at times seem like more of a frenemy. Would be fun to read aloud to others. ( )

"James used to be my friend. But today he is my enemy." John is sick of James always wanting to be the boss, but when he goes to James' ("I'm going over and poke James"), the two reconcile. Classic Sendak two-color illustrations make this little story perfect. ( )

John and James are the best of friends, until John decides that he and James should become enemies. They agreed to be enemies, but it didn't take long for them to make up.

Ages: 3-4
Source: Pierce College Library

John and James are best friends, but John decides that it's time for them to be enemies because sometime James can be a bit mean. John tells us of all the mean things that James does and marches over to end their friendship. James agreed to be enemies, but neither boy could keep up appearances for long.

Ages: 3-4
Source: Pierce College Ft. Steilacoom Library

This book was a good example of a realistic fiction because it seems like something could happen. Child fight with their friends and they make up with them too. The characters in this story were little boys and the way they acted was similar to that of little boys people see every day. This book is about two friends who are mad at one another and they are talking about what they are going to do to the other but at the end they do not want to be mad at one another so they make up and go off to play together.

Book Review, Pierce College, Ages (3-7)