RHCB presents... BUTTON AND BUNDLE by Gretchen McLellan!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well, in case you haven't noticed, Spring has definitely sprung, weather AND calendar wise, and with that change is definitely in motion...but some changes are easier to handle than others, while still others help us grow in ways we never imagined.  Such is the case with today's blog tour guest, coming to you via Random House Children's Books.  It's a new(ish) Picture Book that will definitely put you in a Spring frame of mind (gorgeous colors/illustrations!) while reminding you that not all growing pains are for the worst.  Ladies and gents, join me as we discover the truth about friendship in today's book of choice...

Button and Bundle

by

Gretchen McLellan

Illustrated by

Gillian Flint

9781524766689

Knopf Books for Young Readers

About the book...

A tender story about two best friends who must move away from each other. With a sprinkle of imagination and a lot of love, Button and Bundle will learn the true meaning of friendship.

Button and Bundle are best friends. So are their dolls.

But when Button has to move away, she’s sad and lonely without Bundle.

Until one day, Button finds a single yellow balloon and an idea. With a little luck, maybe she can reunite Bundle with their dolls again!

👧   🎈   👧   🎈   👧   🎈   👧

This is the story of how two best friends became three best friends...across the miles, and without ever having all met face to face.

It's hard enough making friends when you're a kid (or at any age, for that matter), but saying good-bye to them?  That's a nightmare.  You can't really fathom how you'll ever see each other again, and while you're trying to be strong for the sake of your dolly friends, it still hurts.  The tears shed could fill a river, it's true, but the discovery that while distance may separate you, you're still able to be close at heart...now that's where the saddened river becomes a glorious waterfall, and a smile can warm your heart again.

I really loved how the author shared the struggles, pitfalls, and triumphs of these little girls, but I adored how the illustrations married the idea and image together to create a masterpiece.  The "song" of the first friendship winding around them throughout their play time, and comforting them when things felt lost...but when a new song was introduced, it made room for its inclusion, creating a symphony of friendship that truly warmed the heart.  While the bigger messages are easier to see with years under your belt, I think the general idea comes across beautifully for the wee ones, and can certainly be used to help put a healing salve on anyone feeling broken apart from their BFF.

👧   🎈   👧   🎈   👧   🎈   👧

Special thanks to Katherine at Random House Children's Books for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Keep an eye out for more on this title as the tour continues working its way through the blogosphere!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!