Saturday, September 15, 2012

"Bink & Gollie" by Kaye DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, Illustrated by Tony Fucile: Review & Giveaway

ISBN 9780763659547
Paperback $6.99
 About the book:  Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls--one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile. 

My thoughts:  Typically I'm not your "cartoon/graphic art" book reader.  But when Bink & Gollie arrived I couldn't help but chuckle at the image of each of them.  The droll Gollie - tall, thin, calm - and the whimsical, mischievous, daring Bink with her spiked, yellow, out-of-control hair.  The drawings which so aptly demonstrate each personality and each incident along side the dry humor are reminiscent of Garfield or Calvin & Hobbs  but in a more "chapertized" format that will appeal to young readers but also adults with a sense of humor.

There are three stories or chapters in this little volume capturing episodes in the lives of Bink & Gollie.  Authors Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee with illustrator Tony Fucile have got the eye glances, body language, verbiage, amount of color vs black and white images, and vocabulary down to a tee that combines to bring a delightful reading adventure to any reader.

Friends are what Bink and Gollie are.  And as friends they have differences because they have such completely different personalities.  Bink discovers some truly atrocious (in Gollie's eyes) socks of a multitude of colors.  The war of differences begins.  But ultimately as friends they resolve and compromise - right to the end of the book when ice skating one of the remaining socks is now a scarf for Bink (she just couldn't quite rid herself of both socks).

Then as friends they must settle the fact that sometimes it is good and desired to do something simply by one's self.  For example Gollie wishes to climb to the top of the Andes (while remaining in her living room), but Bink simply keeps disturbing her and knocking on her door. 

And finally, the issue of venturing forth with new friendships and the resolution of sharing friendships while recognizing the value of special friends is faced.  Also, the act of a friend in saving another friend's relationship with one "outside" their circle because it is the right thing to do.

I can see parents and teachers using this delightfully entertaining book as a teaching tool with children.  I can also see adults recognizing themselves and their children in the characters Bink and Gollie and laughing at their own circumstances.

GIVEAWAY:  Candlewick Press is providing a giveaway copy for one of Chat With Vera's readers to win.  Use the Rafflecopter Entry Form below. Contest is open in US only. (Please wait while Rafflecopter loads)
DISCLOSURE:  Candlewick Press provided a complimentary copy of Bink & Gollie for me to render my honest review and I was not required to post a positive review. 

31 comments:

  1. I commented on The Captive Princess: a Story Based on the Life of Young Pocahontas" by Wendy Lawton: book review

    marika200@hotmail.com

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    1. Thank you, Mary. I wish I had a giveaway on this series by Wendy Lawton. The series is absolutely great for the young chapter book reader to learn history and they are so very well written. They are so very well written. Published by Moody Publishing.

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  2. I like that they let you have a good look inside before you purchase! Also, the colors on the site are attention grabbing.

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    1. I love a beautifully crafted website, too, when it truly represents the product. Engages the visitor.

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  3. love the funstuff the Sock Bonanza on the site, super cute, bright colored and love the animation :)

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    1. Don't you just love the sock stuff. Also, everyone needs to have a least one wild colorful pair of socks in their life! ;)

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  4. On binkandgollie.com I liked thought the fun stuff for the kids was great. I also liked that it had a teacher's guide available for both books.

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly with you on the kids stuff and teachers' guides. They are both so helpful. Also, it is wonderful to find places where there is good kids stuff online.

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  5. I read your review and left a comment on the post http://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-bride-wore-blue-book-3-in-sinclaire.html

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  6. I love the "Fun Stuff" on the Bink & Gollie website! Very cute!

    ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

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  7. I've commented on About Crustaceans.

    ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

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  8. I had to PULL myself away from playing Whack a Duck on the www.binkandgollie.com Website—what fun!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  9. on the Bink and Gollie website, I went straight to the Creators page because I love learning about what makes writers (and illustrators) tick! I've read the Magician's Elephant and I've been wanting to read Bink and Gollie since it first came out. Would LOVE a copy so we can review it on our website too! I think my daughter would really like it. I've also commented on the About Crustaceans post because that's the one you linked into the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Thanks again for linking in and I'm really excited that we connected. Looking forward to your posts! :)

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  10. I commented on Bear in love and love the polka dots!

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  11. i like the games in the fun stuff section
    gkuroda at gmail dot com

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  12. I enjoyed the different ways to browse through the books- author, award winner, category etc.

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  13. I visited their website and I must say that it is too cute and fun with the great visuals. I also like that you can 'meet' the characters.

    ayed2016 at aol dot com

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  14. I love the set up and how you can browse for books

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  15. I left a comment here: http://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-boy-who-was-raised-by-librarians-by.html

    abbegirl1977 at gmail dot com

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  16. I love the polka dot background on their website!

    abbegirl1977 at gmail dot com

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  17. I'd also like to have "A Birthday For Bear," and "Where's Waldo?
    The 25th Anniversary Edition." Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  18. I like the fun stuff on the site for kids.
    oregonrockmom@gmail.com

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  19. I like the "Fun Stuff", very fun games for my children!! I admit, I even enjoyed the wack a duck, lol
    Bocomomma O Frey
    mommysap@gmail.com

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  20. I like the "Fun Stuff" section on the website. The Whack a Duck looks cute! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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  21. Commented on the "The Quill Pen" by Michelle Isenhoff Book Review. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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  22. The Top 10 lists are so cute and you have to love a Andy Warhol reference!
    sarahyurga@yahoo.com

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  23. My daughter loves the site. The entering colors grabbed her attention right away.

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  24. This book sounds great! I love the idea of bold, irrepressible girls, unafraid of bright colors! Thanks for linking in to the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

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