Review by Booklist Review
This storybook offers a case study of a scenario familiar to all: the growing pains when two becomes three. Spot art shows Olive and Emily as friends from the beginning babies in diapers, at birthday parties, playing in the park. In Olive's perfect world, they are friends forever, Period. The end. But turn the page, and readers find Eva. Emily and Eva bond over ballet, wear matching bows, and eat the same kind of applesauce ( APPLESAUCE TWINS! ). Olive feels sad, left out, and misses Emily. Plecas is spot-on as she captures the moments of discovery that send new young pals into raptures. Simple pencil-and-watercolor illustrations spread across the white page and emphasize Olive's sense of isolation. In a neat twist, when the issue finally comes to a head, newcomer Eva is surprisingly open while Olive is initially grudging. If this take is a bit tame, it still offers a good opportunity for children to role-play each character and discuss how they might handle a similar situation.--McDermott, Jeanne Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Cat Olive lives in a perfect world with her best friend Emily...until Emily finds a new friend, Eva, and they wear matching bows and become "lunch twins." In Olive's world, friends "noticed when you felt all crumpled up and soggy." When she finally speaks up, Olive sweetly learns what makes a perfect friendship. Emotive pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are perfectly simple. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Olive and Emily, Emily and Olive; they will be best friends forever. Period. The End. Or is it? The story of two best friends and how they are infiltrated by a new buddy is a universal school story. When Eva arrives, quiet Olive watches a new friendship develop, one that does not fit into her perfect world. Or maybe she does not fit into that new world. Eva and Emily enjoy each other: They dance ballet together, wear matching bows and T-shirts in an "ugly throw-up purple color," carry the exact same lunch bag and start calling each other the "Sparkle-Es." Olive doesn't know what to do. One day, she tries to become part of the crowd, but she ends up in tears. Plecas gets the feelings just right, allowing young readers to care about Olive and wonder why Eva and Emily are ignoring her. While the pen, ink and watercolor illustrations show every devastating emotion, children might have been better served if Olive was a bit less timid. Simply standing by and feeling sorry for oneself is not the best plan. Nevertheless, sticky social situations are a challenge, and this well-meaning offering will at least give youngsters a place to start thinking. Teachers looking for subtle stories of social cruelty will find this a discussion starter. Bibliotherapy with its heart in the right place, though a little underdone. (Picture book. 3-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
