Picture Book Review: Mabel Wants a Friend
How can you find and keep a friend when you are just learning to interact with the world? This theme is explored in “Mabel Wants a Friend” a new picture book by writer Ariel Bernstein and illustrator Marc Rosenthal.
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“Mabel Wants a Friend” is a sweet little story about a young fox named Mabel who really wants to make a friend. The story follows Mabel as she tries to find a friend. She connects with a new friend, a bunny named Chester and Mabel is awed by a new world that is opened by having a friend. She and Chester giggle over jokes, Chester reminds Mabel to be kind and share and the two play together but Mabel quickly realizes that friendship is a two-way street.
Mabel learns that making friends takes more than just simply wanting one and that friendship means being kind and patient. Mabel’s moodiness and selfishness don’t endear her to anyone else on the playground so Mabel works to regain Chester’s friendship but ultimately finds that there are other perks such as being accepted by the other children. “Mabel Wants a Friend” teaches important lessons about being patient, kind, and understanding.
I think that “Mabel Wants a Friend” is perfect for young children who are learning how to make new friends and the book works for age groups 4 and above or kindergarten children who are heading to school for the first time. The illustrations in “Mabel Wants a Friend” are colorful and remind me of the classic Richard Scarry illustrations showing animals of all kinds in a community together.
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