Common Sense Media Review
By Patricia Tauzer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friendship flourishes in fun graphic novel for younger set.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Two girls, who seem very different in many respects, learn what it takes to become "marvelous companions" in three stories that show the ups and downs of friendship. Bink seems like the younger of the two, and Gollie older and more mature -- but both girls have lessons to learn about compromise, personal space, and dealing with jealous feelings. In one story, for example, Gollie feels competitive with Bink's new pet fish.
Is It Any Good?
Kids will love Bink and warm to Gollie. One is impish, playful, and spontaneous, like most kids; the other more independent, thoughtful, and a little stand-offish (though she makes great pancakes!) Even the way they walk, talk, and tie their roller-skates says something about them. The stories in BINK & GOLLIE are engagingly light and silly, but readers will get a feel for the pain of trying to make a friendship work, especially when you are a kid. The text is minimal but just enough to get the point across, the vocabulary is expressive, and the artwork fills in the emotion.
The story is warm and cuddly cute, but the illustrations are truly what make this book captivating. Tony Fucile's digitally composed artwork is animated with just enough clever, quirky, expressive detail to make the story fascinating. Putting that golden dot under the ice in the frozen pond was a stroke of genius.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the illustrations in Bink & Gollie show us how different the girls are. What can you tell about them from the cover, even before you begin the story?
Bink and Gollie are pretty different -- but they are still the best of friends. Why do you think they get along so well?
Can you think of other books about friends who are opposites?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Tony Fucile
- Genre : Friendship
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : September 14, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 96
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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