Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friends race differently in a sweet book about teamwork.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The big bike race is coming up in CORNBREAD & POPPY FOR THE WIN, and all the small rodent friends are riding in the cycling championship. Competitive Poppy wants to win, with all the best gear and a secret strategy, but Cornbread just likes training with Poppy so that they can hang out together. Racing can bring out the worst in friendships, but it can also bring out the best, as Cornbread and Poppy find out when things don't go as planned on the big day.
Is It Any Good?
Being a good friend can be hard when each one has a different approach to an event—especially when things get competitive. Cornbread & Poppy for the Win is a sweet look at the way two friends handle the ups and downs of a race, and, more importantly, the characters model talking honestly about how they feel afterward. Matthew Cordell's bright, expressive, enticing illustrations perfectly capture the friend's emotions and the excitement of the cycling championship.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Poppy turn around in Cornbread & Poppy for the Win. What would you do if you were in Poppy's position in the race? Do you think she did the right thing?
How have you reacted when a friend has a very different way of thinking about something you were doing together? How did you resolve the situation?
How do Cornbread and Poppy communicate their feelings to each other? Does it help? Does talking about your feelings help you? What else helps you with big feelings?
What other books about friends have you enjoyed?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Matthew Cordell
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Animals , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Integrity , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : April 23, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 10
- Number of pages : 80
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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