Pearl and Wagner: Two Good Friends

Pearl, a hardworking rabbit, and Wagner, a daydreaming mouse, work together to build a robot for their science project, and even though things might not go as planned, they still manage to stay friends.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Pearl, a rabbit, works on her garbage-eating robot for the science fair, as her mouse friend Wagner renders casual assistance and spends so much time musing about his possibilities that he ends up having to collaborate with her at the last minute. In the second chapter, when the invention requires additional materials to operate, Wagner climbs inside to give the judge the impression that it is complete. Although they don't win a prize, Pearl concedes that Wagner is "a good friend" and "a pretty good robot too." In the final chapter, the friendship is tested when Wagner tells her that he doesn't like her new green-striped boots. He later apologizes, admitting, "But you like them. And that is all that matters." Their relationship salvaged, Wagner paints a picture of them together in art class, and Pearl states, "Now that should win a prize." McMullan's realistic portrayal of classroom friendship and activities will appeal to beginning readers as well as to older children polishing their skills. Alley's cheerful illustrations enhance the text with appealing animal characters rendered with extraordinary expression. The pen-and-ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil pictures feature bright colors that capture the trials and joys of school life. A winning entry.
Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

K-Gr. 2. Three episodes about friendship make up this Easy-to-Read title starring young Pearl the rabbit and Wagner the mouse. In the first two scenarios, the friends prepare for the science fair: Pearl gets down to work, constructing a cardboard, trash-eating robot. Wagner helps, while dreaming about his own project. Wagner is still empty-handed when the students present their work--until Pearl announces the robot was made by both of them. After Wagner inadvertently fumbles the project, Pearl sees he was only trying to help and is warm and forgiving. In the final story, the friends fight when Wagner tells Pearl that he dislikes her new boots, then Wagner finds a creative way to make up. Alley's expressive art captures the emotions and high jinks with winsome detail, and McMullan's basic text, enhanced with exclamations and dialogue, tackles tough friendship issues with accuracy and sunny outcomes. Gillian Engberg
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