2012
WISE Score
Amazon
Two mismatched besties hit the state fair—expect height requirements, talent shows, and zero brain rot.
4.7
4.7View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This is the gold standard for 'transitional' readers. It’s smart, it’s stylish, and it doesn’t treat kids like they’re dim.
If you’re tired of the repetitive, soul-crushing prose found in many early reader series, Bink and Gollie is the antidote. It’s funny enough that you won’t mind reading it for the tenth time, and the vocabulary boost is a nice bonus. It’s a must-own for the K-3 library shelf.
Perfect for 6-to-9-year-olds who are ready for something more complex than a picture book but aren't quite into thick novels yet. 4-year-olds will also enjoy it as a read-aloud because the pictures tell half the story.
It’s a masterclass in how to show a healthy, slightly messy friendship between two very different personalities. They bicker, they compromise, and they genuinely like each other.
Tony Fucile’s illustrations (he was an animator for 'The Incredibles') give this a cinematic, expressive feel that most early readers lack. The characters’ quirks—like Bink's obsession with pancakes and height requirements—are genuinely funny.
Zero concerns. It’s a gentle, humorous look at a day at the state fair. No hidden agendas, no scary bits, just pure childhood vibes.
Kate DiCamillo doesn't dumb down the language. She uses sophisticated vocabulary that helps kids level up their reading without realizing they're working. It also teaches emotional intelligence through the girls' interactions.
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