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Screenwise Verdict
This is the ultimate 'social-emotional learning' book for parents who hate the term social-emotional learning. It’s funny, the art is great, and the lesson sticks because it doesn't feel like a lecture. If your kid is currently locked in a cold war with the kid down the street, read this tonight.
It avoids the trap of many 'moral' books by letting the kid be a little bit salty at the start. The resolution feels earned because it requires the characters to actually spend time together, rather than just being told to 'be nice.'
Age Fit
Perfect for the 4-to-8 crowd. This is the prime age for neighborhood drama and the 'you're not my friend anymore' phase.
WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
95
It models a healthy, patient parenting approach and a realistic path to friendship that doesn't feel forced or sugary.
Imaginative
82
The central hook—a 'poison' pie that's actually just a ruse for a playdate—is clever and captures a kid's specific brand of logic.
Safe
100
It is a picture book about baking and friendship. Zero content risks.
Enriching
92
Provides a masterclass in empathy and conflict resolution without being preachy or boring.
Parent Info
✓
Why It Might Be Great
Conflict resolution that actually feels like a story rather than a classroom lecture.
Great dad representation where the parent is the wise, quiet strategist instead of the bumbling comic relief.
Relatable stakes for any kid who has ever felt left out or decided someone was their 'nemesis' over a minor slight.
Humorous tone that keeps the moral from feeling heavy-handed or annoying.
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What to Watch For
The protagonist starts with an 'enemy list,' which might inspire some kids to start their own, though the book's entire point is to dismantle it.
Conversation Starters
"What do you think was actually in the enemy pie?"
"Why did the dad make them play together all day before they could eat?"
"What makes someone an enemy instead of just a person you haven't gotten to know yet?"
"How did the boy's feelings about Jeremy change from the morning to the evening?"
Deep Dive
Derek Munson nails the specific, petty logic of childhood grudges. The protagonist starts with a 'hit list' of enemies, and his dad—the undisputed MVP of this story—doesn't tell him he's being mean. Instead, he agrees to help 'get rid' of the enemy using a secret recipe. The catch? The boy has to spend the entire day being nice to his rival while the pie bakes.
It’s a brilliant bit of psychological warfare disguised as a baking project. By the time they actually sit down to eat, the 'enemy' has been humanized through a day of trampolines and shared snacks. It’s a perfect pick for that transition period in kindergarten or first grade where social circles are hardening and 'you can't come to my birthday party' becomes a weapon.
The art by Tara Calahan King is stylized and slightly weird in a way that keeps it from feeling like a generic 'lesson' book. It’s a library staple for a reason: it works because it respects how kids actually think and feel about their peers.
