Bink & Gollie (Bink & Gollie #1)

Gr 1-3--In three humorous interconnected stories, Gollie, a self-confident girl who lives in a fashionable, contemporary house, and Bink, her rumpled but lovable, impish friend, are adventure-seeking companions, each with her own strong will. In the first tale, Bink's outrageous socks offend Gollie's sartorial eye, but the two compromise for friendship's sake. The second story sends Gollie on an imagined climb up the Andes, shutting Bink out of the house until she arrives at the door with a sandwich, which they share on top of the "mountain." In the final episode, Gollie is jealous of Bink's new pet fish until Bink reassures her that no one can take her place. All three stories, written with short sentences, abundant dialogue, and some contemporary expressions, offer delightful portrayals of two headstrong characters who, despite their differences and idiosyncratic quirks, know the importance of true friendship. The delightful digitalized cartoon illustrations--mostly black and white, with color used for the two characters and in strategic splashes throughout--reinforce the humor of the text. Filled with movement, they successfully portray the protagonists' changing moods. Elementary listeners and readers will have no trouble relating to the two friends' antics and the bond they share.--Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, The Naples Players, FL

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Think Pippi Longstocking meets The Big Bang Theory, and you'll have a good idea of the mood and quirky heroines of this first entry in what promises to be a wholly original chapter book series. Gollie is reed thin, geeky, and archly judgmental; Bink is petite and down to earth. Like all best friends, they know each other too well and can't live without one another, and in three short adventures, they squabble about novelty socks ("The problem with Gollie," Bink observes, "is that it's either Gollie's way or the highway. My socks and I have chosen the highway"), personal boundaries, and pets ("I must inform you that you are giving a home to a truly unremarkable fish," says Gollie). The plots serve mostly as a framework for DiCamillo and McGhee's sharp, distinctly ungirly dialogue that makes every page feel like a breath of fresh air. And true to his background as an animator for Pixar and Disney, Fucile makes his inklike digital illustrations crackle with energy and sly humor--it's not surprising that the man who helped create The Incredibles' Edna Mode has made these two prickly personalities irresistible. Ages 69. (Sept.) Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

Oh, happiness! Move over Pippi Longstocking!...Bink and Gollie...join the ranks of George and Martha, Frog and Toad, Zelda and Ivy, and all the other resilient pairs that celebrate the challenges and strengths of a great friendship
—The New York Times Book Review

Gollie is reed thin, geeky, and archly judgmental; Bink is petite and down to earth...The plots serve mostly as a framework for DiCamillo and McGhee's sharp, distinctly, distinctly ungirly dialogue that makes every page feel like a breath of fresh air. And true to his background as an animator for Pixar and Disney, Fucile makes his inklike digital illustrations crackle with energy and sly humor.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

All three stories, written with short sentences, abundant dialogue, and some contemporary expressions, offer delightful portrayals of two headstrong characters who, despite their differences and idiosyncratic quirks, know the importance of true friendship.
—School Library Journal

Reality is gleefully suspended here...appealingly oddball elements (roller skates, pancakes, rainbow socks)...expressive, cartoon-style drawings, including several wordless spreads, extend the sense of character, story, and madcap adventure. Children will have fun filling in all the spaces this high-spirited, quirky, and warmhearted offering leaves to the imagination.
—Booklist

Entirely successful in portraying the bumps in the road and bruised feelings that can come with friendship. The rewards, though, are also apparent...Fucile's unfussy digital illustrations with lots of white space perfectly highlight this odd couple's particularities.
—Horn Book

The authors demonstrate a pleasing ear for rhythm in just about everybody's dialogue. Fucile's illustrations give the girls their real presence: bouncing, soaring lines have a tousled cartoonish vigor that dominates every spread...With appeal both for reading aloud and alone, this might make an entertaining title for sophomore readers to share with younger kids, and they'll relish teasing their tongues with Gollie's vocabulary.
—Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books

An especially overt love letter to friendship...One of those books that doesn't fit neatly into any category....But wouldn't you be proud if you spied your 6-year-old daughter rehearsing such lines as 'Bink: I implore you, do not knock.' Indeed you would....Who says simple words must come first to readers?....Love of language is one of the tried-and-true ways into the reading life.
—Los Angeles Times

An effervescent and endearingly quirky chapter book by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee....Both writers are known for their amusing and sometimes arch narrative style, and here, in three short chapter-stories, they give us two girls who delight and vex each other in equal parts....Tony Fucile's illustrations of the girls are comic and full of zip.
—Wall Street Journal

It really is the best thing ever. And what's more, it's a book like nothing else you've ever seen. Nothing. Ever. Seen. Trust me on this one. I see a lot of books.
—Fuse #8 Production (SLJ blog)

We had to put the book down and just laugh uncontrollably on more than one occasion. I think it's safe to say we were giving each other looks that said: Could this perfect little creation be FOR REAL? Could it be any funnier?
—Seven Impossible Things blog

An odd couple for the 21st century, Bink and Gollie will circulate like mad, winning new fans at every stop.
—100 Scope Notes

Three zippy chapters, they learn about compromise, individual quest and shared experience, and jealousy. Splashy drawings, mostly in black and white, further infuse energy, humor and honest feeling.
—San Francisco Chronicle

Plots serve mostly as a framework for DiCamillo and McGhee's sharp, distinctly ungirly dialogue that makes every page feel like a breath of fresh air. And true to his background as an animator for Pixar and Disney, Fucile makes his inklike digital illustrations crackle with energy and sly humor.
—Washington Examiner

Excellent writing, good storytelling and top-notch digital art introduce two girls who bring Ramona and Pippi to mind. Headstrong but lovable Bink and opinionated but loyal Gollie are best friends — most of the time anyway — who enjoy each other and understand the importance of friendship.
—Cleveland.com

Hilarious and peculiar friends...delightful characters.
—UrbanBaby Daily Picks

Charming...Amply illustrated with Tony Fucile' exuberant cartoons.
—Buffalo News

Expressive illustrations by Tony Fucile provide lots of comic relief as the two friends grapple with issues like compromise and the need for personal space.
—Scripps-Howard (syndicated column)

Featured/recommended on Oprah's 2012 Kids Reading List
—Oprah.com