Best friend in the whole world by Sandra Salsbury

This gentle story of friendship would make a comforting bedtime tale or quiet storytime read. Roland, a white rabbit in a red jacket and blue pants, goes out looking for a friend. He finds Milton, a pinecone with eyes and stick hands, and immediately takes him home. Together the two draw, listen to music on Roland's victrola, and drink tea. But when he sees a sign for a missing friend with a description that matches Milton, Roland will have to decide if he can let his friend go - and if that will mean returning to loneliness.

The art is very simple and somewhat old-fashioned, with touches like the large trumpet of Roland's elderly gramophone. Roland lives in a somewhat sterile forest, with a smooth green expanse of forest floor, tall tree trunks, and spacious paths. Milton the pinecone stands out as the only thing out of place in this tidy landscape and Roland's loneliness is exacerbated by the towering trees and darkening atmosphere as he makes the difficult choice to return Milton.

This simple story may not be a first choice for storytime, but will be an attractive read for a peaceful bedtime tale or for a discussion with a young child about kindness and friendship. You can, of course, make your own pinecone friends to go along with the story.

Verdict: An additional purchase but one which will appeal to quiet readers who like the gentle tenor of the story.

ISBN: 9781682632505; Published March 2021 by Peachtree; Galley provided by publisher; Purchased for the library