Finklehopper Frog Cheers by Irene Livingston

Illustrated by Brian Lies. 24 p., Tricycle, 2005. Friends not only have fun together, but also support each other in difficult moments. In this rhyming story, Finklehopper Frog worries about going to a picnic because others might laugh at him or try to grab his hat. But he goes anyway, even though he's scared, because his friend, Ruby Rabbit, will be there. And when bullies tease him about his hat, Ruby answers them with cheerfulness, and they slink off. Then it's time for a race, and it's Ruby's turn to worry - she faces tough competition from Sue Kangaroo. But with Finklehopper's encouragement, she tries her best. When she finishes second to Sue, she bursts into tears, yelling "no fair!" Finklehopper tells her he's proud of her because she did her best, and raced even though she was worried. Ruby congratulates Sue on her win, and has learned that when everyone does their best, then everyone wins. The story ends with happy high-fives. The energy of the color illustrations matches the liveliness of the rhyming text. Finklehopper and Sue are lovely examples of supportive friendship, and children will learn important things about coping with bullies and competition too. Ages 4-6