The besties show and smell by Felice Arena
Illus. by Tom Jellett. Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760890988.
80pp.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Best of friends, Ruby and Oliver, sit
next to each other at school, but when a relief teacher takes them
for the day, things change, for the worse. He does not have a sense
of humour and when he spies Oliver drawing him in an unsympathetic
manner, separates the friends to opposite places in the classroom.
But Mr Botham is called away, leaving the class on its own and Ruby
rushes to the front of the room with her ukulele ready to present
her show and tell, cancelled by Mr Botham at the start of the day.
Oliver is worried that Mr Botham will return and be even more cross
and watches the door. And then when Zac goes to the front of the
room to show everyone how he makes rude noises with his armpit, he
sees the teacher returning and organises everyone to sit back down
and be quiet. But he is cross with Ruby because she initiated the
behaviour and refuses to talk to her at break.
How the friends resolve their differences takes up the next several
pages in this highly entertaining story. With easily recognised
situations and characters, younger readers will love this series of
books, involving events that happen everyday in classrooms, and with
a neat finish, show children how readily disagreements can be
resolved.
Jellett's funny illustrations add another level of humour to the
proceedings, ensuring every child will recognise themselves in the
classroom. And the addition of a short comic tale at the end along
with some Bestie jokes, Ruby's song and instructions on making a
loud noise with your armpit, readers will read this aloud to their
friends, laughing all the while. A wonderful series which fills the
niche between picture books and short chapter stories for younger
readers, these books will be eagerly shared, while teachers will
laugh out loud reading them to their class. Themes: Friendship,
School, Show and tell.
Fran Knight