Review Detail

Mabel always gets whatever she wants no matter what she has to do or who it affects. She never thought about having a friend until she meets Chester. However, he doesn't agree with her selfish methods to acquire the things she wants. This causes tension between the two, so Mabel does what she does best and decides she doesn't need a friend. As she continues to go about getting her way, she sees other children engaging with one another. This makes her miss Chester and realize that she actually wants a friend for the first time. But it's going to take more than just apologizing for Chester to forgive her.

MABEL WANTS A FRIEND teaches children the importance of developing friendships and to take others into account. Mabel didn't care who she hurt taking the things she wants and I like how Chester stands by his good morals by telling her no. Chester's courage made Mabel a better person and shows children it's okay to stand up for what you believe in, especially if it helps others. The illustrations are cute and vibrant with simple lining and details. The story flows well and it's one that will stick with children even after they close it.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to all children aged four and up, especially those who need a lesson in sharing and how to play with others. We live in a world full of technology and sometimes it inhibits these traits from being developed. This would be a great story to incorporate in elementary classrooms for children to learn this valuable lesson too.