Elmore and Pinky by Holly Hobbie
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 1524770817
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Elmore, the beloved and somewhat lonely, porcupine is back. He’s made lots of friends since his debut, but now he’s in search of a best friend. His wise uncle tells him that it will just happen, but Elmore isn’t so sure until he realizes his best friend has been right under his nose all along.

I love Elmore so I was really excited to see this follow up book; however, it just doesn’t hit the nail on the head in the same way that the first book did. The message is sweet, and Elmore is still relatable and adorable, but the flow of the book is off. It feels disjointed, and at one point I had to check to be sure I hadn’t skipped a page. The illustrations are colorful and definitely bolster the story and the book overall. Recommended for one-on-one sharing with kids 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME