Jarrett J. Krosoczka, My Buddy, Slug

Title: My Buddy, Slug

Entertaining Read .. Recommended 5 stars

The Review

The narrative opens in the first person. 'It used to be Slug, Kevin and me - the unstoppable three.'Then when Kevin moved away it was just Slug and me. And Slug was everywhere 'I' was. Morning, noon and night, on the bus, in art class, at the library. You name it, if 'I' was there, there was Slug as well. And, 'I' found it was beginning to be too much. Finally it happened, 'I' told my mother exactly how 'I' felt. What 'I' didn't know was that Slug was there in the doorway. 'I' really wasn't trying to make him feel bad, 'I' just needed a little space. And 'I' got space all right. Slug wasn't around much anymore. When 'I' did see him Slug hardly spoke, and 'I' didn't like that any more than 'I' did when he was there all the time.

We've all had a friend who's special and does now and then get on our nerves. Or horrors, maybe we are the one who just never knows when to stop. Wanting to spend too much time together is a problem that each of us face sooner or later. For adults, we generally have learned how to deal with such friends in a way that will help us retain the friendship. Kids, by contrast, need to learn how to work out this important issue. Jarrett Krosoczka has given children an excellent tool in his work, 'My Buddy, Slug'. Without becoming preachy, writer Krosoczka recounts one boy's account of the friend who just never knew when to step back for a while.

When first I held up the book my resident critics gave it a sidelong glance and voiced absolute dismay about 'A SLUG,' 'YOU'RE GOING TO READ A BOOK ABOUT A SLUG,' 'ISN'T A SLUG, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE, SLIMY, YOU KNOW, THINGS,' was voiced delicately in primordial shriek. They, fourth grade, Wynona, OK, school, settled back to listen with as open a mind as they could muster. Before too many pages had been turned the class were inching forward, gazing raptly at the book and were obviously drawn into the tale. When I finished the kids agreed 'little kids will like it, but they won't really 'get' it.' Each of my students thought the book was a good choice for 'mature' fourth graders as well, 'because it helps us understand more about why our friends get tired of us when we are afraid to give them some space.'

'My Buddy, Slug' is a book sure to please the read-to crowd of 3 -7s. The book is sturdy, filled with brightly colored pictures and child-pleasing settings. The work is a 'read with help for the strong reading 7s and 8s, and is a 'read alone,' or 'I'll read to you' for the 9 - 10 year old set. When we choose a book to read to younger siblings or to the Kindergarten class we may be forgiven for choosing what some might view as 'too young' even though we 'really like this book.'

Once I had begun to read, the children forgot all their reservations about Slug being a, gasp, slug. As I finished, the kids agreed a slug was perfect. Being 'mature' fourth graders, my class particularly enjoyed all writer Krosoczka's long winded 'slug talk.'

I received a hard bound copy from RandomHouse for review.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.

Reviewed by: molly martin

20+ years California classroom teacher

Genre: children's picture book

Author: Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Line/Publisher Knopf Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 0375833420