Bink and Gollie, Two for One [Hardcover]

Kate DiCamillo (Author), Alison McGhee (Author), Tony Fucile (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: June 12, 2012 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years | Series: Bink and Gollie | Lexile Measure: 270L (What's this?)

Your favorite marvelous companions are back! Meet them at the fair in this delightfully droll sequel to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Bink and Gollie.

The state fair is in town, and now Bink and Gollie — utter opposites and best friends extraordinaire — must use teamwork and their gray matter while navigating its many wonders. Will the energetic Bink win the world's largest donut in the Whack-a-Duck game? Will the artistic Gollie wow the crowd in the talent show? As the undaunted duo steps into the mysterious tent of fortune-teller Madame Prunely, one prediction is crystal clear: this unlikely pair will always be the closest of pals. Get ready for more laughs in this wry, warmhearted sequel to the New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book Bink and Gollie, written by the award-winning, best-selling Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and featuring the exuberant visual humor of illustrator Tony Fucile.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Best friends Bink and Gollie are complete opposites in terms of appearance; they are kindred spirits, though, and readers will delight in sharing in their adventures at the state fair... Short, compact sentences make this book an ideal selection for beginning readers... Fucile employs an economical use of sketchy lines and splashes of color to capture facial expressions and emotions with spot-on accuracy. His artwork goes a long way in making this title the funny, touching book that it is. It would be no surprise if Bink and Gollie were to join the likes of Elephant and Piggie and Frog and Toad in the ranks of favorite friend duos.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

B&G again hit that sweet spot where picture books, graphic novels, and early readers converge... The book follows a satisfying trajectory from the first story’s slapstick through the second’s pathos to conclude with the affirmation of friendship in the third, and the blend of humor and sympathetic warmth buoys the story throughout. This endearing partnership remains a treat to follow, and readers will be as delighted as Bink and Gollie about the fortune-teller-certified long-term soundness of their friendship.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Another welcome sequel...illustrated with zany energy. Here the mismatched best friends compete at the state fair to win a large doughnut, "nature's most perfect food," and together "travel the darkened path" to a gypsy tent, where a wizened Madame Prunely gives them a lovely glimpse of the future.
—The Wall Street Journal

Fucile’s lively artwork and detailed cartoon-style drawings, in combination with DiCamillo and McGhee’s simple, droll words, are spot-on when it comes to depicting humorous and sympathetic moments, and they excel in highlighting the great joys of best friendship. Kids will be left eagerly anticipating the further adventures of this unlikely—and completely charming—duo.
—Booklist

About the Author

Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Magician's Elephant, a New York Times bestseller; The Tale of Despereaux, which was awarded the Newbery Medal; Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor book; and six books starring Mercy Watson, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride. Kate DiCamillo lives in Minneapolis.

Alison McGhee is the award-winning author of books for all ages, including Song of Middle C, illustrated by Scott Menchin; the #1 New York Times bestseller Someday, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds; the young adult novel All Rivers Flow to the Sea; and the adult novel Shadow Baby, a Today Show Book Club selection. Alison McGhee lives in Minnesota.

Tony Fucile is the author-illustrator of Let’s Do Nothing! and the illustrator of Hallie Durand’s Mitchell’s License. He has spent more than twenty years designing and animating characters for numerous feature films, including The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. Tony Fucile lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; Reprint edition (June 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763633615
• ISBN-13: 978-0763633615
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.6 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Sequel February 11, 2013

By In California

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The first Bink and Gollie book was such a loved treaure in our house that w couldn't wait for the next one. Man, were we dissappointed.

In the first "B&G" book the three stories were warm and touching with snappy dialogue. In this follow-up most all of that is gone. In the first book three storeis were:

1. B&G go roller skating and buy socks. The two friends disagree about the socks, but make a compromise to settle the disagreement.

2. Gollie goes on an adventure and when it's complete can't wait to share it with her friend, Bink.

3. Bink buys a goldfish and Gollie is mildly jealous. The friends agree that nothing can come between them.

NOW, in this new franchise-killing follow-up the three stories are:

1. B&G go to a carnival and Bink hits a man in the face with a baseball, repeatedly. So many times, in fact, that the man is bandaged, swollen, and can't talk right anymore. HIGH-larious! No 3-4 year old child would EVER try to imitate this behavior, right?

Man, is it funny when people are repeatedly hit in the face.

2. B&G go to a talent show, but Gollie has incredible stage freight, cannot speak, and flees the stage. Again, no children ever have shyness issues or would think to imitate behavior they see in stories. So no need to worry that your little one may suddenly decided she gets stage freight. No problem there.

3. B&G go to a fortune teller and are easily duped. Kids are gullible, so that's really funny. Kids are dumb.

This is not to say that this book doesn't stay along the path of the friendship theme. It does. It's just that the writing is poor and so are the stories. Do you like that book "Let's Do Nothing!"? It's OK-- Like this book (minus the poor choice of story) If you like "Let's Do Nothing!" this one will probably be good for you too. Same illustrator.

Please notice that the "starred review" from School Library Journal doesn't mention any of the stories, just what great friends B&G are. They are great friends; and I hope the many authors of this series get it together, go back to the drawing board and come out with a more impressive third effort.

If you have no Bink and Gollie books and are trying to decide which to get, there is no decision: Get the first book.

If you have the first book and are trying to decide whether or not to get this one, again a very easy decision: skip it. You're not missing anything.

If you've bought the first book, then bought the second and now must try to decide whether or not to stick with the series or move on to something else your choice is much harder. For our family, the first book was so good, we'll stick around for the third. Just wish we hadn't bought this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful set of stories about friendship. July 31, 2012

By Heidi Grange

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a huge fan of Bink & Gollie. Not only are the two adorable as characters, but the stories are hilarious. I laughed my way through this book. It amazes me when an author (authors in this case) can create such fun stories using so few words. This is a great gift, one that Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee share with readers in this series.

Bink is so delightfully enthusiastic about pretty much everything while Gollie provides a calming more serious element to the story. Above all these girls are friends. I think that is ultimately what these stories are about: friendship. In the first story, Bink attempts to win a carnival game (challenging to say the least). Unfortunately, her attempts aren't exactly successful (but painfully hilarious) but Gollie proves herself a true friend. Bink returns the favor when Gollie enters the talent show. And the visit to the fortune teller? Well, I'll leave that for you to discover.

Just know that if you are looking for sweet stories to share and enjoy that have great themes and characters, look no further than this series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb celebration of friendship July 17, 2012

By KidsReads

Format:Hardcover

In this superb celebration of friendship, best pals Bink and Gollie decide to sample the glories of the state fair. As we know from the delightful first book in the series, BINK AND GOLLIE, these two little girls are opposites who complement each other perfectly: Bink is a short livewire bundle of enthusiasms, while Gollie is a taller, sleek sophisticate. The bold cartoony illustrations are lavish and match the energy of the text's main characters. Each small story (three in all) is a complete tale rather than a chapter within a larger story.

The first story of the collection, "Whack a Duck," is prefaced with the roller-skating girls gazing at signs advertising the state fair. Bink asks Gollie if she thinks they should go. Inside the fair, Bink decides she simply must play the Whack a Duck game in order to win the prize --- the world's largest donut. Bink is all electrical energy and can hurtle the ball; unfortunately (especially for the poor carnival game worker), she is woefully short on aim. She tries and tries, but the duck man is the "whackee" whose glasses, nose and arm suffer the consequences of her persistence. Luckily, Bink knows just the antidote for the hapless carnie, and in the final scene the three share company and a plethora of donuts.

The second story, "You're Special, Aren't You?" finds the friends gazing up at the sign for an amateur talent show. Gollie is particularly enraptured, confiding that she would love to be in a talent show. She steadfastly affirms her yearnings, even when Bink reminds her that she will have to stand up on a stage in front of a crowd. Soon Gollie is waiting her turn to perform, while Bink sits by the judge in the audience and views other contestants on stage (the pickle juggler is about as talented at juggling as Bink was at duck whacking). Finally it is Gollie's turn. While Bink assures the judge that Gollie has many talents, Gollie stands on stage and, well, just stands on the stage, perfectly described in one textless illustrated spread.

"Here it comes," said Bink. "Here comes Gollie's talent."

However, Gollie just opens her mouth, closes it, and departs. Later, Bink gives her the chance to recite her poem ("Old MacDonald Had a Farm") to the perfect audience --- the cows in the livestock shed and Bink.

The final story is "Without Question" and it unquestionably delivers a lump-in-the-throat poignancy. Gollie is snared by the fortune-teller's tent, advertising "Today Only: Two for One." Bink seems a bit leery as the girls sit on the other side of the crystal ball from Madame Prunely. They are taken aback when the fortune teller describes viewing their past: "...replete with loss. A donut. A duck. Talent without applause." However, when Madame Prunely looks into their future, she sees a friendship. That's all Bink --- and readers (sniff!) --- need to know

Wonderful as an early reader, shared reader or a storytime read-aloud picture book, these warm stories relaying how much better life is shared with a friend sparkle with intelligent and realistic humor. Both Bink and Gollie books are surely destined to be classics. Here's hoping that if Madame Prunely peeked into readers' futures, she would foretell our enjoying many more books in this series.

Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon