Hunter's Best Friend at School [Paperback]

Laura Malone Elliott (Author), Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2005 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Hunter and Stripe are best friends. This young raccoon pair loves to do everything together, like dress in striped sweaters, read the same stories, and even eat the same lunch -- a crawfish sandwich, huckleberries, and milk. But when Stripe arrives one day at school in a mischief-making mood and starts stirring up trouble in Mr. Ringtail's class, should Hunter follow along?

Laura Malone Elliott and Lynn Munsinger introduce two delightful pals who will entertain young children as they also provide an important look at peer pressure and first friendships.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In PW's words, "Best friends and school join up in for a kid-pleasing tale about resisting peer pressure, and the comical, sometimes poignant illustrations give this picture book a double draw." Ages 4-7. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Young raccoons Hunter and Stripe sing together, play together, and copy one another's tricks. One day Stripe makes mischief in class, and Hunter follows along, cutting up a paper frog he's made. He grapples with this decision, imagining how much his mother would have liked to see his artwork, and cries after it is destroyed. Later, when she discovers the shredded pieces of paper in his backpack, he tells her what happened. She explains that "Being a best friend doesn't mean always following along. Sometimes being a best friend means you have to help your friend be his best self." The next day, Hunter repeatedly models good behavior every time his pal acts up. Soon Stripe catches on and acts like "his very best self." Although the story is message-driven, and the young raccoon's turnaround is unrealistically abrupt, the characters are appealing. The entertaining artwork features endearing creatures dressed in children's clothing. A solid choice, filling a need for stories about friendship and peer pressure.
Melinda Piehler, North Tonawanda Public Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (July 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060753196
• ISBN-13: 978-0060753191
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals > Fiction
  • #94 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can a best friend, help his friend be his best self?, October 5, 2002

By 

Linda A. Rogers (midwest USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Best Friend at School (Hardcover)

As an educator of young children for over twenty-five years, I find Hunter's Best Friend at School by Laura Elliott to be one of the best books I have ever read, dealing with being true to one's self. All children want to be liked and often do things that they would not otherwise do, just to be accepted. Hunter and Stripe are such friends, yet with the help of his mother and his teacher, Hunter is able to set an example that encourages Stripe to be "his best self." This book is absolutely delightful and entertaining. The words, the illustrations, the message of being true to oneself is certainly needed in today's world. I read it to a Kindergarten class that was spellbound by the second page. The school librarian is going to order one copy for each of the primary classes at our school. My own grandsons, age five and seven, were touched by Hunter's example, with the five-year-old saying, "my eyes are getting wet from hearing that story" and the seven-year-old saying, "I have that problem with my friend." Out of the mouth of babes is a telling review of this wonderful book and I would encourage every parent and grandparent to include it in their children's library as soon as possible.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for Pre-K & K!, November 30, 2009

By 

mom of boys (TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Best Friend at School (Paperback)

Hunter and Stripe, both at school and playing soccer, are wonderful friends for any Pre-K or Kindergartener to make. When my older son was having a little bit of "trouble" adjusting in Kindergarten, my mom bought him this book. While I won't say the book is alone responsible in his behavior modification, it allowed us to address some of his "issues" in a less direct way, and opened up lines of communication for him to be "his best self" at school, just like Hunter. Now that my younger is a kindergartener, both Hunter's Best Friend at School and their accompanying soccer book have become regular favorites for night-time reading. Highly recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loves this book!, March 5, 2004

By 

Karen L. ""He respects me when I work but... (Monroe, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Best Friend at School (Hardcover)

My daughter will be 3 in April and we discovered this book at the library while picking out books after story time. She wants to read this one every night at bedtime, so I plan to buy it for her for her birthday. I echo all the other reviews, and agree that I think it is one that should be in every child's library! Even though the situations in the book happen to "raccoon children" they are real life situations that could happen to any "human child". Great job!