Best Friends

Kathy and Louise, best friends, do everything together in school and at home. They even invent a pet horse, Golden Silverwind, who lives in a pretend stable between their houses. They imagine that the neighborhood becomes a fantasyland and spend wonderful hours playing. When Louise is whisked off for her family's summer vacation, Kathy is miserable when she learns that her friend can have fun without her. Worse still, Louise returns home and claims a neighborhood dog's only puppy, leaving Kathy feeling slighted yet again. Finally, when Kathy shares her hurt feelings, Louise understands and helps her resolve them. The story's concerns are truly childlike, and Kathy's emotions are realistically depicted. The illustrations, filled with warmth and humor, flow along with the story to the final satisfying frame. (48)