DiCamillo, Kate, and McGhee, Alison. Bink and Gollie. Illustrated by Tony
Fucile. Candlewick Press, 2010. 81 pages. $15.99. ISBN 9780763632663.
Summary:
When they roller-skate into town, Bink and
Gollie see that Eccles’ Empire of Enchantment (a department store) is having a
“Bargain Bonanza” on outrageously bright socks! Soon she has picked out a pair
of rainbow socks that makes Gollie wince, but Bink is in love with her new
socks. “I love socks,” said Bink. “Some socks are more lovable than others,”
said Gollie. In three chapters we are introduced to this very quirky pair of girls:
Gollie is the elder and lives in an angular, modern house in a tree; Bink is
the younger, who lives in a cottage at the roots of the tree. Gollie has a
penchant for exploration and in chapter two she takes an imagined
mountaineering expedition to the Andes, leaving a note on her door for Bink:
“To Whom It May Concern: I am on a journey. Each chapter has moments of drama
and humor, with wonderful language that will delight listeners and readers.
Animator and illustrator Fucile brings these characters to vivid life, and expertly
using black and white page spreads with specific accents of color. For example,
Gollie’s ultra-modern home is mostly comprised of black and white lines to
denote furnishings, with Bink and Gollie as the only spots of color on the
page.
Curriculum
Connections:
Perfect as part of a text set on friendship,
particularly multi-age friendship, this book would also be a text to use when
teaching voice in writing. Gollie has a very particular way of speaking
(familiar as McGhee’s narrative voice) that readers could contrast to Bink’s
speech and mannerisms. Readers could also contrast the voices of Bink and
Gollie with the familiar voices of Frog and Toad (Lobel) to compare the
personalities of the duos, and how their language reflects that.
Personal
Reflections:
The humor here is understated and related to
words and wordplay, so may be better suited to more independent early readers.
Readers may wonder if there are any adults in these girls’ lives.
Awards:
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, 2011 (ALA, 2012),
ALA Notable Children’s Book for Younger Readers, 2011 (ALA, 2012).
Age/Interest
Range:
6-10
Genre/Themes:
Realistic Fiction, Humor, Friendship, Social
Skills, Voice
Read-Alikes:
Fans of Bink
and Gollie who are ready for chapter books might consider McGhee’s Julia Gillian series for its similar
themes of friendship and McGhee’s distinctive narrative voice.