Button and Bundle

by Gretchen McLellan, Gillian Flint (Illustrator)

Overview

A tender story about two best friends who must move away from each other. With a sprinkle of imagination and a lot of love, Button and Bundle will learn the true meaning of friendship.

Button and Bundle are best friends. So are their dolls.

But when Button has to move away, she's sad and lonely without Bundle.

Until one day, Button finds a single yellow balloon and an idea. With a little luck, maybe she can reunite Bundle with their dolls again!

Knowing that her faraway friend would be happy is the happiest idea of all.

This sweet and charming friendship story addresses how to cherish old friendships while making new ones. With fun, imaginative play, Button and Bundle create a world they'll share no matter how far apart they are.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524766702
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	02/19/2019
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan is a picture-book author and former elementary reading specialist who now devotes herself to writing for children and visiting schools. Like Button and Bundle, Gretchen loved dolls and making clothes and homes for them with her first friend. After living on three continents, Gretchen settled in Washington State with her husband, cat and dog, stunt squirrels, and a doll or two. She celebrates when her children and grandchildren come home. She hopes you too find a home with her in her books. Follow her on Twitter at @gmclellan5 and learn more at gretchenmclellan.com.

Gillian Flint has had a passion for drawing and creating characters for as long as she can remember. A career in illustration was a natural path for her to take. She has worked as a professional illustrator since graduating from university in 2003. Her work has since been published in the UK, USA, and Australia. She enjoys working in a variety of styles, from watercolor and pastels to digital illustration. In her spare time, Gillian enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and pottering about in the garden on sunny days.

Editorial Reviews

05/24/2019

K-Gr 2-Button and Bundle are best friends who love to play with dolls and sing together. In fact, even the girls' dolls are besties. One day, they learn that Button must move and the girls are deeply saddened. After arriving at her new home, a balloon arrives on the wind and Bundle ties a basket to it, sending her doll back to her friend, envisioning the joy it would bring her friend despite their distance. Gorgeous watercolor and pastel illustrations float across the page, including a ribbon of yellow and pink appearing in the sky, mimicking the movement of not only the balloon carrying the gifted doll, but also the song that connects the girls in spite of their separation. Button even teaches her new friend Leah the song and imagines it wafting to Bundle through the air. Small details in the background, such as a hand-drawn image of the girls playing taped to the wall, or small daisies the friends picked together really give the story depth. The feelings expressed by the characters are both real and relatable. VERDICT A great choice for any collection, this story offers comfort and solace to any young reader who has experienced the sadness of moving and separation, while simultaneously offering a sense of hope that distance doesn't mean they've completely lost a friendship and that there are always opportunities to find new friends.-Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia

School Library Journal

2018-10-28

When Button has to move away from her best friend, Bundle, she finds a way to stay connected from afar, if only in her mind.

Button, a white girl with long, reddish-blonde hair, and Bundle, a black girl with afro puffs, spend their days together, playing with their dolls, "weaving daisy chains, blowing wishes, and singing their song." Both girls are distressed when Button moves away. "Button didn't think they'd ever be happy again." Three spreads are devoted to this sad time, and Button's sadness is transferred onto her doll: "Petal wanted to stay in her bed.…It was a lonely, blue time for Button and Petal." But one day, a yellow balloon "arrived with a song on the breeze," and Button uses it to send Petal off to find Bundle and Rose (Bundle's doll and Petal's best friend). She happily imagines Bundle receiving Petal and singing their song. Then, one day, Button is looking for fairies when she stumbles upon another girl looking for fairies "and friends." Leah, a girl with light brown skin and long, brown hair, gives Button a unicorn, and once again Button has a best friend, "singing a new song" without forgetting her old song and her old friend. The illustrations, soft and whimsical drawings done in watercolor and pastel with pencil, create a dreamlike quality for each stage of the story. Button's friends feel almost imaginary, which is somewhat troubling as they are depicted as girls of color, but her emotions feel very real.

A (mostly) sweet story of friendship, letting go, and new beginnings. (Picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews