Tuesday, February 4, 2025

*Review* Maddie and Mabel Make a Plan by Kari Allen


 Genre: Children's 4-8 years
Published: October 31, 2023
Pages: 80


The fourth book in the Junior Library Guild Award Winning Series

Best sisters and big thinkers Maddie and Mabel have a new idea. A really wild idea. But can their idea become a reality? With their sweet charm and innocent curiosity, the sisters make lists, ask questions, and learn when to turn something broken into something new. Together they learn that every idea has opportunities and obstacles.

In this fourth foray, the sisters navigate tough questions and make compromises with sensitivity, acknowledging that an imperfect solution might be just the right plan. The occasional misstep and sisterly banter make this relatable and realistic for readers. The combination of Kari Allen’s gentle writing and playful illustrations from Tatiana Mai-Wyss make this a winning addition to this well-loved series.


I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a cute story about two sisters who also happen to be friends, which doesn't always happen with sisters, and they want a pet. They work together to develop a plan to convince their parents to let them get a pet, but part of that is deciding what kind of pet they should get, and they do not start out in agreement on that. But they talk about it and come to a compromise. 

This book does a really good job of teaching kids to interact with others with understanding, and listening to hear and not necessarily listening just to respond. I'd definitely be willing to read this book a few times because those are good lessons to everyone to learn. The illustrations were fairly simple, minimalistic, and kind of wispy looking. 

Overall I give Maddie and Mabel Make a Plan 4.2878 out of 5 stars. - Katie 




Kari Allen is an elementary teacher at a local independent school where every day she gets to share stories with kids. She has an MA in the Teaching of Writing and one of her favorite things is to help kids fall in love with words. Kari feels happiest with her toes in the water and a book in her hand. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two book-loving boys.

Tatjana Mai-Wyss has always loved books, so bringing stories to life with her art is the best job she can imagine. She has been lucky enough to illustrate a number of books for children. She practiced for Maddie and Mabel by growing up with a little brother herself, and then having two girls of her own.

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