Maddie and Mabel

K-Gr 3–This short chapter book is about two sisters—whose appearance and personality complement each other—and their world of imaginative play. Maddie is the older sister, with long, blond hair that she often wears in pigtails. She is a doer and loves to be in charge. Mabel is the younger sister, with short, brunette curls framing her face. She is a thinker and helper, and she just can’t stop asking questions. The book contains five brief chapters. In a world without parents or technology, we watch Maddie and Mabel make their own fun (they build an indoor furniture fort and create costumes from household items) and witness how siblings navigate the shoals of power and friendship. When the inevitable conflict occurs—Mabel refuses to play because Maddie insists on making the final decisions—Maddie must recognize the inestimable value of having an ever-present playmate. These stories capture the small moments in a sibling’s life that create the building blocks of a lifelong friendship. Mai-Wyss’s illustrations have clean lines and convey a timeless sweetness. The sisters live in a Victorian-styled home, but they wear dresses and high top sneakers. In the end pages, readers are asked to think about their own family stories and how to make a good apology.