A Mutual Friend! Best Friend in the Whole World by Sandra Salsbury

ROLAND LIVED DEEP IN THE WOODS ALL BY HIMSELF.

Although he is alone, Roland is nattily dressed and keeps himself busy by drawing his woodsy scenery, dancing to music on his tabletop Victrola, and refreshing himself by brewing an occasional pot of tea.

BUT SOMETIMES HE WAS LONELY.

So for an occasional scene, he leaves his cozy home in the base of a big tree for a walk in the woods, quietly seeking...

. . . A FRIEND!

And one day Roland spots a face--a pinecone with two twig arms and... sad eyes! He looks like he needs a friend, too! So Roland takes him home and names him Milton. Milton seems to enjoy drawing and music and a nice cup of tea at times. Roland is happier than he has ever been, until. . . walking one day with Milton, he sees a poster clipped to a big tree.

MISSING!

POPKIN

BROWN

POINTY

QUIET

And there in the middle is a drawing of a pinecone named Popkin, who looks a lot like Milton! Roland is worried, but he consoles himself that Milton's name is not Popkin!

And the next day he finds another poster on a tree, with a drawing of the missing Popkin, last seen at a big log by the lake. And there's another, saying the missing friend loves puzzles, baking, and lemonade! That couldn't be Milton, could it? But the next day there are too many sad posters to miss. Milton IS his best friend, but Roland knows what he has to do. . . .

Sadly, he takes Milton to the little house in the big log by the lake, to a lonely little cat, who joyfully recognizes her best friend!

And lonely Roland learns he's not lost his best friend! He's found a new one in Sandra Salsbury's just published Best Friend in the Whole World (Peachtree Books, 2021). There's plenty of future friendship ahead--with tea and baked goods, and their new mutual friend, in this lovely story that promises no more loneliness. Author Salsbury's poignant text is well written and perfectly paced with illustrator Salsbury's elegantly simple artwork, moving the story along perfectly with each page turn.

"Life lessons gently told," says Kirkus Reviews.