The two roller-skating friends go to the fair. (Disappointingly, they only wore skates in the first scene when pausing in front of posters on the street. Regular sneakers for the rest of the story). Bink wants to win a giant doughnut at the whack-a-duck game, but her wild attempts repeatedly hit the man who ran the booth instead. Full force. In the face. Really. I found this very disturbing. Why wouldn’t the guy stand off to the side, especially after getting nailed the first time? As someone still recovering from a head injury, I know very well what it’s like to struggle getting your words out. Seeing this guy with facial injuries stammering his sentences out of order really bothered me. Too recent, too relevant.
Well, Bink doesn’t win anything. They buy some mini doughnuts to eat instead. Next Gollie wants to participate in the talent show, but gets a bad case of stage fright and can’t perform. Afterwards she recites her poem to Bink in a barn. Discouraged, the two visit a fortune-teller’s tent. She hints that they will always be friends and Gollie is reassured: “that’s all the future I need to know.” It was nice, but just fell a little flat for me. Maybe I’m simply ready to move on from picture books now.
Illustrated by Tony Fucile. Borrowed from the public library.
