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Abbott, Zoey

I Do Not Like Yolanda

40 pp. | Tundra | March, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-0-7352-6651-3 $18.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-0-7352-6652-0 $10.99
(2) K-3 A young girl's assumptions are overturned in this story of unexpected friendship. Bianca loves letters, stamps, and thinking of interesting things to write to her friends, relatives, and pen pals, but she "does NOT love Yolanda," a clerk at her neighborhood post office. Not only does Yolanda have "scaly talons" (long manicured nails), but she once slapped an extra postage sticker right on top of Bianca's envelope art. One day, Bianca is dismayed when she arrives at the post office to mail her letters and discovers that "there's only one window open. And it's guess who." But then Bianca manages to tack a question onto the end of her request for stamps ("...and how was your weekend?"). She is met with a surprise when Yolanda smiles and shares a story about her glorious weekend meal inspired by Isak Dinesen's short story "Babette's Feast." Bianca's fear is transformed into curiosity and friendship, and soon Yolanda is added to her pen-pal rotation. Abbott's light ink, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations use color and ­perspective to show Bianca's perspective shift, ­adding both tension and cheer. Sincere and accessible, the book celebrates overcoming initial assumptions and the value of community friendship.
Reviewer: Emmie Stuart | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

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