Enola's Best Friend

by Katie Kordesh

Overview

An endearing and very funny story of forgiveness and the special relationship between a grandma and her grandchild.

Enola loves her visits to Grandma Mimi’s—full of staying up late, eating great snacks, and playing with a puppy named Hoagie. And even better, during lunch one day Enola realizes the most incredible thing: Her hot dog is perfectly friend-shaped. So she puts him in a stroller and begins taking her new friend everywhere (even if some kids complain that hot dogs can’t play bingo). But disaster strikes when Enola turns her back for a second and Hoagie EATS Hot Dog! How could Grandma Mimi let such a terrible thing happen?! Will Enola be able to forgive Grandma Mimi—and Hoagie—before it’s time to go home?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593620472
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/13/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.63(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Katie Kordesh is an Emmy Award-winning illustrator who currently works as a social media illustrator for the NFL (and a freelance illustrator for the Seattle Seahawks). She is happiest spending her mornings with a cup of coffee, painting at her desk. One day, she hopes to have her own French Bulldog named Hoagie. Enola’s Best Friend is the first picture book she has written and illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

04/29/2024

In this read for Sophie’s Squash fans, Enola’s grandmother, Mimi, radiates affirmation—whenever her granddaughter visits, “She let Enola stay up late. She made the best snacks,” and she builds a sofa fort for Enola to sleep in. Grandma Mimi doesn’t even blink when Enola becomes enamored of her first-ever hot dog and decides to make the “perfectly friend-shaped” comestible a chum. Acrylic ink and watercolor compositions, rendered in beachy colors and crisp lines, show impressively tattooed Grandma Mimi merrily obliging her granddaughter in the swimming pool, on the golf course, and even at bingo, where Hot Dog wins twice. But as the day draws to a close, Grandma’s pet dog, Hoagie, finally devours Hot Dog in one gulp. “HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!” wails a red-faced and tearful Enola, refusing to forgive either her grandmother or the hound. Though the ending feels a bit drawn out, Kordesh (Sam with Ants in His Pants), making her solo debut, pushes a goofy premise far enough to establish an unconditional affection between generations and species, as well as allow Enola to credibly find her way back to relationships that clearly mean the world to her. Enola and Mimi are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4–8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Acrylic ink and watercolor compositions, rendered in beachy colors and crisp lines, show impressively tattooed Grandma Mimi merrily obliging her granddaughter in the swimming pool, on the golf course, and even at bingo, where Hot Dog wins twice. Kordesh, making her solo debut, pushes a goofy premise far enough to establish an unconditional affection between generations and species." —Publishers Weekly


"Displaying a strong understanding of a child’s sensibility, Kordesh concludes her silly yet spot-on tale with a reminder that accidents happen, but forgiveness is always possible." —Kirkus

From the Publisher

2024-05-04
A youngster makes an unexpected, edible friend.

Enola, a tiny tot with a wavy mop of brown hair, loves visiting Grandma Mimi. Grandma Mimi is the most easygoing, fun grandmother ever. She creates a blanket fort for Enola to sleep in, serves the best snacks, and even has an adorable pup named Hoagie. For lunch one day, Grandma Mimi makes hot dogs. Enola has never had one. Unfortunately, she can’t eat it, because, as she observes, using a child’s logic, it is “perfectly friend-shaped.” (The hot dog has a squiggle of mustard and a tiny smile.) Putting Hot Dog in a stroller, the trio (plus Hoagie) have many adventures throughout the day. They go to the movies, swim in the pool, and even win at bingo (much to the dismay of others—“NO FAIR! Hot dogs can’t play bingo!”). But then, the unthinkable happens. Hoagie…eats…Hot Dog. Great big sobs erupt from a furious, red-faced Enola: “MIMI, HOAGIE ATE HOT DOG! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!” For the rest of the night, Enola is inconsolable. Displaying a strong understanding of a child’s sensibility, Kordesh concludes her silly yet spot-on tale with a reminder that accidents happen, but forgiveness is always possible. Surrounding friends in the cartoon art are diverse; bigheaded Enola and tattooed Mimi are pale-skinned.

A frank look at conflict resolution. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews