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Button and Bundle

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A tender story about two best friends who must move away from each other. With a sprinkle of imagination and a lot of love, Button and Bundle will learn the true meaning of friendship.

Button and Bundle are best friends. So are their dolls.

But when Button has to move away, she's sad and lonely without Bundle.

Until one day, Button finds a single yellow balloon and an idea. With a little luck, maybe she can reunite Bundle with their dolls again!

Knowing that her faraway friend would be happy is the happiest idea of all.

This sweet and charming friendship story addresses how to cherish old friendships while making new ones. With fun, imaginative play, Button and Bundle create a world they'll share no matter how far apart they are.

32 pages, Library Binding

Published February 19, 2019

18 people want to read

About the author

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan

5 books12 followers

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5 stars
27 (26%)
4 stars
38 (37%)
3 stars
33 (32%)
2 stars
3 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,499 reviews774 followers
April 24, 2019
Button and Bundle are friends; very best friends. They spend their days together along with their dolls, Petal and Rose. We spend time with them playing, skipping and dreaming. Until one day Button has to move away. We follow Button to her new home. She is very sad and tries to imagine what her friend is doing. It was touching and sweet as we see her go through the stages of loss a child might experience…until one day while looking for fairies she spots another young girl over the fence.

With beautiful illustrations Mclellan tugs at your heartstrings as she shares the wonders and magic of friendship. Button navigates first-friends and new friends. It was simplistic allowing the images and words to weave together to evoke feeling.

I enjoyed the message. Sophia, who is four felt empathy and joy for these characters. It opened the door for discussion and would make the perfect gift for a young one who is moving, starting a new school or to share in a classroom setting. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Profile Image for Meg - A Bookish Affair.
2,484 reviews213 followers
April 19, 2019
"Button and Bundle" is a cute story about two best friends named Button and Bundle. They play with their dolls together. They go on adventures together. They are best friends forever. When Button moves away, both girls are broken-hearted but with a bit of music and a bit of magic they can move forward.

Moving is hard no matter how old you are. It is especially hard for little kids. This book is all about that. Leaving friends is fraught with so many emotions. Will you make new friends? Will you remember your old friends? Will they remember you? This book explores all of these thoughts in an easy to understand way for a younger audience. I loved the metaphor of music throughout the book: first in Button and Bundle's song and then their song weaving through Button's song with her new friend. It's really beautiful!

The illustrations are so charming. The colors are lovely and pastel and very calming! My girls loved the pictures of the friends and their dolls. This was a great story and it would be particularly good for little ones going through a move of their own or a move of their friends!
Profile Image for Michelle Schaub.
Author 14 books38 followers
January 28, 2019
Flint’s soft, nostalgic illustrations provide the perfect frame for McLellan’s sweet story about first-friends, saying good-bye, and making room for change and new hellos.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
153 reviews
February 5, 2020
Story Time
Theme: Friendship

Ages: Did not use

I didn't use by kind of wish I had.

Button and Bundle (and their dolls Petal and Rose) are best friends. But one girl has to move away.
Profile Image for Bonnie Lambourn.
177 reviews37 followers
August 26, 2019
I resonated with the beginning, especially liked the authentic way the girls responded to learning one will move away. Then when the girl staying back had to take time to feel sad, worked - except the odd names [as someone else mentioned] got confusing. I love unusual names, but it was hard to remember who were girls and who were dolls with these particular ones, plus the girls names both beginning with B. Also - the title on cover has the girls' names, but first name to the girl on right, second to left girl... all increases confusion.

So - now will look back to make sure I am selecting correct names - the author's good use of subtext [expressing her own feelings by assigning them to her doll] in the scene after Bundle moves away, was extra confusing.

From thereon , it left me personally a little disconnected.. because while I love fantasy metaphors for working through feelings, the idea of sending her doll to Bundle, the metaphor of a ballon being uplifting, and it's nice to see a new friendship start... but it didn't feel fully authentic to me to see the ending... perhaps many kids will suspend disbelief and think Bundle actually received the balloon with dolls, but all this time it is niggling at me that in reality Bundle is abandoned once she leaves. That Button has moved happily on... she found a way to feel connected, but Bundle is forgotten at least on her end.

Not the easiest story to tell in 32 pages, and sure it will fit the bill for many children, so went up with my rating.

I appreciate the unspoken diversity in the illustrations.
Profile Image for Gmr.
1,248 reviews
April 13, 2019
I really loved how the author shared the struggles, pitfalls, and triumphs of these little girls, but I adored how the illustrations married the idea and image together to create a masterpiece. The "song" of the first friendship winding around them throughout their play time, and comforting them when things felt lost...but when a new song was introduced, it made room for its inclusion, creating a symphony of friendship that truly warmed the heart. While the bigger messages are easier to see with years under your belt, I think the general idea comes across beautifully for the wee ones, and can certainly be used to help put a healing salve on anyone feeling broken apart from their BFF.

**copy received for review; opinions are my own
Profile Image for Ariel.
Author 16 books43 followers
January 18, 2019
Button and Bundle are best friends when Button moves away. As expected, Button is very sad about leaving her friend and imagines staying in touch with Bundle by sending her a balloon with things to play with. When Button meets a new friend, the book does not compare the friendships or make it sound like Button has to move on from Bundle. Instead, the underlying message is that friendship means if a good friend is happy, it makes the other friend happy as well. A friend moving is something that happens to many young kids, and this story is a welcome, positive perspective on how to cope with it.
Profile Image for Jenna Grodzicki.
Author 42 books32 followers
February 21, 2019
Button and Bundle are best friends. They do everything together, along with their dolls, Petal and Rose. But Button's family moves away. Now what will the friends do? This story demonstrates the power of first friends, whether they are near or far. It reminded me of when my daughter's first best friend moved away. They were in Kindergarten. They hid in the closet on their last day together, just like Button and Bundle. The illustrations complement the text perfectly. This is sure to become a favorite of young readers everywhere!
Profile Image for Eileen Meyer.
Author 6 books20 followers
February 2, 2019
Gretchen McLellan's picture book, Button and Bundle, is a sweet story of friendship and navigating change. Gillian Flint's soft, delicious illustrations make this the perfect book to read again and again - and the perfect book to have a conversation about best friends, dealing with changes (in this case, a move far away), and how to open your heart again to a new friend. A wonderful book to add to your family's library!
Profile Image for Molly Cluff (Library!).
2,478 reviews48 followers
May 29, 2019
A sweet picture book about friendships old and new. Button is sad when she has to move away from her best friend, and they find ways to still feel close. The illustrations stand on their own--light and whimsical images of the girls playing. My only gripe was that the girls have really unique "nickname" sounding names, which wouldn't have been a problem, but then their dolls also had unique "nickname" sounding names, and I couldn't keep all the names straight.
Profile Image for Laurel Gale.
Author 5 books68 followers
August 28, 2019
This is a great story for any child who has to move or who has a friend who is moving -- which is probably just about every child at some point. The girls deal with a range of emotions, and it's all told in a beautiful, very relatable way.

The illustrations are darling, and perfect for the story.

(Full disclosure: I am lucky enough to know the author, and I got a sneak peek at this book, even though I forgot to write a review until now.)
Profile Image for Jodi McKay.
Author 5 books20 followers
January 18, 2019
This book hits right at the heart. My own experience moving when little came up in full force which says how well the emotion was written. The soft colors and beautiful illustrations truly complement the story. This is the perfect book for any kid who needs an extra ounce of hope when dealing with a tough change.
Profile Image for Katey Howes.
Author 9 books85 followers
January 27, 2019
Button and Bundle is a sweet and simple story of friendship, moving apart, and finding new happiness while still treasuring old joys. The pastel-colored illustrations and gentle, lyrical text make a tough topic (friends moving away) approachable. Children and caregivers will enjoy reading this beautiful book together.
Profile Image for Chana Stiefel.
Author 38 books57 followers
February 28, 2019
Button and Bundle love to play together with their dolls, Petal and Rose. But what happens when Bundle moves away? Lovely, spare text by Gretchen McLellan pairs beautifully with soft pastel illustrations by Gillian Flint. Children will love this sweet story about friendship, loss, resilience, and the world of imaginative play.
Profile Image for Danielle Hammelef.
1,393 reviews196 followers
April 24, 2019
This friendship story with it's playful and bright illustrations is an emotional ride through what it means to have a best friend, lose your best friend, and make new friends while keeping the old friends in your heart. I'd recommend this book for everyone as the author and illustrator did an amazing job on showing the power of friendship and the struggles of moving far away from your friends.
7 reviews
July 20, 2019
My sister won this beautiful book in contest and she doesn't have a goodreads account so I would like to review it for her. My niece and I love to read together and this book is our current favorite. We thought this book was bittersweet with emphasis on sweet. This is a great book to convey friendship, lost, and hope to little ones.
Profile Image for Rachel.
Author 5 books225 followers
August 8, 2018
Thanks to the publisher and Edelwiess for an advance look. A lovely story about friendship and making new friends, but the adult in me sees things as a little nieve and impossible to make it really great read for me, but kids will appreciate the sentiment.
Profile Image for Andria Rosenbaum.
Author 15 books26 followers
January 29, 2019
Moving is never easy. Especially when it means leaving your first, best friend. But Button makes peace with her situation by imagining Bundle happy. Only then is she ready to move forward and make a new, best friend. A sweet story about friendship. Charmingly illustrated.
Profile Image for Anthony.
7,036 reviews32 followers
March 14, 2019
Button and Bundle are best friends who do everything together. Even their dolls Petal and Rose are best friends. But what will happen once Bundle moves away? A touching story of how friendships lasts over the miles.
Profile Image for Gina Perry.
Author 18 books23 followers
June 13, 2019
A hopeful and sweet story about what happens when your dearest friend moves away. With soft illustrations and words, this book explores the feelings of sadness, longing, finding new friendships, and honoring those who are gone but not forgotten.
4 reviews
March 8, 2019
Yet another wonderful book from this new author. Great story of friendship even when you are apart. Beautifully illustrated and easily accessed by young readers
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jesse.
2,726 reviews
April 3, 2019
A lovely little story about moving away and making a new friend. I only wish the friend left behind had been shown with a new friend, too!
Profile Image for Laurie Wallmark.
Author 12 books56 followers
July 10, 2019
This book will give comfort and hope to any child who has to leave behind a best friend when her family moves.
Profile Image for Dawn.
Author 23 books26 followers
October 30, 2019
A very sweet story about enduring friendship and imaginative play.
Profile Image for Jo Oehrlein.
6,361 reviews9 followers
December 9, 2019
About 2 girls who are best friends, but then one has to move away.

Even though she makes a new friend in her new place, she imagines her song carrying back to her old friend at her old house.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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