Rosie and Michael

by Judith Viorst, Lorna Tomei (Illustrations)

Rosie likes Michael when he's dopey and not just when he's smart. Michael likes Rosie when she's grouchy and not just when she's nice. That's how friends are. When Michael's parakeet died, he called Rosie. When Rosie's dog ran away, she called Michael. That's what friends do. Michael once sprayed Kool Whip into Rosie's sneakers. Rosie once put a worm in Michael's sandwich. They're still friends. And Michael says he would never have his tonsils out without Rosie. And Rosie says she would never move to China without Michael. And the reason they wouldn't is -- because they're friends.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Poetry

40 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1974

About the author

Judith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, dear. I was going to write my review as I thought this was one of the more obscure Viorst titles and I wanted to caution people that it is NOT as good as her Alexander books (a nice theme, but gets repetitive and tedious and the illustrations are rather creepy IMO!) and not to go out of their way to secure a copy. However, I find that other reviewers love this one, too. Well, to each her own!

[Hannah Garden]

I am mailing this to my little pal who turns five today and wanted to read it first to see if it's any good. It is very good.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosie and Michael are such good friends they can keep each others’ secrets, talk about each other’s fears and even play trick on each other. They really believe in each other and support each other’s hobbies. Theme: Friendship overcomes all problems.

[Yapha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1974, this one doesn't quite stand the test of time. Very amusing to read though, if you can find a copy.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, simple story of childhood before Devices.

Cheers.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my most loved books growing up!!! Still love it.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book about best friends

[Telps · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read by one of my favorite authors. Of course, I might be slightly biased as one of the characters shares my name.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

dated and not that great, not exactly a classic

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankly Rosie and Michael have more emotional maturity than many of the romantic couplings in books I've read. I think these two would have been fun to follow up with in later stories. What were they like as young twenty-somethings? Young thirty-somethings? By now they'd be in their sixties. What sort of shenanigans are they getting up to?

https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...

[Mary Ann Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this so simple and pure account of a childhood friendship. I was most attracted to it as it chronicles a friendship not determined by gender constraints. Many young friendship are already colored by gender as girls pick girls and boys pick boys and not to do so is looked upon as not natural by some. (Unless they are characterizing it as boyfriend/girlfriend when children are too young to even relate to that--such early socializing) Rosie and Michael stay together through thick and thin (and even name changes--Wrosie!) This is a great bond and one emulated by my daughter who had many friendships with boys as well as girls. These friendships served her well as she continued these kind of friendships as she got older when many girls her age felt uncomfortable with boys. I love how various attributes are attributed to both of them, not determined by sex. What a wonderful book on friendship for children!

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosie and Michael are friends and they give examples of what friends do for one another in alternating voices. Friends understand one another’s fears, they’re familiar with their likes and dislikes, they aren’t above teasing or playing jokes on each other, they do things together, they stick together, and they support each other – even in the worst circumstances. At times humorous and at times more serious, kids will see aspects of their own friendships reflected in Rosie and Michael’s relationship. It’s nice to see a book where girls and boys can be friends – best friends, even – instead of rivals or enemies or vectors for cooties. Illustrations are black and white inked with lots of detail and cross-shadowing.

[Ashlynn Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about a boy and girl who were best friends that did everything together. They were both always there for each other in every situation and they always wanted to tell the other exactly what was happening in their lives right when it happened or right when it was possible to do so.

The story behind this book was very cute I loved seeing the friendship between the two, but I wish the pictures had been better. I did not like the black and white pictures, and some of them were almost creepy looking.

This book would be great in a classroom around third grade whenever boys and girls start thinking that it is not okay to be friends with someone of the opposite gender to reassure them that it is okay.

[Carly Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Carly's Award

Level: Transitional

Genre: Picture Book

Topic: Best Friends

Curricular Use: Read Aloud, Independent reading

Social: Having a best friend, friendship is never perfect but true friends make it work, loving and appreciating your friends, loving a person despite their flaws

Literary Elements: Multiple Narrators (Duel Voice), Dialogue, Exaggerated themes

Strong Connection between the pictures and the text (very strong, the text is represented exactly)

[Michiko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie and Michael take turns explaining what makes a good friend with the innocence and honesty of young children. This is a book about friends accepting each other for who they are. A fun read aloud with thoughtful cadence makes it a playful read. The black and white illustrations are complex despite their lack of color and lend themselves to the text beautifully. Great book to add to a text set about friends and a good one to go to when friends are in a tiff.

[Julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really liked this book and even though some people have said bad things about it, I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it. It was cute, clever, funny and heartfelt. Having a best friend is a wonderful thing, because even though we aren't perfect and we sometimes get annoyed at each other, you always know that they will be right there for you no matter what.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad used to read me this book when I was younger. I didn't realize the growing impact it had on me until I found myself referencing it as an adult.

I think it's a great book about friendship.

[Stacy Tippens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story about friendship, but it is really dated. The themes were from the 70's and a bit inapproriate for today's society. The kids talked about being friends even if they hit each other and things like that.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the book I always sought out each time my mom took me to my childhood library. When I chanced upon it at The Main Library I was tickled to see it again! As I read through it I was a little puzzled why the book held such charm for me as a kid, but it was still a neat reunion.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about two best friends, Rosie and Michael. It is very sweet and goes into all of the signs of true friendship for kids. Even though the pictures are black and white, they are very detaied and spice up the story.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this book, Rosie and Michael pledge their undying friendship for one another. Their friendship can overcome any problem; practical jokes, sharing, emergencies, misunderstandings, and accidents.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[bustamove · Rating 5 out of 5]

great take on childhood friendship.
Also a great gift for a wedding or baby shower!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books on the whole planet!!!!!

[Tattered Cover Book Store]

This is hands down one of my most favorite kids books ever, and I didn't discover it until I was in college!

Jackie

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: Sweet book about two very good friends.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have autographed edition.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It is so funny and it really captures kids! I love the illustrations, they go wonderfully with the text. It made a very good Reader's Theater for 2nd graders.

[sharla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite children's books on friendship. Very cute illustrations and a great message ;)

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt very uncomfortable reading this book to my kids. I don't want them to have/be friends like this!...

[Shantel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this in the car on CD with my kids