By Kevin Henkes
Chester and his best friend Wilson do everything the same careful way, and neither can picture being friends with loud, fearless Lilly from down the street — right up until the day she saves them both.
Chester has his own way of doing everything, and his best friend Wilson does it the very same way. They cut their sandwiches into the same shapes, ride their bikes with the same careful hand signals, and are perfectly happy just being the two of them. Then Lilly moves in down the block. Lilly wears disguises, talks with her mouth full, and does everything her own loud way, and the two of them decide she is not for them. Then one afternoon a pack of older boys corners Chester and Wilson, and it's Lilly, dressed head to toe as a cowboy, who comes charging in to scare them off. After that the three of them go everywhere together.
This is a good one for a child who keeps a small, matching circle of friends, and just as good for the one who's the odd neighbor being kept at arm's length. Chester and Wilson aren't mean to Lilly. They just can't picture being friends with someone so different, so they leave her out without ever meaning to. A lot of leaving-out at this age works that way, quietly, with no cruelty behind it, and the book names it without scolding anyone. Lilly wins them over by being entirely herself, loud and fearless and eventually the one who saves the day.