This is a vividly illustrated poetry collection intended to capture and give voice to the thoughts, feelings, worries, fears, joys, and fantasies of children through lyrical rhyme. Centered on friendships of every kind, real and imagined, this collection invites young readers to envision companionship with people, animals, nature, and the world around them. Loved it! 😍 Monaco writes with a child's heart. Readers will find the carefully crafted lines to be a clever delight. SYNOPSIS Stories in Rhyme for Besties of Mine is a children's poetry collection that explores the thoughts, feelings, worries, joys, fears, and fantasies of childhood through rhyme. Centered on friendships of every kind-real and imagined- this book invites young readers to both see and seek companionship ... I write and enjoy reading children's poems. Writers reap a real reward from readers whose imaginations are at their peak. More, the preschool to elementary crowd are likely to appreciate the fanciful stimulation such works bring to their brains. Gail Monaco, a psychotherapist whose fortunate enough to put up her feet in Nyack, New York writes with a whimsical tone guaranteed to snare the young. As she described the book: Stories in Rhyme for Besties of Mine is a children's poetry collection that explores the thoughts, feelings, worries, joys, fears, and fantasies of childhood through rhyme. Centered on friendships of every kind-real and imagined- this book invites young readers to both see and seek companionship. That aim and the author's generally tight rhymes make the poems and colorful illustrations ideal for read-aloud sessions in the classroom, on rough-weather days or at bedtime. For example, imagine the peace as a child drifts into slumber that listens to, "I Wish I Were A Lullaby": My friends wonder why I wish I were a lullaby While the reasons seem clear to me It confuses them, you see So here is what I have to say: If I were a lullaby, I'd sing sweet and low all day I'd sing to babies and grown-ups too I'd even sing to pets and besties like you There's no song more soothing than a lullaby It calms and comforts when we cry And if at night, sleep fails to come round Just listen for that sweet and tender sound A Lullaby is a hushabye and, unlike any other song 'Tis a soft and whispering melody, not at all very long And when it's sung, the world quiets with a sigh So, for all these reasons, I wish I were a lullaby The author conjures a wide range of imaginative tales. For example, "My Banjo," which concludes: You see, my banjo thinks we're quite a pair And really, truly doesn't care Whether I play well or make lots of mistakes It says: Patience and practice are what it takes Just learn from every sweet or strident sound you make Other titles include, "The Bee and Me," "Cholula Pat," "The Frog in a Bog," and many more. Monaco writes with a child's heart. Readers will find the carefully crafted lines to be a clever delight. REVIEWED BY Vincent G View profile View profile I TITLE INFORMATION STORIES IN RHYME FOR BESTIES OF MINE Gail W Monaco Illus. by Alejandro Echavez and Janet Liz IngramSpark (68 pp. ISBN: 9798218892548 December 31, 2025 BOOK REVIEW Monaco's collection of children's poems celebrates friendship in all of its joyous and eclectic beauty. A testament to the power of enduring friendship in all its forms, this colorful assortment of poetry focuses on the joy that comes with different friend relationships—whether with fellow humans or something entirely different (like a banjo or one's own imaginary creation). Some of the poems go beyond the central idea of friendship, such as "Lilies and Weeds," in which the speaker confesses to loving her weeds even more than the lilies that grow beside them, and "My Name Is Moon," in which a mother explains the meaning behind her child's unusual name. All of the poems center around feelings of love, acceptance, and being true to oneself. The illustrations alternate between bright, 2D cartoons and more detailed, ruminative images (landscapes, star-filled skies)—probably due to the fact that there are two illustrators, Echavez and Liz—which unfortunately results in a lack of visual continuity. Monaco's verses, largely following an AABB rhyme scheme, make it easy for young readers to follow along, and some funny and truly unexpected moments are sure to provoke laughter: "Let me buzz, and sometimes rest / And never push against my nest // So, that is how I learned to be / A friend to someone not like me / And my little bee learned to be my friend / By promising never to sting me again." While some of the friendships referenced may strike readers as a bit of a stretch (a child makes friends with a talking spinning toy top, for example), they always promote a positive message, such as embracing people's differences. The result is a lighthearted yet thoughtful acknowledgment of the importance of true friendship. A clever introduction to poetry, whimsically r