School Library Journal Starred Review

Gr 1-3-Six-year-old Lily longs to be best friends with seven-year-old Tamika. For weeks she pines over the friendship that she believes they would share if not for Lily's babyish bathing suit or Tamika's distracting friend Shanice. In the end the youngster gives up on wanting a buddy who doesn't want her and finds someone even better with whom to share her summer. Rodman's honest text captures the girl's heartbroken disappointment and makes it real for young readers, and Lewis's shining, sun-drenched illustrations convey both the harshness and warmth of the bright days at the pool. This simple but powerful picture book speaks to the yearning outsider in every child. Consider it a first purchase for friendship-themed storytimes, bibliotherapy, and for its gorgeous, almost palpably liquid art.-Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

ALA Booklist (Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2005)

In this elemental friendship story, Lily, six, wants to be best friends with Tamika, seven, and tries everything to get the older girl's attention. But one year makes a big difference, and Tamika and her best friend are mean to Lily. They call her baby, but mostly they just ignore her. Even when Daddy teaches Lily to dive, they don't seem to care. In the end, Lily gives up, and she reluctantly accepts Keesha, also six, as a best friend. This is more situation than story, but the setting makes things special. The action takes place during the weekly playgroup at the neighborhood pool, and Lewis' beautiful, realistic double-page watercolors convey everything--the longing, the meanness, and the fun--through the body language and the splashing action of little African American girls in sunlit water and at the poolside.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2005)

"Tamika is my best friend. She just doesn't know it yet." At the neighborhood pool, six-year-old Lily tries everything to get seven-year-old Tamika's attention. In the end, Lily accepts the friendship of six-year-old Keesha, who will likely make a much better friend. The rich watercolors add roundness and life to the African-American characters.

Kirkus Reviews

At the pool each week, six-year-old Lily tries to impress and emulate seven-year-old Tamika. But Tamika and her best friend Shanice alternately ignore her or tease her. One marvelous day when Shanice is not there, Tamika plays with Lily, but the next week Shanice is back and Lily is relegated to baby status again. All this time Keesha, who is also six, is just waiting to be Lily's friend. Lily is charming and strong-minded with a happy, hopeful nature. Rodman is attuned to the feelings of young children who are just beginning to navigate the labyrinths of friendships. She wisely allows Lily to tell her own story and reach her own conclusions. Lewis fills his bright watercolor paintings with summer light that bounces off the water. Lily's actions and emotions are the focus of each illustration, while the background is slightly blurred as if the reader is squinting in the sun. Lovely. (Picture book. 4-7)