Sidney & Sydney: Third Grade Mix-Up by Michele Jakubowski (review)

Can a third-grade boy and a third-grade girl really be friends? Sidney, the new boy in town, and Sydney, an art-loving girl, make a go of it after an uncertain start: Sydney mistakes Sidney’s classroom name tag for her own and both get embarrassed by the teasing that results from the mix-up. The two then discover, however, that they share more than just a similar-sounding name, including an interest in photography, Paris, and the game Galaxy Conquest. When both of their best friends are bummed about Halloween—one is diabetic and the other’s health-conscious mother has forbidden all sweets—Sidney and Sydney formulate a plan that will allow their pals (and themselves) to still have fun on Halloween without all the candy. This observant and humorous story is the first book in a series that refreshingly promises to appeal to both boys and girls. Sydney and Sidney alternately narrate (each chapter’s narrator is identified by an illustrative headpiece) and each of their perspectives is credible on both age and gender levels. The text moves quickly and effortlessly, and the kid-centered scenarios will resonate with middle-graders. The frequent full-color illustrations are stylish and attractive, and Sidney and Sydney have a wide-eyed, loose-limbed appeal slightly reminiscent of an older Charlie and Lola from Child’s series. Consider this for a refreshing classroom readaloud, for mixed-gender book groups, or for encouraging more friendships that cross the middle-grade gender divide.