SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

June 23, 2015 by Travis Jonker

Review: Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon

June 23, 2015 by Travis Jonker   2 comments

Dory and the Real True Friend

Dory and the Real True Friend
By Abby Hanlon

Dial (Penguin)

ISBN: 9780525428664
$14.99
Grades 1-3
Out July 7, 2015

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

*Best New Book*

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

Why review a particular book? I was asked this recently and my answer was pretty simple: I like to review books I’m excited about. I was exited about Abby Hanlon’s Dory Fantasmagory last year (it made our Top 20 Books of 2014 list), and I’m just as excited about this follow-up, Dory and the Real True Friend. It’s funny, it’s real, it’s a wonderfully effervescent little early chapter book in a category often filled with formula-following series.

The first day of school is coming. This is a problem for Dory, who prefers pajamas to school clothes and her imaginary friend Mary to real life companionship. But this year could be different. At school she meets Rosabelle, who just might be a real princess. As Dory is figuring out how to make a real true friend, the evil Mrs. Gobble Gracker has kidnapped her fairy godmother (Mr. Nuggy) leaving Dory to figure out a rescue plan. Rosabelle is up for the challenge, and the pair work together to save Mr. Nuggy and send Mrs. Gobble Gracker packing.

FullSizeRender

Humor is hard. Hanlon knows humor for this audience. Her ability to pepper the story with off-the-wall characteristics, wonderfully absurd dialog, and general silliness is as keen as anyone. Take this interaction between Dory and her fairy godmother, Mr. Nuggy:

“I’m scared about school,” I say. “I don’t want to go. You’ve got to help me. What can you do? Can you use your magic wand to make it go away?”

“Don’t worry.” he says. “I have a plan. I’m going to do some magic and turn your whole school into a pancake, so you won’t have to go, ever.”

This is punctuated by a picture of the school replaced with a massive buttered hotcake. Young readers will be cracking up.

The effect of all this is a book full of spontaneity – you never know what will happen next and are completely engaged because of it. In her interview at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Hanlon describes being inspired by her own young children (occasionally eavesdropping with pen and pad for dictation purposes), capturing the quirky truth of childhood. This authenticity shows, and the book is more hilarious because of it.

FullSizeRender_1

Hanlon’s black and white pencil illustrations are integral to the story. Often used to assist with a punchline or show Dory’s robust imagination, they have the right mix of cute and quirky to suit a main character nicknamed “Rascal”.

FullSizeRender_2

Dory and the Real True Friend is a sequel that lives up to, and wonderfully expands the world of the original. It’s genius. I (and a whole lot of kids) are excited for more.

Read an interview with Abby Hanlon at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
DialPenguin

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: Freya and the Snake by Fredrik Sonck, ill. Jenny Lucander

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Love in the Palm of His Hand, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

Heavy Medal

July Suggestions: Looking for Mock Newbery Contenders

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Review: The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala

by Riley Jensen

The Yarn

How Colby Sharp Celebrates Reading with Students

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

SLJ Reviews the ClickView Database

Anime 101: A Guide for Librarians and Educators | Multimedia Reviews

Panels to Pixels: Manga with Standout Anime Adaptations | Mondo Manga

9 Spanish-Language Nonfiction About Latinx Trailblazers, Identity, and Brujería

3 Titles About Tweens Living with Incarcerated Parents | Middle Grade Spotlight

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jules says

    June 23, 2015 at 10:09 am

    These books are so brilliant. I hope the Newbery committee considers the new one (and I hoped in vain they’d consider the last). What she pulls off in these books is no easy task.

    I am constantly having to buy new copies of Dory #1, since I’m always giving my copy away to unsuspecting parents and teachers. I’m sure I’ll do the same with book #2.

  2. Carter Higgins says

    June 23, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    SO great.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025