The Very Best of Friends

Margaret Wild's "The Very Best of Friends" is a deeply moving picture book that gently explores the themes of love, loss, and the enduring bonds of family and friendship. It centers on Jessie, James, and their cherished cat, William, whose lives on a bustling farm are irrevocably changed by a significant event. The narrative, complemented by Julie Vivas's exquisite illustrations, handles the emotional impact of grief with sensitivity and poignancy, offering comfort and a framework for understanding big feelings. It's an ideal book for parents seeking to open conversations about difficult life changes or to provide solace during times of sadness.

Jessie, James and William the cat live on a farm with fifty cattle, twenty chickens, four horses and three dogs. One day their lives are changed, never to be the same again. The combination of Margaret Wild's loving, poignant story and Julie Vivas's exquisite illustrations has produced a memorable picture book which will touch the hearts of young, and not-so-young, readers. Winner of the Australian Children's Book Council's Picture Book of the Year Award. A 1990 American Library Association Notable Children's Book, and An American Bookseller "Pick of the List".