Norman Didn't Do It!

Norman is a porcupine who has one best friend: a tree he calls Mildred. Norman and Mildred do everything together, from reading books to having picnics. When a second tree grows next to Mildred, Norman's world changes. He struggles with feelings of jealousy and worry as he watches the two trees become close. Norman takes drastic actions to try to preserve his friendship with Mildred. His choices lead to consequences he must face and emotions he must process. The story explores themes of friendship, change, and learning to share relationships with others. It presents these complex social-emotional concepts in a format accessible to young readers.

Parents and children appreciate the book's message about friendship, jealousy, and acceptance of change. Readers note the humor - particularly Norman's over-the-top reactions - resonates with both adults and kids. Liked: - Illustrations that convey emotion through facial expressions - The relatable theme of feeling left out - Subtle jokes for adults while remaining kid-appropriate - Message delivered without being preachy Disliked: - Some found Norman's behavior concerning for young readers - A few mentioned the story drags in the middle - Price point ($17.99) considered high for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.22/5 (1,300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (350+ ratings) Sample review: "My 4-year-old requests this nightly. The expressions on Norman's face perfectly capture how a child feels when their best friend makes a new friend." - Goodreads user Barnes & Noble readers rated it 4.8/5 (50+ ratings), with multiple comments praising its use in teaching children about friendship changes.

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🌲 Norman, the main character of the book, is a porcupine who has an extremely close friendship with a tree named Mildred - reflecting the author's knack for creating unlikely yet endearing relationships in his stories. 🎨 Author Ryan T. Higgins creates all his illustrations using both traditional methods and digital tools, combining pencil drawings with digital coloring to achieve his distinctive style. 🦔 The book tackles complex emotions like jealousy and friendship in a way young children can understand, much like Higgins' other works including "Mother Bruce" and "We Don't Eat Our Classmates." 🤝 The story was inspired by the universal childhood experience of feeling threatened when your best friend makes a new friend - a situation many young readers can relate to. 🏆 Ryan T. Higgins has won multiple awards for his children's books, including the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor.