Mr Soft and his friend Mr Stick are two friends who navigate life together, learning the value of compromise along the way.
Plot summary
Residing in a cosy loft, our unusual friends endure challenging days due to their distinct appearances. Mr Soft’s body is covered in an abundance of fluff, while Stick is, well, sticky, which makes them almost inseparable. Craving freedom, they believe altering their looks would grant them the independence they yearned for. Believing they had achieved their goal, they celebrated their new appearances, but something felt amiss. Soon, they realised that accepting each other, quirks and all, was a far better choice than arguing. They discovered that sharing experiences was more fulfilling than independence.
Themes, Illustration and Writing Style
Soft and Sticky is a rhyming story designed for EYFS and KS1 children, where Claire Powell creates two distinct characters. The illustrations bring humour and help young readers understand the source of the conflict; combined with body language and facial expressions, they will keep children engaged.
The story subtly suggests that friendship can be challenging, prompting pupils to reflect on their friendships. It encourages them to consider what they appreciate and dislike about their friends and why. It also invites them to consider what aspects of their personality their friends might prefer and why. Jeanne Willis and Claire Powell have created two unconventional characters that can be used as springboards for activities, such as making a unique character based on appearance with a feature others might dislike.
Final Thoughts
Soft and Sticky offers a tale of challenging friendship and acceptance, leaving the reader to reflect that compromise and understanding are the main qualities of a strong friendship.
Further Information:
If you love Soft and Sticky, check out more information about its author and illustrator:
The Stats:
- Title: Soft and Sticky
- Author and Illustrator: Jeanne Willis & Claire Powell
- ISBN: 978-1-78344-858-6
- Publication Date: 2024
- Page Count: 32
- Publisher: Andersen Press
- Recommended age: 4-7
- Categories/Topic: unconventional creatures, friendship, acceptance
Further readings:
Something Else – for further discussion on themes of fitting in, belonging and unusual friendship. For further details, read my full review here.
Max and Bird – a story showing how friendship can flourish between two very different characters. To find out more, read my review here.
Where to Find it:
- Buy on: Bookshop UK
- Buy on: Amazon
- Find on: Goodreads
