Saying goodbye is the topic here, and this young boy does not like to do it; he’d rather say hello, though goodbyes, he knows, are a fact of life. Rhyming text and colorful line-and-color cartoons sprinkled with gentle humor demonstrate how his friends and family members say goodbye in various situations, and there are many ways, he notes: different words and accents, a wave, a grrr! (from his dog), just to start. The worst goodbye he’s ever had to say was when a friend moved, which was far from easy, but, he points out, “for each goodbye…there’s a new hello.” If the rhyme is sometimes a little awkward, the points made are clear and easy to understand. While acknowledging the trouble some youngsters have with farewells, this informative take sticks to the positive and shows the pleasure of a good hello, bringing both into perspective. A good introduction to the topic for preschool use or for children learning about comings and goings. (Picture book. 3-6)
