FRITZ

Two mushroom pals—one introverted, the other outgoing—find ways to honor each other’s personalities.

Fritz, a chanterelle, enjoys hanging out with friends, but he also values time spent alone. His bestie, Pip, an exuberant fly agaric, loves being the center of attention—the more friends, the merrier. Fritz sometimes wishes he could be more like his BFF and decides to “try having a very Pip-like day.” The friends start the following morning with “a giant game of berryball.” Then, accompanied by their pals, they take a swim in the puddle pool, make flower chains in the meadow, and blow bubbles in the violet patch. Fritz begins to flag, but Pip’s eager for a big game of hide-and-seek. Fritz finds an oak tree cavity to hide in, and when he’s discovered, replies, “Actually…I don’t think I’m ready to be found yet.” But after time alone, Fritz rejoins the group, feeling recharged. The day ends with a stop at the ice cream shop, where Fritz orders his favorite flavor, rose hip. In a sweet turnabout, Pip (who loves blackberry bramble more than anything) commemorates their friendship by also ordering Fritz’s fave. Laudably, Garrity-Riley’s introverted protagonist never feels pressured to change his nature; his pals allow him to be himself. Charming illustrations alternate among full- and double-page spreads and multi-paneled pages, providing plenty of winsome vignettes featuring subterranean mushroom homes, woodland flowers, and forest trees.

An engaging celebration of the differences that make us unique.