Maddie and Mabel Make a Plan - Kari Allen - ★★★★.½

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AUTHOR: Kari Allen
ILLUSTRATOR: Tatjana Mai-Wyss
SERIES: Maddie and Mabel, #4
GENRE: Children's Fiction, Chapter Book.
RATING: 4.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: The fourth book in the Maddie & Mabel series, though it can be read as a standalone. Just as adorable as the earlier books. A great option for sweet sibling stories.


I have been a fan of this series ever since I read the first book: 'Maddie and Mabel' through Netgalley in early 2022. The sequel, 'Maddie and Mabel Take the Lead', also a Netgalley read in mid-2022, was equally brilliant. Unfortunately, Book Three: 'Maddie and Mabel Know They Can' never came up on Netgalley (and it’s too expensive to buy in India *sob*), so I was blissfully unaware of it until I saw the listing for this fourth title of the series. I grabbed it ASAP, and now I am happy to say that it meets the standards set by this series in every way.

The titular Maddie and Mabel are sisters, Maddie being the elder one. The two are also best friends, playing together, going on adventures together, dreaming together, planning together,… Maddie is usually the instigator; Mabel is the loyal follower. But there are times when Mabel shows her individuality and Maddie supports her.

This book, just like the earlier ones, contains five mini-stories set around the sisters. The stories are quite simple and conversational. One involves them making a plan on what pet to get; another shows Mabel trying to escape Mabel’s anger over a broken box. So the situations aren’t out of the box. What sets the book apart is the two characters themselves. The closeness between the siblings comes out in every scene, whether they are bonding or arguing. I simply love how they behave with each other, being cooperative and yet making sure that their own needs aren’t bulldozed over. It’s the perfect sibling relationship.

The language is also easy, making this a great book for beginner chapter-book readers. There are not more than a few lines on every page, thereby keeping the overall look clutter-free. I love how the book incorporates dialogues just the way kids speak in real life, filled with repetitions and rhetorical questions.

The illustrations are also simplistic but they work wonderfully for the story. I simply adore the kids’ expressions in the sketches. Somehow, the illustrator captures not just their actions but also their emotions in her drawings. Well done!

Definitely recommended to anyone looking for a great book on sibling stories. This wholesome storybook will work excellently for general reading as well as at bedtime. (And if you are buying the whole series, I am sure you won’t be disappointed.)

My thanks to Kind World Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Maddie and Mabel Make a Plan”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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