Roasted Peanuts by Tim Egan

32 p., Houghton, 2006. Sometimes you have to change your plans to become the best you can be, and that might mean changing your ideas about how to be friends. Sam (a horse) and Jackson (a cat) are best friends who love baseball. Sam is a talented player, and although Jackson can throw, he can't pitch, and he has no other baseball skills at all. Not surprisingly, when they're old enough to play for a team, Sam is selected and Jackson isn't. They're both sad, Jackson because he didn't make the team, and Sam because playing isn't fun without his best friend. In fact, Sam is so sad that his playing suffers. He encourages Jackson to become a peanut vendor, saying he'd be good at it because he throws well, but at first, Jackson is too discouraged to try. When Jackson finally does become a peanut vendor, his presence at the games cheers Sam, who begins to play well again, and Jackson discovers that people truly appreciate and enjoy his peanut-tossing skills. Each one becomes famous for what he does best. In one exciting game, Jackson even helps Sam's team win, if inadvertently. In the end, Jackson's career is longer-lasting than Sam's. With its expressive illustrations, this story shows children that when each of us does what we do best, even if that means being different from our friends, we can stay connected to both ourselves and our good friends. Ages 5-8

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