Glamorous Glasses By Barbara Johansen Newman

Bobbie and Joanie are best friends and best cousins, and they do everything together. So when Joanie has to get glasses, Bobbie figures she’ll get them, too—especially once she discovers the fabulous frames on display at the eyeglasses store. Meanwhile, Joanie has the opposite reaction. Glasses make her feel different and look different. And they’re uncomfortable. So the ever-resourceful Bobbie comes up with a perfect plan to make both of them happy. Illustrations full of rich, comical details enhance this story about friendship and a classic childhood experience.

My daughter and I had a great time reading this book, but what I found the most interesting was what inspired this story. This story is actually based on real events that happened in the life of the author. There really was a Bobbie (that was Barbara Johnson Newman's nickname) and her cousin, Joanie. 

I think that this story rings true for lots of kids. I remember as a child desperately wanting everything I didn't have. This included glasses. I even failed a vision test just so that I could get them! Then once I had them my mother could never get me to wear them. Ahhh, kids!

This book brings a great deal of humor to a very real feeling that lots of kids get. Kids who don't need glasses want them and kids who do sometimes I don't want to wear them. And to have a best friend who gets glasses makes it even more intriguing to the other friend. But these two friends start to realize that seeing clearly may be what's most important after all!

You can visit Barbara Johansen Newman's website and learn more about this fun book! You can also play some fun games (there's even one where you can decorate a pair of glasses.... cool!).