I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

This was the perfect example of an ideal sibling relationship. Maddie and Mabel get along so well that I'm not sure how relatable the story would be. I liked their approach to writing lists to solve a problem or come up with an idea. It would be a good skill to teach young children.

had so much fun reading this book, the story is so adorable and the illustrations were so well done and charming, there’s so many little details in every page that I couldn’t stop but be mesmerized by it all. I will definitely be recommending it! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

Maddie and Mabel are so cute. Love to see their sweet interactions. I haven't read the other three books about them, but it doesn't matter. In this book, Mabel learns to be honest and Maddie learns to forgive. They also had a lot of fun making plans about what animal they wanted to pet. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this wonderful book.

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 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4447800486) through NetGalley in early 2022. The sequel, Maddie and Mabel Take the Lead (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4820916351), 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 the copy is too expensive 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.)

4.5 stars.

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.

I let my daughter read this one and she loved it- so much that she’s on the hunt for the three preceding books! I’m so glad she has a little big-sister gang that can help her navigate conversations, problem solving, relationships at a level she understands and banter she truly enjoys. These middle readers are so great and so important- five stars!

oh this was an absolute joy to read about! maddie and mabel's bond genuinely touched me :( we love sisters who are bffs with one another. as well as the illustration!!! i need to give it a proper appreciation because wow it was so lovely. everything about this was the epitome of wholesome, words are not enough to describe how much i adore it.

a big thank you to Kari Allen and the team for providing this

What a sweet story to continue the world of Maddie and Mabel! I love how the chapters are short and the pictures are full of details like Mabel’s rabbit. The simplicity of the story is relatable for kids and the way Kari writes makes it perfect for beginning readers who want ‘big kid’ books! I cannot wait to add this book to our library shelves!

As the mother of two young girls, I love the Maddie and Mabel series. I originally found the books at the local library and was excited to read this latest installment via NetGalley. The illustrations are sweet and have lovely colors. The text is simple and repetitive but accessible for an early reader (think Big Dog Little Dog). I like how the sisters are different but play together, a great model for the big sister-littler sister dynamic. The book has four “chapters” with content around opposites, list making, accidents/keeping secrets, and discovery.

I loved this read. A cute childrens read about two sisters and their journey to finding a pet. The perfect read for siblings to showcase sibling relationships. I really enjoyed Maddie and Mable's sistlery bond the most. The perfect read if you have girls.