Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Maria Is My Pal by Dr. Michael T. Solomon is a beautiful children's book about friendship, responsibility and sharing. In school each day, the children are given a special treat by their teacher. The treat is the opportunity to visit the various pets in one of the other classrooms. The children look forward to this because it allows them to laugh and have fun with the pets - from the turtle, birds, fish and hamster to the rabbit. Each of the pets is so special to the children that each pet was given an endearing name - Annie, Fannie, Slow Boy, Lisa, Lori, Fred and Maria. One day the children were enjoying their favorite pet, Maria the rabbit, but something happened that caused Maria to run away. What will the children do now?

This is a great story that I really enjoyed and the illustrations just added a special touch to the story. When children get a pet, thus begins a fulfilling bond. For the child, it adds another level of development in which the child learns the value of not only taking responsibility for something, but being able to love and care for something outside of themselves. When Willow is given a special pet rabbit of her own, whom she names Maria, she does something that no one expected. Willow wanted to not only see her pet rabbit Maria more often, but she wanted to share Maria with her classmates at school. This book is a simple read and ideal for any child.