Bink & Gollie Read online

  .

  .

  “

  Oh, happiness! Move over Pippi Longstocking. . . . Bink and Gollie . . .

  join the ranks of George and Martha, Frog and Toad, Zelda and Ivy,

  and all the other resilient pairs that celebrate the challenges and

  strengths of a great friendship.” — The New York Times Book Review

  “

  If James Marshall’s George and Martha were not hippos and were

  both girls, they would be much like best friends Bink and Gollie. . . .

  More, please!” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  “

  Think Pippi Longstocking meets The Big Bang Theory.”

  —

  Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  A Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner

  A New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated

  Children’s Book of the Year

  A Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year

  A Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book

  .

  Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

  illustrated by

  Tony Fucile

  .

  Text copyright © 2010 by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

  Illustrations copyright © 2010 by Tony Fucile

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored

  in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or

  mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written

  permission from the publisher.

  First electronic edition 2016

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

  DiCamillo, Kate.

  Bink and Gollie / Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee ; illustrated by Tony Fucile. — 1st ed.

  p. cm.

  Summary: Two roller-skating best friends — one tiny, one tall — share

  three comical adventures involving outrageously bright socks, an impromptu

  trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion.

  ISBN 978-0-7636-3266-3 (hardcover)

  [1. Friendship — Fiction. 2. Adventure and adventurers — Fiction. 3. Humorous stories.]

  I. McGhee, Alison, date. II. Fucile, Tony, ill. III. Title.

  PZ7.D5455Bi 2010

  [Fic] —

  dc22

  2009049100

  ISBN 978-0-7636-5954-7 (paperback)

  ISBN 978-0-7636-9134-9 (electronic)

  This book was typeset in Humana Sans.

  The illustrations were done digitally.

  Candlewick Press

  99 Dover Street

  Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

  visit us at www.candlewick.com

  For Karla Marie Rydrych, friend of my heart

  K. D.

  To Cindy Schultz Sykes, marvelous companion of my youth

  A. M.

  To Karen and Nina

  T. F.

  .

  .

  “Hello, Gollie,” said Bink.

  “What should we do today?”

  “

  Greetings, Bink,” said Gollie.

  “I long for speed.”

  3

  .

  “Let’s roller-skate!”

  4

  5

  .

  6

  7

  .

  “I

  of socks!” said Bink.

  do

  “Let’s go inside.”

  need a new pair

  “Hello,” said Bink. “I’m here for the socks.”

  9

  .

  “Aisle ten,” said Mr. Eccles.

  “Aisle ten,” said Mrs. Eccles.

  “All righty, then,” said Bink.

  “Aisle ten.”

  10

  11

  .

  “It’s a sock bonanza!” said Bink.

  “

  Indeed it is,” said Gollie. “An

  extremely bright sock bonanza.”

  12

  “

  I’ll take this pair,”

  said Bink.

  “

  Bink,” said Gollie, “the brightness

  of those socks pains me. I beg

  you not to purchase them.”

  “

  I can’t wait to put

  them on,” said Bink.

  13

  .

  “I love socks,” said Bink.

  “

  Some socks are more lovable

  than others,” said Gollie.

  14

  15

  .

  “

  I especially love bright

  socks,” said Bink.

  “

  Putting on socks is hard work,”

  said Bink. “I’m hungry.”

  16

  “Maybe Gollie is making pancakes.”

  17

  .

  “Hello, Gollie,” said Bink.

  “Do I smell pancakes?”

  “You do not,” said Gollie.

  “

  Will I smell pancakes?”

  said Bink.

  18

  “Perhaps a compromise is in order, Bink,” said Gollie.

  “What’s a compromise?” said Bink.

  “

  Use your gray matter, Bink,” said Gollie. “You remove

  your outrageous socks, and I will make pancakes.”

  .

  “

  The problem with

  Gollie,” said Bink, “is

  that it’s either Gollie’s

  way or the highway.”

  20

  “

  My socks and I have

  chosen the highway.”

  “

  The problem

  with Bink,” said

  Gollie, “is her

  unwillingness to

  compromise.”

  21

  .

  “

  Greetings, Bink,” said

  Gollie. “I am eating

  pancakes. What are

  you doing?”

  “

  I’
m wearing my socks,”

  said Bink.

  22

  “

  I have brought you half of my

  pancakes,” said Gollie.

  “

  And I’ve removed one of

  my outrageous socks,”

  said Bink. “It’s a

  compromise bonanza!”

  23

  .

  24

  25

  .

  27

  “

  It has been far too long since my last adventure,”

  said Gollie. “I must journey forth into the wider

  world. But where?

  “Tasmania? Timbuktu?”

  .

  28

  29

  “The finger has spoken,” said Gollie.

  .

  30

  “I’m baffled,” said Bink.

  “Am I ‘whom’?”

  KNOCK,

  KNOCK,

  KNOCK!

  31

  .

  32

  “I cannot talk right now,” said Gollie.

  “Why not?” said Bink.

  “Because,” said Gollie, “I am high in the

  pure air of the Andes Mountains.”

  33

  “

  All righty,

  then,” said Bink.

  .

  “I wonder if Gollie’s home yet,” said Bink.

  34

  “Hmm,” said Bink.

  KNOCK,

  KNOCK,

  KNOCK!

  35

  .

  36

  “Please,” said Gollie. “Have you not read the sign?”

  “I read it,” said Bink. “Aren’t you hungry?”

  “Not at all,” said Gollie.

  “Not even a little?” said Bink.

  “Not even a little,” said Gollie.

  37

  .

  “

  Not even a bit

  hungry!” said Bink.

  “I don’t believe it.”

  38

  “What does implore mean?” said Bink.

  KNOCK,

  KNOCK,

  KNOCK!

  39

  .

  “Bink,” said Gollie, “you

  must let me journey.”

  “But I brought you a

  sandwich,” said Bink.

  40

  41

  .

  “

  Here I am,” said Gollie, “where none but a

  few have ventured. What an extraordinary

  accomplishment.”

  42

  “Bink!” said Gollie. “Come see.”

  43

  .

  44

  45

  .

  47

  47

  .

  “As you can see,” said Mr. Fishman,

  “these are truly remarkable fish.

  Spectacular in virtually every

  way. Marvelous companions,

  marvelous. Each one desperate

  for a good home.”

  48

  49

  “I’ll take that one,” said Bink.

  .

  50

  “

  Bink,” said Gollie, “I must inform you that you are

  giving a home to a truly unremarkable fish.”

  “I love him,” said Bink.

  “

  Furthermore,” said Gollie, “that fish is incapable

  of being a marvelous companion.”

  “I wonder what his name is,” said Bink.

  51

  .

  “Greetings, Bink,” said Gollie. “Would you like to

  join me for pancakes?”

  “Fred and I are on

  our way,” said Bink.

  52

  “Fred?” said Gollie.

  “Yes, Fred,” said Bink. “My

  marvelous companion.”

  53

  .

  “I only made enough pancakes for two,” said Gollie.

  “Fred can share with me,” said Bink.

  “I only have two chairs,” said Gollie.

  “Oh, Fred doesn’t need a chair,” said Bink.

  54

  “

  Gollie, do you want to go see Mysteries of the

  Deep Blue Sea

  ?” said Bink.

  “Is that the movie about the fish?” said Gollie.

  “It is!” said Bink. “It’s the movie about the fish.”

  55

  .

  56

  57

  .

  58

  “

  Fred thinks that was a top-quality fish film.”

  said Bink.

  “I’m not sure I agree,” said Gollie.

  “Fred has a great idea,” said Bink.

  “I am almost afraid to inquire,” said Gollie.

  59

  .

  “

  Fred wants to roller-skate,” said

  Bink. “Fred longs for speed.”

  “