The Friendly Four by Eloise Greenfield

This is an unusual book, about four children, each facing a lonely summer, who meet and become friends. The story briefly outlines their background, how they each meet, and the fun they create. The writing is "free-verse poetry", where each character's lines are written as if they are being spoken. Different colours are used to identify each character. The illustrations (by Jan Spivey Gilchrist) are a delight. The story would be enjoyed by junior and middle primary students.