Ten years after Leslie Patricelli’s first board book took the toddler world by storm, she ventures into a new genre with an offbeat and funny illustrated middle-grade novel. Lily is pretty lucky. She made a friend on the first day at her new school—even after she barfed on the playground—and now she and Darby are the only two members of the RizzleRunk Club. Darby is fun. She tells funny stories, she likes to catch frogs, and there’s lots of junk food at her house. Darby is good at lots of things, too. Especially lying. Which Lily isn’t. She gets that ants-under-her-skin feeling when she even thinks about doing it. But sometimes telling the truth is just too hard, so when Lily accidently does something to the class rat that she’s afraid to admit, she denies it. Soon the lie feels like something awful sitting in the bottom of her stomach. Will Lily find a way to let it out? Gr 3–5—Popular board book author and illustrator Patricelli offers up an amusing first novel on friendship, peer pressure, and being the new kid. Mono-browed Lily has a terrible first day of fourth grade; although both she and her sister feel ill, they get sent to their new school whereupon Lily throws up on potential new friends' shoes and all over the recess yard. Then a very unusual girl named Darby takes Lily under her wing and they form a two-member group called the Rizzlerunk Club. They have common interests in science, frogs, and trying to stay away from Lily's mom's health food. Things take a bad turn when Darby's previous best friend suddenly returns from a move to England, busting up the duo. Jill has a talent for getting Darby and Lily to do awful things that get them into big trouble with their teachers, the principal, and their friends. Jill always comes out of these incidents smelling like a rose. Lily must decide if she'll keep on being a follower and succumbing to peer pressure in order to stay in the Club or take her parents' advice and make good decisions to be her own person. Patricelli writes with warmth and humor, shining a light on the sometimes painful parts of establishing your own sense of self while wanting to be part of the "in" bunch. Lily's difficulties in deciding what to do are realistic and the solution has no whiff of adult didacticism. A generous helping of hilarious black-and-white illustrations enhances the text with humor and encourages pathos when Darby has difficulty finding her true self. VERDICT This engaging, funny, and heartfelt read will ring true to a young audience; Patricelli shows a real gift for capturing the dramas and goofiness of the age range. Recommended for most collections.—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA This first full-length narrative, a series opener, from board-book creator Patricelli (Hair, 2017, etc.) is a no-frills, funny story about friendship. —Kirkus Reviews There isn’t a dull moment in this uproarious first novel from Patricelli, best known for her series of board books starring a springy-haired toddler...Patricelli’s humor is on the mark, and her scribbly b&w cartoons add to the fun. Lily’s self-effacing narration carries this rollicking look at the challenges and rewards of friendship. —Publishers Weekly This engaging, funny, and heartfelt read will ring true to a young audience; Patricelli shows a real gift for capturing the dramas and goofiness of the age range. Recommended for most collections. —School Library Journal Patricelli, best known for her adorable board books, illustrates the pages with Lily's hilarious doodles. A sequel, hinted at on the last page, can't come too soon. Grade: A —Plain Dealer Patricelli nails the anxiety that comes with moving and shyness, particularly the constant worry Lily feels over other people’s opinions...Embellished with Lily’s cartoon drawings, this tween novel about finding your own path is relatable, funny, and sincere. —Booklist Leslie Patricelli  is the creator of a series of best-selling board books starring her inimitable bald baby. She is also the author-illustrator of  Higher! Higher!, Faster! Faster!,  and  Be Quiet, Mike!  She lives in Ketchum, Idaho.