A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend

PreS-Gr 1–A child new to summer camp receives tips on making friends in this delightful picture book. Readers receive the helpful advice as it is offered to this new camper. One child suggests asking questions. Another says it helps to like the same things, “Godzilla. Cheese. The color blue.” Kindness, sharing, and laughter matter more than speaking the same language. Some kids are even friends because their parents were friends first or because they are both shy. But they all agree, “It turns out that the best way to make a friend is to be one.” Illustrations in ink, marker, and watercolor capture a lively group of young campers with a wide range of skin tones, hair colors, and hair textures. Images celebrate the summer delights of climbing trees, telling stories around a campfire, and diving into the lake for a swim. The loose, energetic presentation is reminiscent of James Stevenson’s style and suits the carefree summer setting.