All Kinds of Friends

August 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-The many faces of friendship are celebrated in this glorious visual display. There is no story line here-just the juxtaposition of diverse qualities that can serve to open young children's minds to the idea that comfort and pleasure come from people of all shapes, sizes, ages, skin colors, backgrounds, and abilities. "Friends with different ways to walk/ Friends with different ways to talk/ Friends with different faces and families from different places." Numerous types of relationships are shown; children of various ages interact with parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, classmates, and neighbors. The bond between people and animals is acknowledged, too, with endearing glimpses of kids with dogs, cats, birds, and on horseback. Examples of both indoor and outdoor fun are included in all seasons of the year. The spare language is lovely and the minimal text allows the photos to shine. This joyful composition is aesthetically pleasing on its own, but would also be a useful resource for promoting classroom togetherness and community spirit. VERDICT An ideal book to share with preschoolers and primary grade children, this one drives home the point that every living creature-regardless of strengths or limitations-deserves a friend.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2017
"Smart friends, funny friends"--just two of the many types of friends displayed in excellent photos and simple text.Whether working alone or with frequent collaborator Kelly, Rotner specializes in photographic albums that explore basic concepts, and she has a great capacity for capturing animated children in many situations. The racially diverse kids (and even a few animal friends) in these color photos, arranged in varied layouts and often on bright backgrounds, invite multiple viewings. Youngsters and adults will enjoy the activities, emotions, and infectious smiles. Disabled children are included in a double-page spread captioned: "Friends with different ways to walk. Friends with different ways to talk." On the left, one boy walks and another travels in his electric wheelchair. The opposite photo focuses on a boy and an older girl using sign language. It is a pity that disabled children are not more fully integrated into the whole. Gender equality (implied by hairstyle and attire) is given some attention, as in one double-page spread captioned: "Friends who like to dress up and friends who like to pretend." Two young white boys wear colorful capes; two fairy princesses, one black and one white, wear jeweled tiaras and sport pink and purple wings; and an Asian boy and girl play with plastic dinosaurs. Just the ticket for starting conversations about the importance and fun of making all kinds of friends. (Picture book. 3-6)

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January 1, 2018
The title says it all: friends come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and species. Paired with a direct and friendly text, Rotner's intimate color photographs show a diverse array of children at play and at school; using sign language and wheelchairs; hugging each other and pets; laughing together but also experiencing moments of anger and sadness. The last page invites contemplation: "What kind of friends do you have?"

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)