PreSchool-K-Even the closest friendship must weather the occasional storm. Such is the case with a preschool boy and girl who share in all kinds of creative play. Theirs is a relationship made in heaven until harsh words are spoken and they shout at one another. The boy describes his anger, feigned indifference, sadness, and loneliness all resulting from the spat. He muses that if his friend were as sad as he is "She would come and say, 'I'm sorry,' and I would say sorry, too." While the youngster's desire for reconciliation is admirable, these sentiments give a mixed message about apologizing. Additionally, the cause of the disagreement is not explained in either the pictures or the text. Since many young children are very concerned with issues of fairness, this omission may be troubling, even though the point is clearly not to assign blame to either child. Lovely illustrations represent the preschoolers and their familiar surroundings with a softened realism. Renderings of the children's faces are especially effective in conveying the emotions McBratney describes. Despite some modest quibbles with the story line, this gentle vignette nicely portrays a friendship between the genders.
Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From Booklist
The author of Guess How Much I Love You (1995) offers a simple, straightforward contemporary story about a falling-out between two best friends that hints at a resolution but cleverly leaves it up to young listeners to decide if they agree. Eachus' gauzy, dappled watercolors and 1940s-style English countryside settings convey an old-fashioned, cozy feeling to the story about a subject that might otherwise have been upsetting to youngsters. The young boy narrator tells of his friendship with a little girl--exploring the farm, teaching dolls to read, being doctors and fixing broken bones. Then there's a sudden argument ("I SHOUTED at my friend today, and she SHOUTED back at me"), and the children avoid each other. The friendship seems irreparable until the little boy imagines what his friend would do if she were as sad as he. Gentle and understated in both text and art, this has a great deal to teach about empathy and forgiveness. The rich paper quality allows for repeated reading. Connie Fletcher
As with his hugely popular tale 'Guess How Much I Love You', Sam McBratney strikes just the right note here depicting the highs and lows of childhood friendships. Every parent will recognise that special relationship, so full of innocence and trust, and know just how it is when small arguments cause great anxiety. With gentle illustrations to match the text, this is a classic picture book. 'Time Out' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. Product Description
I have a friend I love the best. Having a best friend makes life so much better. but even best friends fight, and when that happens, "I'm sorry" is the hardest thing to say.
From internationally acclaimed author Sam McBratney and award-winning illustrator Jennifer Eachus comes a sensitive picture book that will strike a chord with every child who has quarreled with a friend. About the Author
Sam McBratney has been writing children's books for nearly thirty years. His bestselling book Guess How Much I Love You, illustrated by Anita Jeram, has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide and continues to sell a million copies a year. He lives outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Retrieved Friday 7 January from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060799277/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Early Childhood Educator (Early Childhood Education and Care 0-12) and Community Services Worker. Interested in networking service providers for refugees living in Australia
From School Library Journal
ReplyDeletePreSchool-K-Even the closest friendship must weather the occasional storm. Such is the case with a preschool boy and girl who share in all kinds of creative play. Theirs is a relationship made in heaven until harsh words are spoken and they shout at one another. The boy describes his anger, feigned indifference, sadness, and loneliness all resulting from the spat. He muses that if his friend were as sad as he is "She would come and say, 'I'm sorry,' and I would say sorry, too." While the youngster's desire for reconciliation is admirable, these sentiments give a mixed message about apologizing. Additionally, the cause of the disagreement is not explained in either the pictures or the text. Since many young children are very concerned with issues of fairness, this omission may be troubling, even though the point is clearly not to assign blame to either child. Lovely illustrations represent the preschoolers and their familiar surroundings with a softened realism. Renderings of the children's faces are especially effective in conveying the emotions McBratney describes. Despite some modest quibbles with the story line, this gentle vignette nicely portrays a friendship between the genders.
Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
The author of Guess How Much I Love You (1995) offers a simple, straightforward contemporary story about a falling-out between two best friends that hints at a resolution but cleverly leaves it up to young listeners to decide if they agree. Eachus' gauzy, dappled watercolors and 1940s-style English countryside settings convey an old-fashioned, cozy feeling to the story about a subject that might otherwise have been upsetting to youngsters. The young boy narrator tells of his friendship with a little girl--exploring the farm, teaching dolls to read, being doctors and fixing broken bones. Then there's a sudden argument ("I SHOUTED at my friend today, and she SHOUTED back at me"), and the children avoid each other. The friendship seems irreparable until the little boy imagines what his friend would do if she were as sad as he. Gentle and understated in both text and art, this has a great deal to teach about empathy and forgiveness. The rich paper quality allows for repeated reading. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
As with his hugely popular tale 'Guess How Much I Love You', Sam McBratney strikes just the right note here depicting the highs and lows of childhood friendships. Every parent will recognise that special relationship, so full of innocence and trust, and know just how it is when small arguments cause great anxiety. With gentle illustrations to match the text, this is a classic picture book. 'Time Out' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Product Description
I have a friend I love the best.
Having a best friend makes life so much better. but even best friends fight, and when that happens, "I'm sorry" is the hardest thing to say.
From internationally acclaimed author Sam McBratney and award-winning illustrator Jennifer Eachus comes a sensitive picture book that will strike a chord with every child who has quarreled with a friend.
About the Author
Sam McBratney has been writing children's books for nearly thirty years. His bestselling book Guess How Much I Love You, illustrated by Anita Jeram, has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide and continues to sell a million copies a year. He lives outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Retrieved Friday 7 January from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060799277/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books