That's the question addressed in The Art of Making Friends.
It's a sweet and appealing book, the kind that should attract the attention of young girls in particular.
Friends can come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found in all kinds of places.
The Art of Making Friends is full of friends created by a child's imagination. Friends crafted from cardboard and socks. Painted friends, snow friends, and plant friends.
But no matter how much you try, friends are not truly imagined. They can't be conjured as if by magic. Real friendship is something that grows and takes effort.
Mary Anastasiou's rhyming text is full of relatable situations, both real and imaginary, and the words encourage expanding vocabularies. Sam Loman's illustrations are a lovely, whimsical expression of a child's world.
Friendship is something young children sometimes have difficulty navigating. Putting a copy of The Art of Making Friends in the hands of your children will be a good reminder, and prompt for discussion, about the value of friendship and what it takes to make friendship strong.
Title: The Art of Making Friends
Author: Mary Anastasiou
Illustrator: Sam Loman
Publisher: Five Mile, $ 24.99
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922857903
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
