Do You Want to Be My Friend? Board Book

Good book to go along with the song Its So Good To See You. There are opportunities for movement as well. You can't beat Eric Carle.

In a recent Newsweek article, Eric Carle was asked which of his books were his favorite. He named this book, stating that it was an autobiographical story of his search for friendship as an immigrant 5-year-old. He finally found a close friend just before he moved back to Germany, which was soon war-torn. That friendship has been a defining factor even in his adult life. While it is true that most kids need to learn to accept children who are different than them, there are plenty of kids who feel "different" and need the hope that if they look long enough, they will find someone they can connect with. For the children who easily find friends, this book can help them understand how it feels to be one of the "different" kids who need a friend. We can ask, "Would it have made the mouse feel better if the other animals would be his friend?" This book can introduce great discussions. There are plenty of books that show children an ideal world. This one shows reality.

As a early childhood speech pathologist and special education teacher, I love this Eric Carle book. It allows the children to "tell the story" and provides a great foundation to discuss friendships. We read it every year in my classroom.

A bit too repetitive, but I like the idea of looking for a friend.

As always, Eric Carle's books are well illustrated. This book presents illustrations that draw in any young reader to the adventure. The text is simple and understandable to the young mind. The story line serves as a useful tool to discuss issues of "same and different" with your child. However, it is not of the same caliber as Carle's other books such as the Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear...I recommend this book as part of any child's library, but if your finances are limited, purchase the other two books mentioned.