Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
I have a sweet and lovely book to share with you today. It is technically a board book, not a picture book, but its message of acceptance, tolerance, and appreciating difference seemed so apt and so timely in the midst of current events that I wanted to share it. We can all use a friend 😊💕
Title: Will You Be Friends With Me?
Written By: Kathleen Long Bostrom
Illustrated By: Jo de Ruiter
WorthyKids, July 7, 2020, fiction
Suitable For Ages: Baby – 3
Themes/Topics: friendship, appreciating difference, acceptance
text copyright Kathleen Bostrom 2020, illustration copyright Jo De Ruiter 2020, WorthyKids
Opening: “I wake early.
You sleep late.
My hair’s curly.
Yours is straight.
I say, “Now!”
You say, “Wait?”
Will you be friends with me?”
Brief Synopsis: We’re all different but life is more fun that way! Anyone can be a friend!
Links To Resources: draw a picture of yourself and a friend doing something you both enjoy; write a poem about what makes a good friend; make friendship bracelets for your friends Easiest Friendship Bracelets; host a baking party where each child brings an ingredient and make Friendship Cookies; Friendship Keychains; Friendship Flowers
text copyright Kathleen Bostrom 2020, illustration copyright Jo De Ruiter 2020, WorthyKids
Why I Like This Book: This book is simple and sweet and shows youngest readers that embracing difference is a good thing. Kids can be different from each other in many ways, but that’s part of what makes life interesting and fun. Friends are everywhere. The rhyme flows smoothly and is a pleasure to read, and the art is engaging and sweet, depicting a pleasantly diverse array of children. A lovely choice for any little one’s library, especially now.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
I love the book cover and fonts.
Great message & terrific rhyme. I love that one of the children has a knee brace & crutches. Great choice!
So important to introduce books that appreciate differences to young children. They don’t see differences at an early age and are more accepting. Lovely artwork! Thanks for sharing.
Sweet….and timely! Thanks for sharing Kathleen’s and Jo’s lovely new book, Susannah!
Eeeeeek, this one looks EPIC! Thank you for scouting it out; totally putting it on my wish list for next month’s release.
Love this recommendation, Susanna. Exactly what we need these days…and every day!
This looks like a super sweet book. I look forward to reading it.
What a delightful book. I’m getting a copy for a friend who just had a baby.
Thanks for sharing this cute little book, with big message!!❤
Lovely message!
Yes! It sounds like a perfect book for our times. Thanks for the rec, Susanna!
This book sounds perfect. Mom and I are very different, but we are best friends, so yeah. There’s that.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Such a sweet book. Thanks Susanna for the recommendation!
This would be a perfect read for going back to school or starting up at a new school!
Thank you, Susanna, for showcasing such a great book!