Be A Friend is the latest picture book from Salina Yoon, and it’s just wonderful.

‘Dennis was an ordinary boy

… who expressed himself in EXTRAORDINARY ways.’

With a beautiful opening, we learn that Dennis loves mime. All the time. During show and tell, during break time… Dennis mimes, because that makes him comfortable.

But Dennis begins to feel alone, and separate from the other children. Just when he is feeling really sad, he kicks an imaginary ball… and a girl called Joy catches it. Dennis and Joy have a lovely friendship which leads to my favourite line in the whole book,

‘Dennis and Joy didn’t speak a WORD, because FRIENDS don’t have to.’

Yoon’s words have been so carefully chosen, not a syllable is wasted. Her narrative is touching, warm and insightful. She explores individuality and the power in discovering the right friend.

Yoon’s illustration add much power to her words, they acutely convey the comfort Dennis finds in his world of mime and celebrate the friendship he discovers with Joy.

Be A Friend is a picture book I highly recommend.

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