Book Title: Five Ways to Make a Friend (available here)
Author: Gillian Cross
Illustrator: Sarah Horne
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Publication Date: Jan 2020
Most Suitable For: Years 2-4
Reviewed By: Jane Evans
Ella tries to hide her concerns from her Dad as he drops her off for her first day at a new school. Before the day is out, Ella’s fear of not making any friends appears to be coming true. Ella chances on a book that claims to offer her the solution, but will following its advice really be the answer to Ella’s problems? Gillian Cross, famed for her “Demon Headmaster” series, packs humour and empathy into a story that has the capacity to teach or remind us all that friendships are often found when and where we least expect them.
Accessible for younger confident readers as a first chapter book, the chapters are short and sweet, the words paint a picture which is then amplified by the fun, quirky illustrations of Sarah Horne. Printed on buff paper with a clear, easy-to-follow font, the book has been published in a manner to make it more easily accessible to those children with dyslexia or scotopic sensitivity. The story itself seemed to naturally open up discussions and would also be a good choice as a quick class read.
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You can order Five Ways to Make a Friend online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Review Panel member Jane for reviewing it.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.
