Let’s Play! A Book About Making Friends, by Amanda McCardie/Illustrated by Colleen Larmour, (May 2021, Candlewick Press), $16.99, ISBN: 9781536217650
Ages 3-7
A young girl named Sukie arrives at her new school, feeling “lonely, sad, and small”, but her new classmates welcome her and help her feel comfortable in her new surroundings. As a result, Sukie greets other new classmates, and before she knows it, she has a new group of friends that play together, look out for one another, and support each other. Amanda McCardie touches on recognizing and supporting others’ comfort zones, whether it’s understanding that some friends prefer to work alone, or reassuring friends when they feel scared or sad. Mixed media illustrations present a diverse group of kids playing together and spending time together at school. Endpapers show a variety of school-related objects, from playground equipment to paper airplanes and backpacks. Let’s Play! is all about understanding social situations, and is a good choice for preschool and kindergarten-ages children, who are just starting to navigate these waters.
Let’s Play! A Book About Making Friends has a starred review from Kirkus.