Be a Friend by Salina Yoon

Be a Friend by Salina Yoon is a lovely picture book that promotes friendships, open-mindedness, relationship skills and self-esteem.

Dennis looks at the world differently. He dresses in striped clothes and a top hat and mines instead of speaking. He is lonely and misunderstood by his classmates. “It was as if he were standing on the other side of a wall.”

In the playground, Dennis kicks “an IMAGINARY ball…” and is surprised when a girl, called Joy, kicks it back, starting a new friendship based on acceptance.

Be a Friend by Salina Yoon
Illustrator: Salina Yoon

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (2016)

ISBN: 9781408869093

Teaching Resources: Be a Friend

These resources relate to the book, author and illustrator. The number of resources varies book to book. Please check they are appropriate for your specific needs before using them with children. If you have any suggestions please get in touch!

Bloomsbury: Be a Friend Activity Kit
Bloomsbury: Friendship Cards
Harmony Early Learning Journey: 6 Ways to Encourage Long-lasting Friendships in Childhood
International Literacy Association: Putting Books to Work: Be a Friend
Nerdy Book Club: What it Means to Be a Friend by Salina Yoon
Salina Yoon Official Website
Scholastic: Building Bridges of Friendship: Classroom Community Activities
Scholastic: Read-Aloud Lessons to Foster Friendships
Understood: How Loneliness Can Impact Kids With Learning and Attention Issues
The Washington Post: The importance of childhood friendships, and how to nurture them
Take a look inside Be a Friend by Salina Yoon

Books by Salina Yoon

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There's a Book For That!

Be a Friend by Salina Yoon