Will I Have a Friend?

Title: Will I Have a Friend?
Author: Miriam Cohen
Illustrator: Lillian Hoban
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: N/A
Grade Level: PK-K

It was Jim's first time at school and he was worried that he would not have a friend. He went through most of the school day observing his classmates and participating in the various classroom activities, but without a friend to call his own. After rest time, Paul showed Jim his toy truck and Jim replied that he would bring his gas pump the next day. Jim had made a friend at school despite his initial worry. The story gives assurance that you will have a friend when you share your interests. The book is from the late 1960s and the sketch-like illustrations use a dull color palette. It does not show as much diversity as more modern books on this topic will have and the narrative is not very significant. I would read the book within the first week of school to younger students who are newer to the school experience and have a show-and-tell activity. I probably would not use this particular book for my class, but use The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson instead because it would be relatable to more students and it shares a similar message. 

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