I’m Going to Make a Friend

About this book

When a young child moves to a new neighbourhood, they worry about making a friend. 

Feeling lonely, the newcomer decides to make a new friend just for themselves out of bits and bobs from around the home. But what it will end up like? Will it play the same games? Will it tell stories? 

As the home-made friend takes shape, another child wanders over to join in. Together they add arms, legs, and features. But then, disaster! When they both grab at it, the junk model friend splits in two.

Can the children work together to fix it? As they build and play, might they realise that they have made a new friend after all? 

This gentle and philosophical picture book explores some of the complex feelings children might have about new beginnings and friendships. 

There is a depth to the book as the illustrations reveal more than the minimal text might let on. The children’s body language is illustrated superbly, and this subtext gives children plenty of opportunities to talk about how the characters might be feeling and relate it to their own experiences. 

A nice choice for children who may be moving home or school.