Be A Friend is a beautiful book, with its theme succinctly expressed in its title. Dennis is a quiet boy that seems to live in his own world. Misunderstood by his peers, Dennis is often left to play by himself, with little hope of being included in the others’ games. And then Dennis meets Joy, a young girl who just gets him.

Salina Yoon’s illustrations are deceptively simple – strong lines, minimal background, but so expressive. Likewise, her text is sparse, but paired with the illustrations, the book tells a powerful story.

I recommend this book for ages 4 and up. Even older students will benefit from the simple message of being kind and reaching out to a lonely soul.