All Kinds of Friends

PreS-Gr 1—The many faces of friendship are celebrated in this glorious visual display. There is no story line here—just the juxtaposition of diverse qualities that can serve to open young children's minds to the idea that comfort and pleasure come from people of all shapes, sizes, ages, skin colors, backgrounds, and abilities. "Friends with different ways to walk/ Friends with different ways to talk/ Friends with different faces and families from different places." Numerous types of relationships are shown; children of various ages interact with parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, classmates, and neighbors. The bond between people and animals is acknowledged, too, with endearing glimpses of kids with dogs, cats, birds, and on horseback. Examples of both indoor and outdoor fun are included in all seasons of the year. The spare language is lovely and the minimal text allows the photos to shine. This joyful composition is aesthetically pleasing on its own, but would also be a useful resource for promoting classroom togetherness and community spirit.