Being kind is contagious as a new girl navigates the art of making friends in a picture book suited for children starting school or moving to a new place.
When Sukie’s family moves and she has to start at a new school, she feels shy and lonely at first. But soon she learns that receiving small acts of kindness—someone saying hi, or saving a hoop for her—makes her feel braver, and that passing friendliness along is a good feeling, too. Before long, Sukie, Joe, Poppy, and Stan are all becoming friends! Young readers are invited to join them as they explore meeting new people, celebrating differences, being thoughtful, and standing up for one another.
A friendship primer for the primary set. While this picture book isn’t necessarily set in a post-pandemic world, its overt social-emotional lessons will doubtless prove useful and relevant for many children coming out of varying degrees of social isolation. . . Larmour’s art style has shades of Quentin Blake, Bob Graham, Amy Schwartz, and Aliki, with lots of bright colors, expressive linework, and emphasis on character over setting. Themes of sameness and difference, loyalty, and sharing along with a range of emotions are explored in small moments that follow Sukie and her classmates as they form friendships and build community. . . this affirming, practical, engaging picture book will be a terrific resource for young readers to befriend. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
We hear a lot about emotional intelligence these days — and the picture books all about them. This one has it in spades. . . . Larmour’s illustrations capture a diverse group of elementary students with spacious, uncluttered spreads and a brightly colored palette. Children will linger over the vignettes of children navigating their social lives at school. —Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Amanda McCardie is the author of several books for young readers, including Our Very Own Dog,illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino. She lives in London.
Colleen Larmour is an illustrator and designer with a master’s in children's book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art in the United Kingdom. She lives in Northern Ireland with her husband and two daughters.
Being kind is contagious as a new girl navigates the art of making friends in a picture book suited for children starting school or moving to a new place.
When Sukie’s family moves and she has to start at a new school, she feels shy and lonely at first. But soon she learns that receiving small acts of kindness—someone saying hi, or saving a hoop for her—makes her feel braver, and that passing friendliness along is a good feeling, too. Before long, Sukie, Joe, Poppy, and Stan are all becoming friends! Young readers are invited to join them as they explore meeting new people, celebrating differences, being thoughtful, and standing up for one another.
Praise
A friendship primer for the primary set. While this picture book isn’t necessarily set in a post-pandemic world, its overt social-emotional lessons will doubtless prove useful and relevant for many children coming out of varying degrees of social isolation. . . Larmour’s art style has shades of Quentin Blake, Bob Graham, Amy Schwartz, and Aliki, with lots of bright colors, expressive linework, and emphasis on character over setting. Themes of sameness and difference, loyalty, and sharing along with a range of emotions are explored in small moments that follow Sukie and her classmates as they form friendships and build community. . . this affirming, practical, engaging picture book will be a terrific resource for young readers to befriend. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
We hear a lot about emotional intelligence these days — and the picture books all about them. This one has it in spades. . . . Larmour’s illustrations capture a diverse group of elementary students with spacious, uncluttered spreads and a brightly colored palette. Children will linger over the vignettes of children navigating their social lives at school. —Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Author
Amanda McCardie is the author of several books for young readers, including Our Very Own Dog,illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino. She lives in London.
Colleen Larmour is an illustrator and designer with a master’s in children's book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art in the United Kingdom. She lives in Northern Ireland with her husband and two daughters.
