My Friend and I

by Lisa Jahn-Clough

Overview

A relatable story about new friends who tussle over a toy—and then find a way to mend their friendship.

Two small children become new friends and have wonderful days playing together with their toys. But when one friend gets a new toy that he is reluctant to share, the friends are no longer so friendly.

This story, told in clear, simple dialogue with bright, childlike illustrations, gives straightforward insight into the complications that can threaten even the best of friendships. The youngest audience will delight in the simple resolution that mends these friends' relationship as well as their toy.

"Minor battles rage in homes and preschools everywhere, so children and adults alike will appreciate this subtle example of a peaceful resolution to toy disputes." —Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780618391080
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/29/2003
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Lisa Jahn-Clough has written and illustrated many picture books for young children, including Alicia Has a Bad Day, My Friend and I, Missing Molly, and Simon and Molly Plus Hester. She is the author of the Green Light reader series Petal and Poppy and has published several young adult novels and a recent chapter book. She is associate professor of creative writing at Rowan University and also works as a mentor in the Hamline University Low-Residency MFA program in writing for children and young adults. You can find out more at lisajahnclough.com.

Editorial Reviews

Jahn-Clough moves from basic alphabet and counting books to an elemental friendship story. A toddler is happy playing with her toys. She makes a friend with a boy who moves in next door, and they have fun. Then one day, they fight when she grabs his bunny and it breaks. She feels lonely, says sorry, and the friends make up. Young preschoolers will like the bright, simple, childlike illustrations, and they will feel the dramatic contrast when the friends stop playing and start to yell and pull and grab and shout. With a nice touch, the friends repair the bunny, and all their toys, with Band-Aids, which put things right.
Booklist, ALA

When a boy moves in next door, a young girl makes a friend. They play together happily until a fight over a toy results in the boy's stuffed rabbit's being damaged. The girl realizes it's not fun to play alone, and she has an idea that repairs both the rabbit and their friendship. The richly colored illustrations with strong black outlines are more effective than the somewhat flat text.
Horn Book

"A skirmish over a favorite stuffed rabbit nearly destroys a friendship and the toy itself, but well-timed physical and emotional bandaging saves the day. When a little boy moves in next door to a little girl they quickly becomes friends and start sharing toys. This works well for cars, trucks, bears, and balls, but when the boy shows up with a new stuffed rabbit, cooperation goes out the window. In the ensuing tug-of-rabbit, each child yanks on the poor bunny's ears until the stitching gives way. Figuring out a way to repair the rabbit also eventually patches up the friendship. Minor battles rage in homes and preschools everywhere, so children and adults alike will appreciate this subtle example of a peaceful resolution to toy disputes. Jahn-Clough's pleasantly stubby children convey both healthy loud-mouthed anger and substantial charm." Kirkus Reviews —

From the Publisher

When a boy moves in next door to the girl narrator, they quickly become friends-until they tussle over a new toy. "Jahn-Clough never betrays her narrator's perspective, neither in the text nor in her paintings," said PW. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

When a boy moves in next door, the story's narrator, a little girl with very long brown braids, quickly becomes his friend. "We lined up all of our toys," she says. "We had three dolls, two cars, four trucks, two bears, one lion, six balls, two soldiers, and some string." But one day the friends tussle over the boy's new stuffed bunny, leaving the toy without ears and the relationship on the rocks--until the pair figures out how to patch things up, figuratively and literally. Jahn-Clough (123 Yippie) never betrays her narrator's perspective, neither in the text nor in her paintings. Childlike compositions in circus colors, applied with thick strokes, capture the winning earnestness and gleeful creativity of a schoolroom art project. The comic finale--in which the children celebrate their repaired friendship by plastering all their toys with Band-Aids--gets the point across efficiently and agreeably. Ages 3-8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-K-A young girl is thrilled when a boy her age moves in next door, and the two neighbors begin to play together. Complications arise when the boy gets a new toy that he does not want to share. While fighting over the stuffed bunny, the children break it, severing their relationship along with the rabbit's ears. Trying to have fun playing on her own, the girl finds that she misses her friend, and goes to help him fix the toy. He accepts her help and the two make up. This basic tale of conflict and resolution will comfort youngsters just beginning to learn about friendship. Childlike artwork in vivid colors adds to the appeal of the simple text. The understated message that friendship includes sorrow and forgiveness makes this a solid choice for young audiences.-Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

A skirmish over a favorite stuffed rabbit nearly destroys a friendship and the toy itself, but well-timed physical and emotional bandaging saves the day. When a little boy moves in next door to a little girl they quickly becomes friends and start sharing toys. This works well for cars, trucks, bears, and balls, but when the boy shows up with a new stuffed rabbit, cooperation goes out the window. In the ensuing tug-of-rabbit, each child yanks on the poor bunny's ears until the stitching gives way. Figuring out a way to repair the rabbit also eventually patches up the friendship. Minor battles rage in homes and preschools everywhere, so children and adults alike will appreciate this subtle example of a peaceful resolution to toy disputes. Jahn-Clough's pleasantly stubby children convey both healthy loud-mouthed anger and substantial charm. (Picture book. 3-8) .

Kirkus Reviews