I Want a Friend!

PreS-Gr 2—The Little Princess eagerly awaits her first day of school. Unfortunately, her new classmates are less than welcoming, and she retreats to a solitary place, sad and dismayed. To her surprise, the Little Princess meets other lonely students, and together they form a band of friends. They play together, sit together at lunch, and support one another. At the end of the day, the Little Princess reaches for her coat and crown to head home. Her new friends are shocked to find out that she is actually a princess! The Little Princess invites all of her classmates to her castle for tea, including the children who ignored her in the beginning. This is a simple and straightforward tale that celebrates friendship and inclusion. The bold, cartoonish illustrations will hold the attention of younger children, particularly in a storytime program. With its clear message about reaching out to outcasts, this is a versatile book: it is a perfect prompt to discuss bullying and cliques with children, to affirm the importance of friendship, and to introduce the concept of empathy.