Spring 2024

A Better Best Friend

  • Interest Level: Preschool - Grade 1
  • Reading Level: Grade 2

A feel-good picture book about best friendship told with dry comedy and an open ending—squirrel and mushroom are best friends until another best friend comes to play.

This morning when I was out walking, I found a best friend. At least I think so. It certainly looks a lot like it! He really has a best friend kind of face.

In this funny picture book exploring a forever childhood question about friendship, squirrel and a mushroom explore the forest through the seasons, show each other special trees, build snow mushrooms, share the good times and bad—which become good bad times alongside a friend.

Then spring arrives, and so does a new friend. And then another. This raises a profound question for an overthinking squirrel: should we have just one best friend?

“This book is adorable!”—starred, Youth Services Book Review

Format Your Price Add
978-1-77657-573-2
$14.24
978-1-77657-577-0
$23.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Preschool - Grade 1
Reading Level Grade 2
Genre Picture Books
Category SEL: D Relationship Skills, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2024
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Gecko Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2024-03-05
Text Type Fiction
BISACS JUV039060, JUV039090, JUV002230
Dewey [E]
Dimensions 7.9 x 11
Features Original artwork, Reviewed, Starred Reviews, Teaching Guides, and eSource

Author, Illustrator: Olivier Tallec

Olivier Tallec was born in Brittany, France. After graduating from the École Supérieure d’Arts Appliqués Duperré in Paris, he travelled extensively and now lives and works in Paris. He has illustrated more than 60 books for children.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

A Better Best Friend

A feel-good picture book about best friendship told with dry comedy and an open ending—squirrel and mushroom are best friends until another best friend comes to play. This morning when I was out walking, I found a best friend. At least I think so. It certainly View available downloads →

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Reviews

School Library Journal

“Tallec’s charming, child-friendly story captures an ever-present concern of many readers, young and old, and offers an open ending that invites discussion. An outstanding read-aloud for adults and children, bursting with humor and warmth.”—School Library Journal

The Horn Book Magazine

“Through a distinctive first-person narrative voice that sometimes verges on stream of consciousness, this book explores the question of what makes a best friend and whether it’s possible to have more than one. . . The characters’ simply drawn faces are evocative, their expressions rendered humorously hyperbolic through their stylized cartoon-like eyes.”—The Horn Book Magazine

Foreword Reviews

“Demonstrates the value of a best friend—or two.”—starred, Foreword Reviews

Booklist

“Tallec’s illustrations reflect the quietly amusing quality of the text while giving each character a distinctive look and creating a beautiful forest backdrop with stately trees, filtered light, and seasonal changes of colors. The idea of finding a friend will resonate with many children, and Squirrel’s first-person narrative reads aloud well.”—Booklist