How to Be a Friend (Dino Life Guides for Families) (Hardcover)

by Laurie Krasny Brown (Author), Marc Brown (Illustrator) "You can think up ideas, pretend, and play exactly what you want..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Though several of their earlier Dino Life Guides for Families have dealt with issues that are ostensibly weightier (death, divorce), the Browns are clearly tuned in to children's universal belief that having friends and feeling included are matters of paramount importance. Here they offer common-sense advice to help preschoolers and early elementary students form social habits that will serve them well in subsequent years, when relationships with peers can be so much more complicated and potentially unsettling. Concrete examples, addressed directly to the reader and cheerfully illustrated with voice-bubble cartoons starring likable dinos, make both positive and negative concepts easy to grasp. The Browns balance "Ways to be a friend" (share, stand up for your pal when people make fun of him, go along with another's idea about what to play, compliment a playmate "even when she wins and you lose") with "Ways not to be a friend" (blame others for mishaps, quit when you're losing, insist that a friend play with you only). Spotlighting some unavoidable trouble spots, they impart valuable tactics for coping with rejection, shyness, arguments, etc. Text and art work well together to underscore the book's bottom line, that being a friend "means treating others the way you would like them to treat you!" Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Similar in style to the Browns' Dinosaurs Divorce (Atlantic Monthly, 1986), this picture book offers kids practical suggestions about resolving arguments, getting over being shy, handling bossy children and bullies, and more. The easy-to-read text contains many examples of how to be a friend, each paired with a picture of two or more dinosaurs in that particular situation. For example, "You can protect a friend if someone starts bothering him" is illustrated with a dinosaur saying, "Stop it! Leave him alone!" to a bully. Marc Brown's colorful, whimsical cartoons are integral to the appeal of the book. The front endpapers feature suggestions from a third-grade class on "Ways to Be a Friend" ("Be helpful," "Take turns," etc.) along with drawings of happy dinosaur faces, while at the back, "Ways Not to Be a Friend" ("Make mean faces," "Call them a name they don't like," etc.) are illustrated with grumpy faces. While there are many wonderful stories that deal with friendship, few give direct advice to children about what to do and what not to do. Sure to be a hit without hitting readers over the head with message.
Esther C. Ball, Carver Elementary School, Newport News, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316109134
• ISBN-13: 978-0316109130
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #209,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide for all kids., May 5, 2002

By A Customer

This book is an excellent tool for parents and teachers to use with kids in the often times daunting world of social relatedness. Even kids who are very social would enjoy the way these gentle reminders are presented. Highly recommended for the special needs arena of Aspberger's and High Functioning Autism. Our autistic son loved and responded well to the almost "social story" approach. This truly spelled out a lot of social do's and don't's for him. His typical sister loved it as well. As a parent I highly recommend this book be in every kindergarden and first grade and second grade classroom. I bought several copies.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas/pictures but a bit confusing to younger kids.., November 2, 2004

By	Mom-of-Twins (Fairfield, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families) (Paperback)

I really like this book -- it has some GREAT ideas and my 5 year old son (he has a twin sister) likes me to read it to him.. the only problem is there is so much on one page, it's set up sort of like a comic strip with individual "bubbles" for thoughts/words coming from each character so I have to constantly point to who is saying what, which can cause some of the meaning to be lost on a younger child. There is also a lot packed onto each page that is very distracting so I try to fold the book or cover parts of it with my hands so my son can concentrate on each individual part. But all in all, I am happy with it, if only that it creates a storyline for me to follow to explain to my son how to make friends. Book is probably geared more towards 6-7 year olds.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book...., February 9, 2005

By	C. Perkins "dancer_of_wind" (Blaine, Ky United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families) (Paperback)

My son originally received this book as a gift from a family member. He loved to have this book read to him and later to read it for himself. In my opinion, this book is a great tool at home and in school to teach young children what it means to be a friend - something that is difficult to learn for some children.

Since my son has now out-grown this book - I use it in my tutoring classes and plan to use it later when I become a full-time teacher.