ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

This picture book on friendship pulls together a variety of color photos with phrases such as "Young friends, old friends. Smart friends, funny friends. New friends, best friends, family friends, and more friends next door. Furry friends and feathered friends too." With just a few words on each double-page spread, there's plenty of space for the pictures, which show up well on the white or solid-color pages. The photos depict pairs and larger groups of people, almost always children, either looking at the camera or engaged in activities together. While the overall quality of the photos is good, the kids sometimes look posed or self-conscious. The people photographed are racially diverse, and the double-page spread for "Friends with different ways to walk. Friends with different ways to talk" includes a boy in a wheelchair and two people using sign language. Given the demand for preschool and primary-grade books on friendship, particularly in the fall, many libraries will want to have this volume on hand.

Kirkus Reviews

Smart friends, funny friends"—just two of the many types of friends displayed in excellent photos and simple text.Whether working alone or with frequent collaborator Kelly, Rotner specializes in photographic albums that explore basic concepts, and she has a great capacity for capturing animated children in many situations. The racially diverse kids (and even a few animal friends) in these color photos, arranged in varied layouts and often on bright backgrounds, invite multiple viewings. Youngsters and adults will enjoy the activities, emotions, and infectious smiles. Disabled children are included in a double-page spread captioned: "Friends with different ways to walk. Friends with different ways to talk." On the left, one boy walks and another travels in his electric wheelchair. The opposite photo focuses on a boy and an older girl using sign language. It is a pity that disabled children are not more fully integrated into the whole. Gender equality (implied by hairstyle and attire) is given some attention, as in one double-page spread captioned: "Friends who like to dress up and friends who like to pretend." Two young white boys wear colorful capes; two fairy princesses, one black and one white, wear jeweled tiaras and sport pink and purple wings; and an Asian boy and girl play with plastic dinosaurs. Just the ticket for starting conversations about the importance and fun of making all kinds of friends. (Picture book. 3-6)

School Library Journal (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

PreS-Gr 1The many faces of friendship are celebrated in this glorious visual display. There is no story line herejust the juxtaposition of diverse qualities that can serve to open young children's minds to the idea that comfort and pleasure come from people of all shapes, sizes, ages, skin colors, backgrounds, and abilities. "Friends with different ways to walk/ Friends with different ways to talk/ Friends with different faces and families from different places." Numerous types of relationships are shown; children of various ages interact with parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, classmates, and neighbors. The bond between people and animals is acknowledged, too, with endearing glimpses of kids with dogs, cats, birds, and on horseback. Examples of both indoor and outdoor fun are included in all seasons of the year. The spare language is lovely and the minimal text allows the photos to shine. This joyful composition is aesthetically pleasing on its own, but would also be a useful resource for promoting classroom togetherness and community spirit. VERDICT An ideal book to share with preschoolers and primary grade children, this one drives home the point that every living creatureregardless of strengths or limitationsdeserves a friend.Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT