Don't Need Friends

by Carolyn Crimi

There's a new dog in the junkyard, and boy, is he ever grouchy! He seems the perfect friend for surly, grumbling Rat. But the two animals are only interested in shouting at each other. "Don't you come near me!" barks Dog, and Rat mutters back, "Fine with me. Don't need friends, don't need 'em at all!" But as this crusty duo soon discovers, everybody needs a friend. Especially during a bitter winter in a junkyard where warmth is hard to find—and a foot-long salami sandwich is a near-miracle.

Endearing and sassy, this uplifting story of the importance of companionship will put a smile on even the grumpiest of faces.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Juvenile, Spanish Literature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Carolyn Crimi, AKA the Pirate Queen, is the author of numerous books for young readers, including BORIS AND BELLA, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Of HENRY AND THE BUCCANEER BUNNIES, she says, "While I don't have long floppy ears or a pro-nounced overbite, Henry and I are kindred spirits, who love books and carrots!"

Reviews

[Laura Aldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the lesson here about needing friends was not well handled. And the main character didn’t really learn much. Overall while I think there’s some cute elements I found this story disappointing

[Jayme Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the message of this story and how it was portrayed throughout the book. The book starts out with the main character Rat losing his best friend possum because he moved away. Rat was very upset about this so he said to himself that he doesn't need friends. One day, Dog arrives to the junk yard and seems to be someone that Rat would really get along with. But, Rat keeps saying that he don't need friends. Both characters tell each other to stay away every night. Dog eventually get sick and doesn't respond to Rat and Rat does not like that. Rat finds a big sandwich one day and drags it by Dog. They eventually bond over the sandwich and become friends.
I really like the meaning of this story because it proves that everybody needs friends. During the time that Rat and Dog were not friends they were both very grumpy, but after they became friends they were both no longer so grumpy.
I also felt that the illustrations were really well done and very detailed. Over all the book was very interesting and the pictures were attention grabbing.

[Michael Cuevas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book Don't need Friends the plot of the story is about a rat and his possum friend that did everything together. One day the possum moved away from the junkyard and after that day the rat did not want to be friends with anyone. No matter what snacks they offered or even a friendly hello. He would snap at them until they did not even want to say hi to him. Soon after a dog moves in and they both bicker back and forth with each other until one day it was too cold and the dog was feeling down. When the rat heckled the dog he did not even give him a response. After this rat found a sandwich for two and brought it to the dog to share and from there they became friends with each other. The illustrations of the book reminded me a lot of the stories I used to see while taking walks through the library in elementary school. The voice I heard in my head was a bitter rat and dog.

[Mia Fireheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite humorous and I do like how it can teach children to be friendly. This book shows how a rat copes when his friend moves away. This book includes implicitly and shows stubbornness as well as acceptance. The voices in my head that I heard changed depending on who was speaking. For instance, when a mouse had a speaking role I was able to imagine him speaking in a squeaky voice. As for the dog, he had more of a heavier voice. I would imagine that young readers would love to hear this book being read aloud because of the variety of animals within the book.
This book is set in a junkyard. The illustrator was careful not to overwhelm readers by including too many details. Instead the illustrator focused on what was important to the story.

[Alicia Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book were simple and lightly colored. I loved the style chosen to portray these animals who are technically filthy and eat trash. The style used allows the reader to see the characters as separate entities rather than dirty and sad.
The plot for this book is very sweet as it deals with the loss of a friend and dealing with the feelings that a person can be left to deal with after the loss. I also love that the Rat gained a friend at the end and filled his friend shaped hole in his heart.
The voice I heard in my head for the most part was the bitter sounding voice from Rat and Dog that turned into a playful grumpiness by the end of the book.

[Danijela Jevdosic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shares a beautiful lesson about teaching children that everyone does need a friend, and that they shouldn’t be closing themselves off to everyone just because they think they can’t find another friend like the one they had. The illustrations in this book are included on each page in a dream-like bubble, each one containing much detail and colorful aspects to it. The animals in the book have a realistic yet not scary demeanor to them, therefore this and the lesson that this book offers are great for younger students such as first graders.

[Beatriz Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about a rat who gets mad when his friend possum leaves to another junkyard. The rat becomes less friendly to others in the junkyard and the new dog. Until one day the rat finds a big sandwich and decides to share with the new dog in the junkyard. The rat and the dog become new friends and the rat starts to believe there are real friends. The voice I interrupted were all the characters in the book, especially the feisty rat.

[Jacqueline Benitez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an adorable tale about a rat and a dog's friendship. The illustrtions are very detailed and you can notice by when the winter nights come you are able to see the wind through the drawings. The message I took from this book is that you will meet more than one great friend in your life and to allow yourself to let them into your life because they all serve a purpose. The voice I heard throughout the story is the rat and dog nagging at each other to stay out of each other's way.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique junkyard setting, populated by a cast of junkyard critters! A rat is so disappointed when his best friend moves away he decides he doesn't need friends...until a newcomer changes his mind. This would be an especially relatable book for a kid whose friend has moved away, or is having trouble making new friends.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his best friend moves away, Rat rudely rebuffs the efforts of the other residents of the junkyard to be friends, until he and a grouchy old dog decide that they need each other.

[Perla Flores Pineda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very cheesy but friendships are cheesy!

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute picture book about friendship and the different ways we all do friendship.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

#BigMood

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about a relationship between a dog and a rat ho each believe they don't need friends.

[Haela C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book about the importance of friendship and selflessness, even when it seems hard.

[KNbailey]

Sometimes, even if people say they dont "need" anything, it might be that they actually need it more. a grumpy dog finds trust in a new friend.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for talking about hurt feelings and anger

[Cassidy Reed]

Rat used to have a best friend, Possum until Possum moved to another junkyard. Rat then decided he didn't need friends anymore. Soon, a dog moved in to the junkyard, grouchy just like Rat. For several days, the dog and the rat did not have anything to do with each other, just yelling back and forth to stay away from each other. After a cold snowy winter, Rat found a salami sandwich and decided to share it with the dog. Before long, the two became best friends.

I loved this book because of its message to readers. I feel that it shows that it is more important to have one true friend than it is to be lonely and alone or to have several acquaintances.

This would be good in teaching the importance of friendship and how being a friend to someone can truly change their life or your own life.

[Stephanie Foote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't need friends by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger is a picture book with the theme of friendship for that for ages 4 and up. This book is about two friends a mouse and a dog who are very grumpy who lived in the junkyard. They both would act like they did not need each other and they would say things like, " Don't come near me" or "Don't come over here!" Until one day the dog got sick. When the rat would say," Don't even think about coming over here!" and the dog did not answer. I really just focus on because of the things such as friendship and animals. The illustrations of vibrant and detail which will keep a child interested. Children love books with talking animals. The book also uses texture you can see the fur on the dog and the rat as well as the grain in the wood crates used for the dog and the rat's houses. I could use this book as a teaching tool. When young children have arguments or if a new student comes to class and help the other students welcome them to class.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Reaction: This is a story I read to my kids at work and I think it shares a particularly important message. Friendship is so, so important, especially in elementary school when they are learning how to form trusting relationships. This book gives the kids a view of what it would be like without friends, which might be something that some students have never experienced before. I really enjoyed it, and it made us laugh as well!

Purposes: Perhaps there is noticeable separation or distance between groups of students or friends. This would be so helpful to show the value of friendship when life happens and makes things stressful.

Curriculum: This story could be useful because it shows the beauty of two over one. Maybe there is a project coming up where they will be expected to work in partners. If this story were read before the project began, it could give the kids a spark and motivation to make useful and nurturing relationships.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Need Friends is a story about friendship. When a rat’s best friend moves, he becomes lonely and grumpy. None of the other animals can help rat out of his funk, he just continues to push them away. Finally, one day, a grumpy dog moves in. The book shows how they find companionship through one another. This story highlights the happiness that can come from having a friend and sharing your life with someone. The colorful illustrations are friendly and invite even the youngest readers to enjoy the book. Full bled images are mixed in with images that are bordered with a white thick border. The emotions of the animals (especially rat) show through in the images and the way they were drawn. I appreciate this book because of the message it sends readers: everyone needs a friend.

[Sheila Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging story that can lead to discussions about our need to have friends.
Sad because his best friend has moved away from the garbage dump, Mouse declares that he doesn’t need any friends. He lives alone and apart from the other animals, refusing to talk except to exchange insults with Dog, another grouchy loner. When Dog falls ill during a cold winter, Mouse’s friendly and caring side reluctantly comes through. The beautiful illustrations are very skillfully drawn, with expressions that give the reader clues that Mouse doesn’t really mean what he says. I recommend this book for reading aloud and pleasure reading. It would also be a good introduction to a discussion about bullying—much more interesting than books that state that they are about bullying.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story that introduces the importance of friendship...even among junkyard animals.

The story elicits compassion for a grouchy rat and the friendship between the dog and the rat is reminiscent of the Odd Couple.

We enjoyed listening to the librarian read this book aloud to us during storytime.

interesting quote:

"'Don't need many friends,' thought Rat each night as he lay next to Dog. 'Just need one.'" (p. 32 - unpaged)

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely picture book about a junkyard rat whose best friend moves away. So sad and angry, he decides he doesn't need friends any more. He rebuffs the friendship advances of the other junkyard animals. Then a dog moves into the junkyard and the two quickly become adversaries. Then one night, the rat finds out that maybe he needs friends after all.

A very sweet book that manages to keep its edge even as it delivers an important message.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scowls, howls and insults abound in this heartwarming story of friendship lost and the slow, solitary struggle to disarm, soften and befriend again.

Listen to our chat about Don't Need Friends on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/1...

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rat lives in the junkyard and one day his best friend possum moves away. Rat declares he no longer needs friends and goes about alienating every animal in the junkyard. When Dog moves in he and Rat argue all the time, until one day Dog is too sick. Rat eventually comes to the conclusion that he doesn't need a lot of friends, just one.

Cute illustrations.

[Madison Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because a lot of children don't understand the idea of change and get very upset when things do change. This book showed the idea of change can either be hard or easy and the person to decide that if you. Change can be positive if you make it positive and that's what rat and dog had to figure out.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about some grumpy animals that didn't think they needed friends. When they realized they did, they were much happier. I would use this book for fun read, moral story about friends, and to show a story that has a more serious tone.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course, we all need at least one friend...as mouse finds out after his best friend moves to another junk pile. My preschool audience enjoyed this story of companionship. Illustrations well highlight this story for reading aloud to a group.

[Caren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love to read this to kids and then follow up with a discussion of the importance of friends in our lives.