Thank You For Being My Friend

by Peter Bently, Gill McLean

Cleo the horse finds herself scared of the dark and fearful of monsters when she tries to sleep in her new bedroom. On board pages.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction, Animals, Kids

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Peter Bently is married with two children, and lives in south England. He studied languages at Oxford University and has written over 40 titles, one of which led to him being awarded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book appealed to me but once inside, it did not quite live up to expectations as the storyline was a little too bizarre for my tastes.

It is about Cleo, a toy horse, and Daphne, a fluffy yellow duck, who meet up accidentally after Cleo had popped out of some wrapping paper nestling on the edge of the bed. After a series of very strange incidents with Cleo imagining seeing monsters, he trips over something on the bedroom floor only to find that it is Daphne wrapped inside some bed covers.

Daphne reassures the nervous Cleo that she won't gobble him up and that the monsters will not get him before suggesting that he snuggle up with her in bed. He duly does so and when he awakes in the morning Daphne takes him to see the so-called monsters; they turn out to be a lamp, a wardrobe, some cushions, a dressing gown and the worst one a ticking grandfather clock!

Cleo tells Daphne that he has been 'really silly' but an understanding Daphne tells him that he has not and that 'lots of thing look scarier in the dark'. This reassures Cleo who says that he will not be scared any more particularly 'now that you're my friend'. And a charming tailpiece shows Cleo and Daphne sat on some wooden blocks with Cleo having his arm draped around Daphne ... happy days!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to the kids at work today, they loved it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute children's book I found recently in a charity shop and loved the illustration on the cover.

A story for anyone who has ever seen scary monsters in the shadows of the night. I'm sure we have all seen an innocent piece of furniture in the middle of the night and convinced ourselves it's a figure staring in. I mean, I certainly have.
This is what toy horse Cleo does. She's afraid of the shadows and monsters until she meets a duck named Daphne.

Full of really fun words and pictures, this book shows children the gift of friendship.

It was a nice and enjoyable read.

[Christina Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a cute story about a new toy being scared of the dark then meeting a new friend and them becoming friends and helping each other. The story is prose which has small sentences/paragraphs and follows grammatical structures. I would use this book in my classroom on the first day of school. The reason I say that is because the students are like the horse. They are new and everything seems scary. In the end, the horse makes a friend and things seem less scary.

[Jenni Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my granddaughter's 7th birthday. Even though on Amazon it is listed as ages 3 - 6yrs, I chose this book for four reasons.

My granddaughter loves anything horses.

I wanted something that she could try to read herself to her younger sisters.

It has beautiful illustrations and a simple but lovely story.

My granddaughter like most children her age, sometimes struggles at night if things become too dark.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet picture book about a stuffed horse who sees monsters in the dark of her room. Just like a small child might. The horse finds a stuffed duck when day comes and the duck shows her the objects the horse feared are ordinary objects and nothing to be afraid of. The next night the duck stays with her friend as she goes to bed. Sweet story geared to geared to young children afraid of the dark.

[Reene's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚MS Readathon book 33📚

Such a beautiful story book, showing to never be afraid of the dark and to make friends.

I purchased this book from @therejectshop
On one of my childrens book hauls.

Thank you for being my friend
By Peter Bentley & Gill McLean

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

@reenes_library

#childrenbook #books #storytime #reading #storytimewithmybabygirl #readingwithmybabygirl👧🏻❤️ @msreadathon

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the board book version of this story which comes with a built-in finger puppet. Featuring two toys Daphne a stuff duck and Cleo the horse, the reader sees what happens when the toys have fun after the clock strikes twelve. It has twelve board pages presenting the rhymed narrative. It is a perfect book to invite very young readers to follow along.

[Niamh Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations but monsters theme would probably be scary for a night time read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I think this is a good book to read before bedtime to ease fears of the dark. I liked Cleo and the cascading words, which make great opportunities for sound effects and emphasis.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations!

[Mary Piatak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is written by Peter Bently and illustrated by Gill McLean. Thank You for Being My Friend is a story about a little horse, Cleo, who ends up at a house in the dark. As she walks around this house she thinks there are monsters all around him. As she continues on her journey, she comes across a little duck whom she is afraid is going to eat him. However, this ducks ends up being her friend and lets Cleo sleep with him. When they wake up, Cleo realizes everything she thought was monsters were actually just lamps and pillows.

I think the way this book is written and the way the words are put on the page really adds to the enjoyment. As Cleo is trying to figure out where she is she falls off of a pillow. Peter wrote, " Oof! Cleo tumbled onto the floor." Instead of just having the words written in paragraph form, the are written in the direction of Cleo falling. I think this is a good addition because younger kids may not know what the word tumble means but they can see that is is written in a diagonal angle pointing towards the floor representing how she did her fall. Peter also writes, "And then something downstairs went Bong! Bong!" The word bong is written in the staircase showing the movement that a ball or something would make as it rolls down the stairs.

I think the tone of this book is playful because although it is mostly taking place at nighttime, the pages are still pretty bright. Also, the words are written in such an interactive way making it playful for children. Although there is talking about Cleo seeing monsters, they are never drawn in scary ways because they turn out just being household items. Even some of these monsters he is describing are drawn with vibrant colors showing that there is nothing scary about them. Cleo is just being silly. When the little duck comes into the picture, she always has a big grin on her face with her eyes constantly looking up at Cleo showing that she thinks Cleo is a little crazy for thinking there are monsters in the house but she understands that "lots of things look more scary in the dark."

[McKenna Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank You for Being My Friend is a fiction picture book by Peter Bently. It is about a stuffed horse named Cleo who wakes up very frightened in a new house. She runs from many scary monsters until she meets Daphne, a little yellow duck. Daphne reassures Cleo that the monsters will not harm her. She tells Cleo that she can stay with her and she won't let anything happen to her. When the two new friends wake up in the morning Cleo is surprised to find that the monsters she thought she saw really weren't monsters after all...

This was a very cute story with many fun words and exclamations. The illustrations were adorable, and I really liked the emphasis on friendship.

I could use this book in my classroom to teach about the value of friendship and overcoming your fears.

[Sera]

A stuffed horse, that is meant to be a present, breaks out of her wrapping paper. It’s nighttime, and she sees all kinds of monsters lurking in the night. She hears noises that make him more fearful. She trips over a small duck who tries to calm her down by telling her that there’s nothing to worry about and that she should get some sleep. Morning arrives and the duck makes her realize that the things she thought were fearful were merely objects, whose images were being skewed in the night.
In an unknown environment, perception may be skewed. Friendship is stronger than fear.
It’s a good book for children who are afraid of the dark, and the illustrations are great. The colors are lively and the font is large and presented in a creative manner.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Thank you for being my friend.

This book is a Fiction.

I didn't really find this book too interesting. It didn't have any suspense or excitement to it. I was left feeling disengaged and uninterested half way through the book.

I believe this book will be suitable for age 3-5 year olds. I would recommend this book to children of this age because firstly it has a lot of pictures in there. It also teachers children the basic fundamentals of treating other children nicely and being friendly.

This type of book should be to read to a class, and also maybe as a bedtime story.

[Kara Moreland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book told the story about a horse who was scared of the dark. He thinks different things in the house are monsters and he is so scared. He meets a duck who calms him down and stays with him through the night. When he awakes, the duck shows that it wasn't monsters, only furniture. The horse and the duck become friends and the horse isn't afraid anymore because he made a friend.
I thought this book was a cute book. The pictures were cute and it was a relatively short book.
This book could used for a young audience for those who are just learning about friends. Could do a get to know you activity with it.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great cuddle-time book for parent and child when monsters are scary especially in the dark. Cleo wakes up to lots of scary looking monsters and is frightened until she meets Daphne. Daphne promises that 'no one will eat you up!".

In the morning, everything looks less scary, especially with Daphne as Cleo's friend. Thank You for Being My Friend is a delightful and gentle story addressing a child's fear of the dark. Beautiful, soft illustrations add to the calming tone. Additionally, a perfect picture book for storytime or read-aloud.

[Holly Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story tells of two toys and how one of the toys (horse) is afraid of the dark and thinks that there are monsters in the bedroom. The other toy (duck) shows them that everything is not as it seems and in fact the monsters are just objects in the room. The toys become friends and the story demonstrates to children the value of friendships and reassurance. A good book to read to younger children.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute kid's book. I read it to my son and he loves the pictures. Cleo the horse is pretty and quite understandably, afraid when she first comes unwrapped and finds herself alone in the dark. Luckily, she meets Daphne the duck, and they become friends and Cleo is no longer afraid.
Get pictures and simple diction. This is a great kids book and easy for young readers.

[Luisana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughters love this book. I can say that this is their favorite book. It's a simple story and the illustrations are awesome. My 3 yr olds know this story by heart, but still they reinvent their excitement each time we read it. I love it. I wish to have my daughters meet the illustrator Gill McLean.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. I've used it at a school with young children who need reassurance about being afraid and with children exploring the nature of friendship.
The illustrations are just beautiful and bring the characters to life in a most appealing way.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and simple little story with lovely illustrations, that shows children that this that look scary in the dark are usually perfectly innocent things. Also shows how friends can look after each other.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agreeable, though light-as-air story about two toy animals who become friends, helping one overcome her fear of the dark. Unlike some picture books, this is not one that will capture or hold the attention of the adults reading it aloud.

[Lena83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book helps children to understand that there are no such things as monster and that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark and also that you're friends are there for you to over come any problems you have my baby sister always loves to guess what the monsters are.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title lets this book down. It implies it’s going to be one of those twee books where the wonders of friendship are given. Instead it’s an action packed monster filled night journey for horse who is saved by duck.

[Erin Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing great or special about this book but it is a good book for kids who are afraid of things they see in the dark.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little story about a stuffed horse who is afraid of the dark. His new friend, a Duck, shares with the horse during the morning that things aren't what they seem in the dark.

[Missymoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it especially as my best friends mum made it- Jillian Mclean

[Alexandra Cotter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I enjoyed reading. I think this book would be great for students who are afraid of something. This book would help show them that things are not as scary as they seem!

[William Francis]

From Daddy for Christmas 2018.