How to be… a Friend

by Anna Branford

A delightful follow up to How to be ... the New Person, from Anna Branford, author of the much-loved series, Violet Mackerel

2Hazel Morrison has settled into her new school, and made a new friend, Laura, who shares Hazel's love of making pretend tutorials about everyday things. How to fold your The Morrison Method! Three top tips for drizzling honey on your porridge! Laura's dad is away, and when her mum gets very ill with morning sickness, she turns to Hazel for help. Laura's mum goes to hospital and Laura comes to stay with Hazel's family. They also have to rehearse for the school play, deal with the not-so-helpful Camila, and help find a missing cat. Together the girls learn how to be a navigating self-doubt, secrets, helping out, knowing when to give someone space ... and all the fun in between!

83 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2023

About the author

I was born in 1975 on the Isle of Man and spent my childhood there, in Sudan, in Papua New Guinea and in Australia. I did lots of my daydreaming in planes, trains and boats including one boat that my dad made with a glass base so my little sister and I could see fish and coral going past underneath us. For a little while I had a mouse and the best present my mum and dad ever gave me (apart from my sister) was my own piano.

My favourite books were The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and the Ramona stories by Beverly Cleary. Though I love returning to those stories (especially Wind in the Willows) these days my favourites are anything by bell hooks or Alain de Botton.

I live in Melbourne near a river, write books for children, make dolls, nests and the occasional skirt, go to lots of markets and have cups of tea with my friends. I have a special interest in helping people to find the kind of work that is right for them. I don’t spend quite as much time on planes, trains and boats as I used to, but I walk up and down mountains whenever I find a spare moment. And I still have that same piano.

Reviews

[Rebecca]

I am a huge fan of this author - Anna Branford.

This is the second book in the serious, and is as equally rewarding as the first book.

Short and packed with plot and insights.

Don’t be deceived by the slim size and font, this book will appeal to a wide age range.

This would be a must for any yrs2-4 teachers. Use it simply as a read-aloud, as a shared reading during eating time, or as a basis to wellbeing sessions. There’s plenty here to entertain, discuss and pick-apart.

Students will love the YouTube angle - I was surprised by how well that worked.

Teachers and parents will appreciate the firm hand on the tiller driving this story along.

Hoping there will be in the series.