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Will I Have a Friend?
Jim faces his fears of making a friend on his first day of kindergarten in this picture book by Miriam Cohen, chosen as the Library of Congress’s Children’s Book of the Year.
When Pa was taking Jim to school for the first time, Jim said, “Will I have a friend at school?” “I think you will,” said Pa.
But even his father’s gentle reassurance doesn’t make Jim feel any better. The other children in kindergarten are scary strangers to him. He’s sure that he’ll never find a friend…until naptime, when he discovers someone who feels the way he does.
When Pa was taking Jim to school for the first time, Jim said, “Will I have a friend at school?” “I think you will,” said Pa.
But even his father’s gentle reassurance doesn’t make Jim feel any better. The other children in kindergarten are scary strangers to him. He’s sure that he’ll never find a friend…until naptime, when he discovers someone who feels the way he does.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1967
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219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 17, 2013
A cute little book that barely held the attention of any of my children. A nice story about a kid making friends in Kindergarten, it's probably a level 1 but I'm not sure how much reading it would get in our household. The only area it might have merit is if we had a child that was apprehensive about going to Kindergarten and this might reassure them they would find a friend, even though that isn't always the case, especially on the first day.
April 25, 2019
This is one of my two or three annual books where I mark a representative children's lit title as "read". If anyone cares, each kids' title logged as read basically stands for about 75 unlogged kids' titles which I've read to my child. E.g., if I log 3 kids' titles, I've probably read about 225. I don't really think it's fair for an adult reader to count each one of these titles as a book I read this year towards my reading goal when each one is, like 32 pages with a few sentences per page.
At any rate, I am counting this for the 2019 PopSugar Reading challenge under book with a question in the title because, well, I have a 5YO and a 5MO and I AM TIRED, PEOPLE. SOMETIMES SHORTCUTS MUST BE TAKEN. Thank you, I'll see myself out.
(...about this book? Well, it was fine. It was well received by its target audience.)
At any rate, I am counting this for the 2019 PopSugar Reading challenge under book with a question in the title because, well, I have a 5YO and a 5MO and I AM TIRED, PEOPLE. SOMETIMES SHORTCUTS MUST BE TAKEN. Thank you, I'll see myself out.
(...about this book? Well, it was fine. It was well received by its target audience.)
October 25, 2018
This is an adorable story of Jim on his first day of school. He is nervous because he is scared he won't make a friend. As Jim goes through his day he passes by lots of kids he wants to interact with but is too shy to. Finally Jim makes a friend in Paul. Jim was very excited to tell his father about making a friend. This is a perfect story for kindergarteners, preschoolers, or for parents to read to their small children. The wording and vocabulary is simple and easy to understand. The illustrations are soft, realistic water colors. I could see myself as a parent reading this to my child the summer before their first year at school to calm their nerves.
September 10, 2018
A positive glimpse at what a first day of school can look like.
Ages: 4 - 8
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Ages: 4 - 8
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
October 9, 2020
This book was about a boy that wants to make a friend at school, but did not know how. It illustrated out many children's feelings when they first start school and do not know anyone, but want to make friends. The illustrations was cute, but I wish the book tells Jim's feelings in detail when he could not make a friend during class so students can get a better idea of their own feelings.
July 28, 2024
It's a cute book about trying to make friends on the first day of school. I wish Jim would have explained his feelings more about how hard it is when others are making friends around them. It's also a bit unrealistic that his class would be so close right away when everyone is new, but this could be an excellent book to read to a child who is moving schools in the middle of the year.
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March 21, 2017This book is about a little boy named Jim going to a new school. On his walk there he asks his dad if he will have a friend there. His dad replied assuring him he'll find one. Jim goes through the almost the whole day trying to find a friend but had no luck. Until someone approaches him. It's Paul. They talk about cars and become friends. On Jims walk home from school he tells his dad that he's found a friend.
August 16, 2017
A nice book to teach little ones that there is someone waiting to be our friend. We just have to keep looking.
December 18, 2017
Encouraging for a child who is concerned about making a friend
November 26, 2018
A positive story about the first day of school and making friends! However, the book is very simple and a little boring.
March 5, 2019
Good for the first day of kindergarten
November 2, 2019
It's was fun book😁
January 17, 2020
Excellent beginning of the school year book for young children.
April 30, 2020
Older books have a certain charm and simplicity that isn't present any more. Maybe I'm getting too old. Maybe I have arrived at old. But I liked the charm and the illustrations.
A solid 3 stars
A solid 3 stars
March 25, 2021
five stars because it gave me chills and I love chills
May 24, 2021
B'ville impulse.
Maybe it is that easy to make friends in preschool. :sigh:
Maybe it is that easy to make friends in preschool. :sigh:
August 24, 2021
Jim's Dad is sure Jim will find a friend at school, and he does.
November 10, 2022
A great story for preschoolers about making friends.
September 30, 2016
Will I Have a Friend by Miriam Cohen and Lillian Hoban is about a little boy named Jim who worries about making a friend at school. Jim tries really hard to make friends all day and makes one right before school is over.
I didn't love this book, but it would probably be best used for second or third graders reading level. I think that younger children such as kindergarteners would benefit from the actual story lesson though. Perhaps if someone wanted to use this in their kindergarten classroom, the teacher would either read it out loud to the class or play it as an audiobook.
I didn't love this book, but it would probably be best used for second or third graders reading level. I think that younger children such as kindergarteners would benefit from the actual story lesson though. Perhaps if someone wanted to use this in their kindergarten classroom, the teacher would either read it out loud to the class or play it as an audiobook.
March 2, 2017
When Pa takes Jim to school for the first time he is scared and does not want Pa to leave. But Pa assures him he will have a friend soon
The classroom is overwhelming to Jim when he sees his classmates have friends and are enjoying until naptime. Then Jim finds his friend and he is happy
The anxiety of little kids who go to school for the first time is so well depicted in this book
The classroom is overwhelming to Jim when he sees his classmates have friends and are enjoying until naptime. Then Jim finds his friend and he is happy
The anxiety of little kids who go to school for the first time is so well depicted in this book
November 1, 2011
Classic Picture Books:
This book is about a little boy, named Jim who on his first day of school asks his Dad, right before walking into the classroom, "Will I Have a Friend?" Of course his father answers back yes as he walks him into the classroom, introduces him to the teacher and leaves. The rest of the story follows along the line of an average day in a kindergarten classroom, while Jim tries to find a friend to play with. As they day goes by though, he's not having much luck, until right after nap time when he meets a boy named Paul. The two boys talk and bond over Paul's truck that he brought with him to school and soon the rest of the children in their class realize how much fun they are having together and want to play with them as well. When Jim's dad comes to pick him up at the end of the day he tells him that he made a friend, and reassuringly his father says "I knew you would."
I would definitely use this book in my future elementary age classroom, especially during the first week of school since it is likely that whether it is a Kindergarten or Fifth Grade there is bound to be new students. Jim's character would be easy for children who are new to a classroom to relate to and find comfort in if they were feeling a little out of place. On the other hand it would also be a good book for children who are returning as a reminder that we need to be inviting a friendly to new students.
This book is about a little boy, named Jim who on his first day of school asks his Dad, right before walking into the classroom, "Will I Have a Friend?" Of course his father answers back yes as he walks him into the classroom, introduces him to the teacher and leaves. The rest of the story follows along the line of an average day in a kindergarten classroom, while Jim tries to find a friend to play with. As they day goes by though, he's not having much luck, until right after nap time when he meets a boy named Paul. The two boys talk and bond over Paul's truck that he brought with him to school and soon the rest of the children in their class realize how much fun they are having together and want to play with them as well. When Jim's dad comes to pick him up at the end of the day he tells him that he made a friend, and reassuringly his father says "I knew you would."
I would definitely use this book in my future elementary age classroom, especially during the first week of school since it is likely that whether it is a Kindergarten or Fifth Grade there is bound to be new students. Jim's character would be easy for children who are new to a classroom to relate to and find comfort in if they were feeling a little out of place. On the other hand it would also be a good book for children who are returning as a reminder that we need to be inviting a friendly to new students.
February 18, 2013
This book is so poorly written and illustrated that it's almost an insult to children, who deserve much better. It's a pleasant enough idea, to be sure, but fails totally in its execution.
First the little stuff: in my edition at least, it's clear that someone attempted to switch the child's father's nickname from "Pa" to "Dad" but didn't quite find all the instances, making it incredibly confusing to read or listen to. The art and the text often don't match, with children introduced and activities described that aren't pictured. And did the artist not know how to draw a monkey face so he made that child face away from the reader?
Less specifically, the pacing is horrible. I get that children in the first day of school are confronted with a lot of new people quickly, but the child to whom the story is read need not experience that confusion and irritation in advance. There's no reason not to be thoughtful about how the characters are introduced so that an actual narrative develops.
And finally, the writing is just sloppy - in desperate need of a decent editor who considered what various sentences would sound like when read out loud.
Sorry to rant, but there's no reason that children's books can't be good AND sentimental at the same time.
First the little stuff: in my edition at least, it's clear that someone attempted to switch the child's father's nickname from "Pa" to "Dad" but didn't quite find all the instances, making it incredibly confusing to read or listen to. The art and the text often don't match, with children introduced and activities described that aren't pictured. And did the artist not know how to draw a monkey face so he made that child face away from the reader?
Less specifically, the pacing is horrible. I get that children in the first day of school are confronted with a lot of new people quickly, but the child to whom the story is read need not experience that confusion and irritation in advance. There's no reason not to be thoughtful about how the characters are introduced so that an actual narrative develops.
And finally, the writing is just sloppy - in desperate need of a decent editor who considered what various sentences would sound like when read out loud.
Sorry to rant, but there's no reason that children's books can't be good AND sentimental at the same time.
April 18, 2013
Miriam Cohen's book "Will I Have a Friend" is definitely a book I can see using in my future classroom. The book is about a young boy Jim, who asks his father "Will I have a friend?" before he enters his classroom on the first day of school. His father is supportive and reassures Jim that he will find a friend. Once his father leaves, the rest of the story is similar to a day spent in a Kindergarten classroom. Jim struggles to find a friend to play with, but meets a classmate names Paul who enjoys playing with trucks just as Jim does. After all, Jim's father was right and Jim did make a friend. The illustrations by Lillian Hoban are colorful and very simple. They also give off a sketch-like look to them too which is appropriate for the age level of the book.The cover illustrates a young boy playing with blocks that are colorful. I cover does not give away the plot of the story as the young boy is playing alone and not with a friend. I found that very interesting.
This book would be a good introductory book and the beginning of the school year to help students feel reassured about making new friends at school. He also teaching a lesson on friendship and how it is important to welcome others both new and old friends and allow everyone and anyone to be your friend.
This book would be a good introductory book and the beginning of the school year to help students feel reassured about making new friends at school. He also teaching a lesson on friendship and how it is important to welcome others both new and old friends and allow everyone and anyone to be your friend.
April 16, 2014
Will I Have a Friend? by Miriam Cohen is a sweet story about a little boy, Jim, and his first day of school. Jim is worried, as many new students are, if he will meet a friend or not. Throughout the book Jim is watching everyone else meeting friends and playing with one another but Jim is still by himself. He watches as a group plays with clay and while another group eats their cookies. But by the end of the story Jim has meet a new friend and can not wait to tell his dad about him! Lillian Hoban is the illustrator and I loved the way she uses a pastel color scheme. I also liked how she drew the children, you could really tell how young and innocent all the student were. This story would be an excellent book to read to a kindergarden class on the first day of school. I think it could help reassure some nervous students that everything will be ok!
April 16, 2014
I enjoyed this book. I would be great to use in the classroom to introduce everyone on the first day. As a teacher you could talk about the importance of being friends with everyone and not leaving anyone out.
The illustrations were adorable and really fitting to the story. I liked how they were sketched but also realistic.
This would be a great story to read to a kindergarten classroom on the first day of school. The story is about a little boy names Jim on his first day or school. At the beginning he is worried he will not have any friends and throughout the day he is let down because everyone in the classroom are either running away or not talking to him. In the end he starts to talk to Paul and many other students so when he leaves he is excited to tell his Pa about the friends he had at school.
The illustrations were adorable and really fitting to the story. I liked how they were sketched but also realistic.
This would be a great story to read to a kindergarten classroom on the first day of school. The story is about a little boy names Jim on his first day or school. At the beginning he is worried he will not have any friends and throughout the day he is let down because everyone in the classroom are either running away or not talking to him. In the end he starts to talk to Paul and many other students so when he leaves he is excited to tell his Pa about the friends he had at school.
November 25, 2014
Will I Have a Friend? by Miriam Cohen with pictures by Lillian Hoban is a classic picture book. I think this would be a great book to read to a child going to school for the first time. It is a bout a little boy named Jim who is going to school and wants to know if he is going to have a friend there. Throughout the day Jim meets a bunch of different classmates who he isn't sure if they are friends or not. Then at the end of the day he realizes that he has friends! This story is great for children because of the happy ending. The illustrations in the book are simple, but I was not a fan of the some what blurry lines. I'm not sure if that was a result of the copy of the book I read, but the images were not sharp. They were cute but I like images that are sharper. Overall, this book is a classic picture book that every child should read at some point in their early development years.
October 4, 2011
A charming story about a boy, Jim, who is starting school. His dad takes him to school. On the way Jim tells his dad about his fear that he won't have any friends and dad reassures him that everything will be okay. For the first part of the day, Jim stands by watching the other kids play. While the other kids don't necessarily play together, Jim keeps wishing he had a friend to share things with. Then at nap time, he sees that the kid next to him has a special toy. Soon Jim has made not just one friend but the whole class.
The illustrations, by my beloved Lillian Hoban, are so adorable!
PreK-K
The illustrations, by my beloved Lillian Hoban, are so adorable!
PreK-K
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September 7, 2012WILL I HAVE A FRIEND is a good choice for a Back-to-School read as it can give first time students an idea of what to expect at school (although I don't believe many schools have students go down for naptime these days).
It begins with Dad taking Jim to school on his first day. The little boy's obviously anxious and he asks his dad whether he'll find a friend at school. Dad assures him he will-- but honestly, that friend is a long time coming!
While he's waiting children paint, play with blocks and dolls and cars, read, have snacks, have reading time, and take that nap.
Obviously this book can be used to remind older children what they did the previous year. Nicely reassuring.
Pam T~
It begins with Dad taking Jim to school on his first day. The little boy's obviously anxious and he asks his dad whether he'll find a friend at school. Dad assures him he will-- but honestly, that friend is a long time coming!
While he's waiting children paint, play with blocks and dolls and cars, read, have snacks, have reading time, and take that nap.
Obviously this book can be used to remind older children what they did the previous year. Nicely reassuring.
Pam T~
November 15, 2013
This book answers a question that every kindergarten kid asks when they go to school on the first day. For every activity Jim went through, the average kindergarten could picture in their minds going through the same thing. He asked the question to his dad "If he will have a friend" and his dad like any parent try to reassured his son, that he will. I like the book, because it wasn't too overwhelming for him on his first day. The illustration was not the best, the pictures seems too light color. The colors was not rich enough to leave a lasting impression in a child's mind.
October 1, 2014
Miriam Cohen's children's book "Will I Have a Friend?" is a lovely story created for children who're starting out in school with trepidation and insecurities about making new friends. The thing I really enjoyed most about the book was the way the school, the main character Jim went to, was populated with children and a teacher who were a different race from him and they all seemed to be getting along. Eventually when they include him within their group he's able to leave the classroom with not just one friend but a lot of friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews