دوستم باش

by Salina Yoon

Dennis is an ordinary boy who expresses himself in extraordinary ways. Some children do show-and-tell. Dennis mimes his. Some children climb trees. Dennis is happy to BE a tree . . . But being a mime can be lonely. It isn't until Dennis meets a girl named Joy that he discovers the power of friendship--and how special he truly is! At its core, this book is a heartwarming story of self-acceptance, courage, and unbreakable friendship for anyone who has ever felt "different."

Countless readers and reviewers have fallen in love with Salina Yoon. Now, she showcases her talent in a brand new way, wrapping a simple yet emotionally rich text in a special package. The gorgeous final book will feature uncoated paper, a highly designed jacket, and a debossed art inset on the case.

Awards for Salina Yoon
A Winter 2015-2016 Kids' Indie Next Pick (Be a Friend)
A Scholastic Teachers Top 10 Picture Book (Penguin's Big Adventure)
An NPR Best Book (Found)
Winner of the 2014 SCIBA Book Award for Best Picture Book (Found)

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime, School, Realistic Fiction

36 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

Salina Yoon is an award-winning author/illustrator of over 150 books for children, including Penguin and Pinecone, Penguin on Vacation, Penguin in Love, Penguin and Pumpkin, Penguin's Big Adventure, Found, and Stormy Night.

Her latest book, Be a Friend, was a Winter 2015-2016 Kids' Indie Next Pick. Among her other awards are a Scholastic Teachers Top 10 Picture Book for Penguin's Big Adventure, and an NPR Best Book and 2014 SCIBA Book Award for Best Picture Book for Found. (complete list is on the website ABOUT page)

She studied art and design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and now lives in San Diego with her family.

www.salinayoon.com

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be a Friend has a simple message to share in such a warm, creative way.

Meet Dennis, a mime, who doesn’t speak a word, but says so much. Our young mime is lonely though and in need of a friend when Joy comes along. Can Dennis and Joy find a way to be friends?

Communication and connection can take many different forms. This sweet story will show readers the power of individuality and friendship in movement, smiles, and jazz hands. :) Ms. Yoon does a beautiful job capturing the art of miming and the magic of friends! I adored the look of this book. The soft brown backgrounds enhance the black, white and reds, which make the big, clear faces and words stand out beautifully.

Come see how Joy and Dennis talk, share, and laugh their way to friendship.

A sweet story told in a unique way. Recommended read.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spanish Edition--- I don't see the title picture on this but it is so cute!

Mimes can be creepy looking and weird right? But then there is Dennis.
A boy that loves to be a mime. Everything he does and wears is mimelike until he gets so lonely at school. He kicks a "ball" and Joy catches it. They are best friends without ever saying a word.

My review sounds a bit dumb! But I promise it's a sweet book. And the pictures!!! Beautifully drawn. My kids enjoyed pretending to be mimes and "rode bike," were "butterflies etc. I engaged them in the story.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoon has outdone herself with this book.
In a departure from her Penguin and Bear books, Yoon writes a timeless tale about themes that are opposites, yet tend to go together hand in hand - friendship and loneliness.
Gorgeous illustrations that are sure to be talked about next year, this is a must read book!

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite picture book by Salina Yoon! I love all her books but this is my favorite!! I just love it!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expressive, whimsical illustrations elevate the familiar story of a kid who doesn’t fit in, yet is happy marching to the beat of his own drum (if a tad lonely, at times) and eventually finds a friend who likes him just the way he is.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friendship transcends words in this simple, charming story.

[Joanna Marple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Be A Friend

Author & Illustrator: Salina Yoon

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books, January 2016

Themes: individuality, imagination, friendship

Ages: 3-7

Opening:

Dennis was an ordinary boy

…who expressed himself in EXTRAORDINARY ways.

Synopsis:

Dennis is an ordinary boy who expresses himself in extraordinary ways. Some children do show-and-tell. Dennis mimes his. Some children climb trees. Dennis is happy to BE a tree . . . But being a mime can be lonely. It isn't until Dennis meets a girl named Joy that he discovers the power of friendship--and how special he truly is! At its core, this book is a heartwarming story of self-acceptance, courage, and unbreakable friendship for anyone who has ever felt "different." (Goodreads)

Why I like this book:

The simple text embodies a rich and resonant message of self confidence, courage to be different and the deep friendship connection we all long for and are thankful when we recognize it as Dennis does when he meets Joy.

The horizontal rectangular book form, styelised characterization and embossed art inset on jacket promise the reader will be visually spoilt through this story, and we are. The more than head-nod to Marcel Marceau is beautiful and poignant and the opening two spreads are exquisite. The use of black and white almost makes it cinematographic for me, coupled with the broken red lines to depict imaginary toys and activities, and Yoon achieves a piece de resistance of mimography in this picture book. She breaks her own mold with this story and I truly hope we will see more from here for slightly older children.

[Amanda B · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review copy provided by the publisher.)

I love reading Salina Yoon's books in my library story times. When "Be a Friend" is released, I can't wait to add it to my regular rotation of story time favorites "Penguin and Pinecone," "Tap to Play" and others.

Salina has a knack for writing thought-provoking books for the very young. The low word count and appealing illustrations make this book a natural read-aloud for children as young as 3. But the themes in her book could open up a deeper discussion for children up to age 6.

"Be a Friend" is a touching story of friendship for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider--a common experience for many children.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first favorite picture book of 2016 is a great story about being oneself and friendship. Being extraordinary can be lonely and sometimes it takes someone just as special to break down the wall between them, even if the wall is imaginary.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who always eschewed the masses and walked to the beat of her own theremin, I really appreciated Salina Yoon's message in this book about bring true to yourself and finding friends who understand that. Beautifully illustrated as well, this book is sure to be a classic.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book! Such a sweet story about a lonely little boy who wants a friend. This book is a very special book. Everyone should run out and get a copy!

[Jeimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about kindred spirits who find each other.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

...and in ADDITION to being a great gentle book about friendship, can be read as a book about kids with communication differences, and how to be friends with kids like that.

[Franki Sibberson]

LOVE this one:-)

[Hesam Mousavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

میشه گفت کار برای من شبیه شنگال بود
هردو میخواستن نشون بدن متفاوت چیز بدی نیست
اما خب اینکار یک چیز دیگه هم بود! چیزی که همه ما در کودکی داریم و بعداً فراموشش میکنیم
تخیل، تخیلی که با اون به کوه ها و دریا ها می‌رفتیم یا سوار موشک می‌شدیم و می‌رفتیم به سطح ماه

کاش فراموشش نکنیم و کاش همراه ما بمونه

بنظرم این کتاب می‌تونه عزت نفس بچه رو تقویت کنه
و باعث تشویقش بشه واسه ساختن دنیای تخیلی زیبای خودش

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story of friendship. A little boy loves to mime. He doesn’t need to talk to express himself. He uses his whole body. But it makes him feel lonely at times. Until the day he makes a special friend. Someone who knows that real friendship doesn’t take works. An interesting story with great illustrations.

[Essie (Sarah) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a five store book if it didn’t end so abruptly. But I was so into it right away. Lovely message. Wonderful illustrations. Cute lil story. I’d consider buying this one.

[Katie Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet picturebook! The First Graders loved it too....

[Caity Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be A Friend is a wonderful read-aloud to encourage children in finding their talents while feeling comfortable with being different. This book is wonderful for discussion/movement activities and shows the importance of making friends/accepting others. Another aspect this book offers are large text, perfect for reading with a finger and pointing out the different words.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

They ride school buses, walk the hallways, enter our classrooms, libraries and cafeterias and roam on our playgrounds. These girls and guys are as beautiful as the other children but their distinctive individuality sets them apart from the others. Their choices, perspectives and forms of expressions are a gift to others. For whatever reason the gift though freely given is not readily received.


Be A Friend (Bloomsbury Children's Books, January 5, 2015) written and illustrated by Salina Yoon like these exceptional children is a present for her readers It's a token to be treasured, representing the wisdom and worth of walking this planet with respect and appreciation for others. It asks us to wear our differences seen on the outside and those we harbor inside with courage.


My full recommendation: http://bit.ly/1Pcuqpl

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when one is happy with who they are, but then find they’re also lonely, it’s a problem. This little boy, Dennis has such a problem. He loves being a mime, feels comfortable with who he is, but others seem to play “around” him, ignore him, until he meets Joy, someone who understands, and becomes his friend. When someone shows that friendship can happen, the way is led for others to become part of that friendship, too. There are fun end papers that show Dennis in many of his “mime” poses. The illustrations show Salina Yoon's ability to keep it simple, but show so much with a few actions and characters.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. So much heart. Must-have friendship book. Love the conversations it can start about how we communicate without words, by listening with our hearts.

This adorable friendship book follows Dennis, a little boy who only communicates through miming. One day at school, he kicks an imaginary ball and to his surprise, Joy catches it and starts playing with him. A delightful story about finding a kindred spirit and discovering a new friend.

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure all kids would be able to relate to this, or access it without adult conversation with it. I do think I could create some good questions to go with it, and generate good conversation, but I'm not sure it'd be a favorite for kids. I do think it'd be a fun opportunity/starting point to give kids to express themselves without talking.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone else seems to love this book. I thought it was ok. I can't imagine doing this in a storytime. Do kids know what a mime is? I guess you could explain it before you read it, or just hope the kids don't need to understand it to understand the story.

It is a cute story about friendship, I'm just hung up on the mime thing.

[Liz B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. I just didn't get/ buy the "kid as mime" thing. If it's a symbol, I think it's too abstract. If it's literal, I think the book itself is too simple. As in, kids have weird and varied interests, and some background art/info about our mime MC would help to make his interest in miming more plausible (and therefore interesting and touching). YMMV.

[Knitcookwrite · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story. Kindness abounds in the book and I want to share it with all my friends. Perhaps it is the introvert in me that doesn't like to talk sometimes. Salina hit this one out of the ballpark!

[Barb Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about a boy that mimes instead of speaks and he is lonely until he meets a girl at school who mimes back. I read it to grade 1 students and had a girl miming with her hands through most of it. It was somewhat distracting - she was really engaged in the story!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about friendship between two children who need no words to connect.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could see having the kids mime parts during the read aloud.

[Adeline Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it shows that both characters have a lot in common and Dennis's friend see's what Dennis see's.