What do you think?
Rate this book
Disney Princess Beginnings / Disney Before the Story
Anna Finds a Friend
Before Anna saved Elsa in an act of true love, she was a young girl looking for a friend. When Anna's parents, Queen Iduna and King Agnarr, go off on a trip, Anna finds herself lonelier than ever. Her sister, Elsa, seems determined to avoid her, and all Anna wants is a friend to play with. She imagines another girl her own age, Astrid, and sends her a letter. To her surprise, Astrid writes back! But as the two become friends through their letters, Anna begins to wonder if Astrid is closer than she first thought...
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2020
298 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 12, 2020
“OH. MY. GOODNESS” said Ella my 8 year old daughter
For any young reader, they are going to LOVE this story. They will find themselves lost in these cute little books.
Perfect for young children who are at a 3-4 level of reading, the illustrations and the characters you adore bring these books to a new light.
Definitely one to pick up for your little readers.
For any young reader, they are going to LOVE this story. They will find themselves lost in these cute little books.
Perfect for young children who are at a 3-4 level of reading, the illustrations and the characters you adore bring these books to a new light.
Definitely one to pick up for your little readers.
January 7, 2022
These are actually really cute and well written. I wish they’d do more of the princesses!
May 23, 2022
Anna saved Sorren and she really was a good child. She built Sorren a house/Castle it was amazing I would recommend reading it!!
February 12, 2023
Está lindo para niños a los que les gusta frozen :3
May 21, 2025
It was adorable! And the end ? Knowing who is « Astrid »? 🥺 my myyy!!! One of my favorite!
February 3, 2022
I enjoyed this book!
This was a good book. It was freaking amazing!
(reviewed by my 7 year old daughter, who adores Disney Princesses)
This was a good book. It was freaking amazing!
(reviewed by my 7 year old daughter, who adores Disney Princesses)
April 12, 2020
Thank you to Scholastic Aus for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Anna Finds A Friend is a short and fun story focused on how Anna deals with loneliness after Elsa isolates herself. This story is sweet and had me smiling at Anna’s imagination and positive attitude! If you’re a Disney fan, I’d definitely recommend this book!
Anna Finds A Friend is a short and fun story focused on how Anna deals with loneliness after Elsa isolates herself. This story is sweet and had me smiling at Anna’s imagination and positive attitude! If you’re a Disney fan, I’d definitely recommend this book!
June 29, 2020
Minusta tämä kirja oli pohjimmiltaan hyvin surullinen, vaikka kuvasti hienosti Arendelin prinsessa Annan lapsuutta. Anna (niin kuin Elsakin) kärsii yksinäisyydestä, jonka pohjimmaisena syynä ovat Elsan taikavoimat ja niiden piilottaminen.
Kirja kertoo Annan tavasta selviytyä yksinäisyyden kanssa; mielikuvitusystävistä, eläinten seuraamisesta sekä vakoilusta...
Kirja kertoo Annan tavasta selviytyä yksinäisyyden kanssa; mielikuvitusystävistä, eläinten seuraamisesta sekä vakoilusta...
May 4, 2022
Awe this was so sweet, little Anna is all alone when her parents sail off for two weeks and as Elsa won’t come out the door or let her in she has to find ways of entertaining herself. She finds a red squirrel on the grounds and decided its her friend, but she also creates a friend she names Astrid and write to her all about Soren the squirrel, and some how receives letters back.
I loved how vivid Anna’s imagination is in this story, as she has no way of making real friends she makes them up, the portrait gallery all being her friends and then a squirrel. She was so imaginative and it’s adorable reading about her when she was little and lonely.
I had my theory from the start who was writing her the Astrid letters but it was just so cute reading her reaction to receiving them, and exploring and being creative and her whirring mind over the squirrel.
It’s honestly such an adorable story and a perfect addition to Anna’s little story we already know of. It had beautiful illustrations and it was so sweet seeing inside the castle. If you love frozen or princesses or know someone that does this story is worth reading it’s just precious and so perfectly Anna.
I loved how vivid Anna’s imagination is in this story, as she has no way of making real friends she makes them up, the portrait gallery all being her friends and then a squirrel. She was so imaginative and it’s adorable reading about her when she was little and lonely.
I had my theory from the start who was writing her the Astrid letters but it was just so cute reading her reaction to receiving them, and exploring and being creative and her whirring mind over the squirrel.
It’s honestly such an adorable story and a perfect addition to Anna’s little story we already know of. It had beautiful illustrations and it was so sweet seeing inside the castle. If you love frozen or princesses or know someone that does this story is worth reading it’s just precious and so perfectly Anna.
April 30, 2020
“She curled up in a chair in the middle of the room, ready to get lost in a book.”
This description doesn’t only apply to Frozen’s Anna in Disney’s new book, ‘Anna Finds a friend‘ – your young reader will soon find themselves getting lost in these cute books too!
Disney Press recently released ‘Before the Story’ – an engaging new chapter book series for Kindergartners to Grade 3-level readers, with full color illustrations and some of Disney’s most beloved characters. We checked out ‘Anna Finds a Friend‘ and ‘Elsa’s Icy Rescue‘ by Kate Egan, which explore the sisters’ early life in Arendelle and beyond.
In Anna’s story, Anna feels lonelier than ever when her parents go off on a trip without her and Elsa isn’t interested in playing with her. She is left only with her portrait friends in the castle (“hang in there, Joan”) and her imaginary pen pal, Astrid. Anna begins to wonder just who Astrid is and makes it her mission to find out…
Delightful book and made a lovely gift/new bedtime reading for my friends' young daughter!
This description doesn’t only apply to Frozen’s Anna in Disney’s new book, ‘Anna Finds a friend‘ – your young reader will soon find themselves getting lost in these cute books too!
Disney Press recently released ‘Before the Story’ – an engaging new chapter book series for Kindergartners to Grade 3-level readers, with full color illustrations and some of Disney’s most beloved characters. We checked out ‘Anna Finds a Friend‘ and ‘Elsa’s Icy Rescue‘ by Kate Egan, which explore the sisters’ early life in Arendelle and beyond.
In Anna’s story, Anna feels lonelier than ever when her parents go off on a trip without her and Elsa isn’t interested in playing with her. She is left only with her portrait friends in the castle (“hang in there, Joan”) and her imaginary pen pal, Astrid. Anna begins to wonder just who Astrid is and makes it her mission to find out…
Delightful book and made a lovely gift/new bedtime reading for my friends' young daughter!
May 13, 2020
Thank you to @scholastic_au for sending me a copy of this to review. I loved this one, Anna has always been my fave and this had me loving her even more! Her imagination is incredible and i love how she uses it in this story to create her own letters and story about the squirrel she meets when her parents go away. I felt for Anna in this one, with her parents gone and Elsa staying in her room I just wanted to dive into the book and give her a big hug and play with her 😊 I like the way the Disney beginnings stories include little lessons for younger readers in them, this one being no different and having an underlying theme of overcoming loneliness and find friends in unexpected places. Another that i would definitely recommend for younger readers and lovers of Disney.
September 1, 2023
This story takes place when Elsa and Anna were younger, but after Elsa was separated from Anna due to her powers. Anna spends most of her day alone, but when her new friend Nikko, the delivery man, comes with mail for her parents, Anna decides she wants to write to a friend. Anna creates Astrid, her new pen pal, and mails her a letter to tell her all about her adventure with her new squirrel friend and is excited when Astrid writes back. A cute, but somewhat sad story that Frozen lovers will enjoy.
November 11, 2020
It was so cute. But this story only made me feel sadder about Elsa and Anna. I mean, their parents weren’t that good at all. They tried to hide Elsa’s power. They are king and queen I don’t see why they had to hide it to their kingdom. Keeping Elsa away from Ana. At the same time ruining their childhood and isolating them from other people 🙄. That’s the only thing I don’t like about frozen.
October 8, 2021
I enjoyed this little chapter book. Anna begins to feel lonely in the castle and takes it upon herself to find a new friend to pay with. She starts writing to ‘Astrid’ - a friend she has imagined - about her squirrel friends adventures but when Astrid starts writing back, Anna feels anything but lonely! This was an entertaining read.
October 12, 2025
Anna makes up a friend and sends her a letter and surprisingly gets a letter in return until a discovery makes Anna become suspicious of her new friend. I enjoyed this delightful story with young Anna's creative imagination and palace staff looking out for the young girl. love the pictures
March 22, 2020
Such a sweet, lovely way to expand on the Frozen fun for young readers! I love these Before the Story books, Disney! Thanks for sending a copy for review our way!
May 17, 2020
Loving reading these books with my daughter.
June 3, 2020
I love her imagination,and I think this story is great 👍❤️🌈
October 13, 2020
Loved it!
August 26, 2021
Loved this one!
February 8, 2022
Cute.
This was cute, kinda sad, but Frozen fans should like it. Seriously though, Anna and Elsa’s parents did not handle this whole magic situation well.
This was cute, kinda sad, but Frozen fans should like it. Seriously though, Anna and Elsa’s parents did not handle this whole magic situation well.
May 14, 2022
LOL, the greatest audiobook about Anna sending and receiving letters from another female from the novel "The Snow Queen!!!!!!!" Hans Christian Anderson, we miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2023
I like it win Anna found her first letter and I like it when Anna found a friend!!!!😀
January 31, 2024
Even as a grown adult it took me half the book to figure out the mystery! A very sweet book for budding readers!
October 6, 2024
Good short book that my daughter loved. I love books like this as well easy fast read even for littles.
March 27, 2025
Cute enough, but the ending was pretty unsatisfying.
June 29, 2023
Cute enough. Meh.
January 31, 2024
In honor of my own little princess (on her second birthday!), these book photos are taken with her princess baby costumes (which she wore a year ago today!) and toys. Hallmark didn’t make Frozen ornaments in this style, so I drew Anna myself!
This week has been wildly hectic with lots of holiday traveling. Still, through it all, I managed to read “Anna Finds A Friend,” the 9th installment of the “Disney Princess Beginnings” series — later rebranded as the “Before The Story” series. These early reader chapter books focus on the childhoods of all our beloved princesses and heroines, chronicling their experiences as they learn valuable life lessons. Spanning roughly 120 pages and filled with adorable black-and-white illustrations, these stories are perfect first-chapter books for Disney fans.
“Anna Finds A Friend” follows a young eight-year-old Anna and her whimsical adventures. Alone in the vast expanse of Arendelle’s Castle, with her parents away and her older sister confined to her room, Anna yearns for a playmate and friend. Her days of solitude take an exciting turn when she befriends a fantastically curious squirrel in the castle gardens. Bustling with energy and excitement, Anna becomes determined to share her adventures and write letters to an imaginary friend. However, when a mysterious reply arrives, signed by “Astrid,” Anna is shocked and elated. She embarks on a playful investigation, questioning the castle staff to uncover the true identity of her newfound pen pal.
—
Once again, the foreshadowing and implications of these stories are just… so sad. It feels impossible to tell stories about Anna and Elsa after their accident without being so unbelievably sad. The castle staff even remark that they wish Anna weren’t so lonely. I was actually surprised by Astrid’s reveal, as there are so many adults who are looking after Anna and even pitying her.
I loved that Anna found herself an unofficial pet to put all her love and energy into. Though it never goes into it, I’d like to think that Anna had pets during her years stuck in the castle. Actually, while reading this, I realized how much Anna mirrors Princess Jasmine. While both princesses experienced life confined within castle walls and could be considered defiant, their overall personalities couldn’t be more different. The isolation made Jasmine cunning and resentful, while Anna fell into her imagination to survive the loneliness. So interesting and so sad, all the same.
Anna’s story is the simplest so far when it comes to conflict, but is still sweet. With a little girl of my own, all it made me want to do was hug her. Anna deserves a hug… as does Elsa. They deserved better.
As mentioned with the others in the series, these are lovely first-chapter books for new readers, especially for all little Frozen lovers out there. Lowstakes, light-hearted, and valuable lessons for all!
This week has been wildly hectic with lots of holiday traveling. Still, through it all, I managed to read “Anna Finds A Friend,” the 9th installment of the “Disney Princess Beginnings” series — later rebranded as the “Before The Story” series. These early reader chapter books focus on the childhoods of all our beloved princesses and heroines, chronicling their experiences as they learn valuable life lessons. Spanning roughly 120 pages and filled with adorable black-and-white illustrations, these stories are perfect first-chapter books for Disney fans.
“Anna Finds A Friend” follows a young eight-year-old Anna and her whimsical adventures. Alone in the vast expanse of Arendelle’s Castle, with her parents away and her older sister confined to her room, Anna yearns for a playmate and friend. Her days of solitude take an exciting turn when she befriends a fantastically curious squirrel in the castle gardens. Bustling with energy and excitement, Anna becomes determined to share her adventures and write letters to an imaginary friend. However, when a mysterious reply arrives, signed by “Astrid,” Anna is shocked and elated. She embarks on a playful investigation, questioning the castle staff to uncover the true identity of her newfound pen pal.
—
Once again, the foreshadowing and implications of these stories are just… so sad. It feels impossible to tell stories about Anna and Elsa after their accident without being so unbelievably sad. The castle staff even remark that they wish Anna weren’t so lonely. I was actually surprised by Astrid’s reveal, as there are so many adults who are looking after Anna and even pitying her.
I loved that Anna found herself an unofficial pet to put all her love and energy into. Though it never goes into it, I’d like to think that Anna had pets during her years stuck in the castle. Actually, while reading this, I realized how much Anna mirrors Princess Jasmine. While both princesses experienced life confined within castle walls and could be considered defiant, their overall personalities couldn’t be more different. The isolation made Jasmine cunning and resentful, while Anna fell into her imagination to survive the loneliness. So interesting and so sad, all the same.
Anna’s story is the simplest so far when it comes to conflict, but is still sweet. With a little girl of my own, all it made me want to do was hug her. Anna deserves a hug… as does Elsa. They deserved better.
As mentioned with the others in the series, these are lovely first-chapter books for new readers, especially for all little Frozen lovers out there. Lowstakes, light-hearted, and valuable lessons for all!
July 2, 2020
Sisterhood
A door can separate them, but their bond between sisters is stronger.
I love these stories where we can see how the sister can interact even when they are separate. That’s the lesson.
A door can separate them, but their bond between sisters is stronger.
I love these stories where we can see how the sister can interact even when they are separate. That’s the lesson.
February 19, 2022
Cute for small children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews