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The Fruit Salad Friend: Recipe for A True Friend
Chloe loves going to school, but the first few days of middle school felt different. Chloe didn’t understand why she didn’t get invited to one of her classmates’ birthday parties, when all the other girls did.
She felt sad and left out. These feelings and experiences were all new to Chloe. She was confused. She had all the ingredients of a great friend yet still wondered, "What do you do when friends don't treat you with kindness?"
Find out how this brave girl navigates the trials and tribulations that pop up on her way to discovering the recipe for lasting friendship. When other kids aren’t kind, will Chloe have the confidence to stand up for herself? Will she choose to surround herself with friends who treat her well?
This sweet children's picture book gives boys and girls a realistic framework on how to handle challenging situations that commonly occur in friendships.
The Fruit Salad Friend by award-winning author Maria Dismondy carries the key message of conflict resolution, friendship and bullying supported by the many advocates of positive parenting solutions. It’s sure to round out your home or school library among other books that focus on being left out, standing up to bullies and having confidence. This includes the work of Gabi Carcie (Listening to My Body) and Grace Byers (I Am Enough).
This book comes with a free Reader’s Guide for children . The guide contains activities asking children to list the characteristics of a good friend, write a book review, categorize the actions of others as friendly or not friendly and more. The guide is available for free download from the publisher website.
She felt sad and left out. These feelings and experiences were all new to Chloe. She was confused. She had all the ingredients of a great friend yet still wondered, "What do you do when friends don't treat you with kindness?"
Find out how this brave girl navigates the trials and tribulations that pop up on her way to discovering the recipe for lasting friendship. When other kids aren’t kind, will Chloe have the confidence to stand up for herself? Will she choose to surround herself with friends who treat her well?
This sweet children's picture book gives boys and girls a realistic framework on how to handle challenging situations that commonly occur in friendships.
The Fruit Salad Friend by award-winning author Maria Dismondy carries the key message of conflict resolution, friendship and bullying supported by the many advocates of positive parenting solutions. It’s sure to round out your home or school library among other books that focus on being left out, standing up to bullies and having confidence. This includes the work of Gabi Carcie (Listening to My Body) and Grace Byers (I Am Enough).
This book comes with a free Reader’s Guide for children . The guide contains activities asking children to list the characteristics of a good friend, write a book review, categorize the actions of others as friendly or not friendly and more. The guide is available for free download from the publisher website.
32 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2018
2 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Maria Dismondy
23 books131 followersMaria Dismondy is an award-winning children's book author. To find out more about her books and her school/event programs, visit www.mariadismondy.com
From the author...
Born and Raised: In a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, I grew up with red shag carpet, The Smurfs and Cabbage Patch Dolls. In my past time, I played flashlight tag with the neighborhood kids and listened to NKOTB aka The New Kids on The Block.
Family: I am lucky to have a large family. I have an older sister, Angela, who also ate spaghetti in a hot dog bun (among other crazy concoctions my mom created for us) growing up. I am married to the coolest guy ever and together, we are raising our baby girl Ruby.
Education: There’s a ton of rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State (are you a maize and blue or green and white fan?) I have to admit, I started going to U of M then happily switched over to Michigan State. I went to college for six years, earning my undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, curriculum and research.
Hobbies and Interests: If there’s something I want to try, I don’t hold back! I have more hobbies than I have hours in the day. My latest and greatest is learning to photography. I wake up each morning, eager to live a full and exciting life, while inspiring and giving back to those around me.
Likes: Salt and vinegar chips, french fries, barbeque sauce, reading, coffee, photography, music (playing the piano), free time, scrapbooking, sunshine, the lake, my family, and my mac book.
Dislikes: angry people, cloudy days, cold french fries, complaints, Folgers coffee, a messy house, a full laundry basket and Open Pit BBQ sauce.
Favorite book as a child: Frances Books by Russell Hoban and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.
Favorite book as an adult: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (I’m a fan for the love stories).
From the author...
Born and Raised: In a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, I grew up with red shag carpet, The Smurfs and Cabbage Patch Dolls. In my past time, I played flashlight tag with the neighborhood kids and listened to NKOTB aka The New Kids on The Block.
Family: I am lucky to have a large family. I have an older sister, Angela, who also ate spaghetti in a hot dog bun (among other crazy concoctions my mom created for us) growing up. I am married to the coolest guy ever and together, we are raising our baby girl Ruby.
Education: There’s a ton of rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State (are you a maize and blue or green and white fan?) I have to admit, I started going to U of M then happily switched over to Michigan State. I went to college for six years, earning my undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, curriculum and research.
Hobbies and Interests: If there’s something I want to try, I don’t hold back! I have more hobbies than I have hours in the day. My latest and greatest is learning to photography. I wake up each morning, eager to live a full and exciting life, while inspiring and giving back to those around me.
Likes: Salt and vinegar chips, french fries, barbeque sauce, reading, coffee, photography, music (playing the piano), free time, scrapbooking, sunshine, the lake, my family, and my mac book.
Dislikes: angry people, cloudy days, cold french fries, complaints, Folgers coffee, a messy house, a full laundry basket and Open Pit BBQ sauce.
Favorite book as a child: Frances Books by Russell Hoban and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.
Favorite book as an adult: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (I’m a fan for the love stories).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 3, 2018
Before I write a review (which might be on the short side due to content and length of the book), I want to state that I received this book as part of a giveaway on Goodreads and also received a copy of a LEGO Friends set. Thank you to Goodreads and the publishing company for allowing me to received both of these items; it was a great experience for my daughter and I to share a book and watch her joy as she built her LEGO set. This giveaway was truly a special one to me!
Although I originally thought I would receive a copy of Spaghetti in a Hot Dog bun, another great (and important) book by Maria Dismondy, but Fruit Salad Friendship was a pleasant surprise! Dismondy has a beautiful way of telling stories that reach to the heart of many early childhood through early adolescent years that touch on important topics, such as friendship, acceptance of others who are different, and celebrating diversity.
Chloe is a young girl who realizes that friendship can be both wonderful and challenging; she is learning to navigate a complex world where she wants to fit in and find her place, but needs to know how to do so in a world where there is a balance of people who are kind and unkind. Throughout the book, Chloe learns the importance of friendship, the heart of acceptance, and how to express herself with confidence. The Fruit Salad Friend is perfect for teaching young girls, and boys, how to become a friend while growing your character.
This book is the perfect anecdote to teach young children, especially those in their preteen years, how to become someone who values others and who has the confidence to assert herself in a world where friendships sometimes don't work out. As a parent, I found that this book perfectly represented my daughter's real-world life and the diversity of characters and details in a lighthearted book was much appreciated. I highly recommend The Fruit Salad Friend, as well as anything by Dismondy!
Although I originally thought I would receive a copy of Spaghetti in a Hot Dog bun, another great (and important) book by Maria Dismondy, but Fruit Salad Friendship was a pleasant surprise! Dismondy has a beautiful way of telling stories that reach to the heart of many early childhood through early adolescent years that touch on important topics, such as friendship, acceptance of others who are different, and celebrating diversity.
Chloe is a young girl who realizes that friendship can be both wonderful and challenging; she is learning to navigate a complex world where she wants to fit in and find her place, but needs to know how to do so in a world where there is a balance of people who are kind and unkind. Throughout the book, Chloe learns the importance of friendship, the heart of acceptance, and how to express herself with confidence. The Fruit Salad Friend is perfect for teaching young girls, and boys, how to become a friend while growing your character.
This book is the perfect anecdote to teach young children, especially those in their preteen years, how to become someone who values others and who has the confidence to assert herself in a world where friendships sometimes don't work out. As a parent, I found that this book perfectly represented my daughter's real-world life and the diversity of characters and details in a lighthearted book was much appreciated. I highly recommend The Fruit Salad Friend, as well as anything by Dismondy!
September 26, 2018
Chloe is struggling. She is unsure why, but all of her friends seem to be doing something else. They are avoiding her and it makes Chloe feel bad. When she arrives home, her father senses her hurt and offers to comfort her. It is through observing a bowl of fruit salad that Chloe has a moment and realizes what she has to do.
I found this book to be very cute. While I did not get the friendship vibe, I did get a nice tale of what it means to be a student in school. Chloe tries to stay positive. Through her positive energy, she is the good friend and remains strong. This allows her to problem solve and find a new way to be happy.
In reality, when we all have friends, there are ups and downs. Sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands and problem solve.
I felt this book to be a very real book. It is filled with realistic life situations and how one girl can make the most of her situation. A very cute read for children who need some reassurance they are not going through this alone.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were in no way influenced by outside sources. I am a professional blogger at Little Lady Plays
I found this book to be very cute. While I did not get the friendship vibe, I did get a nice tale of what it means to be a student in school. Chloe tries to stay positive. Through her positive energy, she is the good friend and remains strong. This allows her to problem solve and find a new way to be happy.
In reality, when we all have friends, there are ups and downs. Sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands and problem solve.
I felt this book to be a very real book. It is filled with realistic life situations and how one girl can make the most of her situation. A very cute read for children who need some reassurance they are not going through this alone.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were in no way influenced by outside sources. I am a professional blogger at Little Lady Plays
May 18, 2021
This is a sweet, heartfelt book for kids about ways to deal with friendship issues at school. Chloe goes through several situations children go through at some point, related to feeling left out. She uses mindfulness techniques (counting to ten when she gets angry and her face feels hot in order to calm down), considering how others feel (acknowledging the boys she usually plays ball with at recess are in bad moods, and finding someone else to play with), and standing up for herself (when her best friend tells her "Jenny is my best friend now. Go sit somewhere else," Chloe replies "Fine. I will sit by someone who is nice to me."). Things do wrap up a bit best-case-scenario with the friends who'd been treating her poorly suddenly being nice to her again, but I suppose kids are rather mercurial at times. The book includes discussion guides for parents, and a cute "recipe for friendship" also. The illustrations are adorable and inclusive, and go well with the text.
May 15, 2018
This book encourages two things at the same time: being a good friend and eating fruit as a snack. First, Chloe encounters all the ways children can be hurtful such as not including her in a game and saying "you're not my best friend anymore, go sit somewhere else". She realizes that there is a girl who is sitting alone and that she can be friendly to her. Secondly, one of her favorite foods is fruit. It shows her Dad working in a garden that includes strawberries with an apple tree in the background. The girl she befriends is also eating fruit salad.
Included in the book are ideas for being a good friend and ways adults can encourage good friendship habits in children. I will share this book with my first grade classes. It is a good springboard for discussion and can be used to promote good practices by teachers or parents.
(I received this book in a goodreads giveaway.)
Included in the book are ideas for being a good friend and ways adults can encourage good friendship habits in children. I will share this book with my first grade classes. It is a good springboard for discussion and can be used to promote good practices by teachers or parents.
(I received this book in a goodreads giveaway.)
January 16, 2019
This seems to be a book about finding friendship in the midst of bullying and the usual adolescent cruelties. But i found it vague and unrealistic. The main character is a sensitive child who is hurt by other kids but just walks away, self-contained as a Buddhist monk. There is a girl who is consistently nice to her and yet she doesn’t become friends with her until the day they both accidentally bring fruit salad for snack. Then suddenly all the bullies are there, also eating fruit salad and everyone is friends. My kids and I were not convinced.
April 24, 2023
Chloe feels left out at school when she doesn't get an invitation to a birthday party, when her peers won't play with her and her usual lunch buddy doesn't want to sit with her. Chloe is upset but uses effective strategies to deal with the problems. At home, she is looking at a fruit salad and identifies her peers from today as sweet or sour. The next day she is determined to spend time only with her sweet friends - and it works! Maria Dismondy has written another great book about navigating the challenges of childhood. There are pages for adults and teachers to help children as well!
March 8, 2023
"Chloe loved being a good friend and looking for the sweetness in others, too."
Chloe recognizes when "friends" aren't treating her nicely and uses strategies to work through the feelings. The Fruit Salad connection comes when Chloe realizes that when put a fruit bowl out, you only put out the sweet fruits, not the ones that are a bit sour (like her friends had been toward her.)
Includes 10 Tips to boost your child's friendship making skills by Dr. Michele Borba.
Chloe recognizes when "friends" aren't treating her nicely and uses strategies to work through the feelings. The Fruit Salad connection comes when Chloe realizes that when put a fruit bowl out, you only put out the sweet fruits, not the ones that are a bit sour (like her friends had been toward her.)
Includes 10 Tips to boost your child's friendship making skills by Dr. Michele Borba.
January 23, 2019
I won this book for a Goodreads Giveaway. It was supposed to be Spighetti in a Hotdog Bun but this was quite a surprise. My 6 year old daughter loves to read this one over and over. At first she is sad that no one will play with Chloe but the ending makes her happy that they have all learned to get along no matter their differences.
April 30, 2021
The subtle growth mindset theme in Fruit Salad Friend shines through as the main character, Chloe, looks for the sweetness in others. Everyone can relate to the universal issue of being left out and learn from Chloe’s wisdom.
June 14, 2018
What a thoughtful story! Truly a pleasure to read.
June 23, 2018
An adorable book with a great lesson message in it. I loved the illustrations too. So cute for this book. My grandkids will love it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews