Come Sit with Me: Making Friends on the Buddy Bench (Ready-to-Read Level 2)

by Tina Gallo, Luke Séguin-Magee (Illustrations)

Turn a gray day into all the colors of the rainbow by sitting down on a buddy bench and having a chat with a friend in this imaginative Level 2 Ready-to-Read inspired by Crayola colors!

When someone is feeling sad or lonely, it’s up to all of us to help him or her feel better! In this story, a group of kids is creating a buddy bench for the playground. But they can’t decide how to paint it. Read this book to find out what colorful solution they come up with. This picture book includes a backmatter section on the history of buddy benches, tips on being kind, and how to make your own buddy bench!

This paperback edition comes with a sheet of friendship-themed stickers featuring Crayola colors!

© 2019 Crayola, Easton, PA 18044-0431. Crayola Oval Logo is a registered trademark of Crayola used under license.

Genres: Childrens, Friendship

32 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2019

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Besides the story, there were a couple of pages discussing the history of buddy benches. There was also information on how to ask about getting your school a buddy bench.

[Jaime · Rating 1 out of 5]

Julianna says she would give book a zero. Because it mentioned that kids are sad lonely but I think she does not understand project. Kids painted the buddy bench and if anyone was sad or lonely they would go on bench and then someone else would join them to talk or go play.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere a Crayola marketer is drooling in delight. Since this book is a thinly disguised excuse to discover Crayola-brand crayons... and tie in product with associations of friendships and fun.

The story isn't much but, hey: Tips on "Being kind" are included, along with something so exciting. Can you bear it, Goodreaders? The paperback edition comes with a sheet of friendship-themed stickers featuring Crayola colors! Wow, that's great. Because...

Why read when you can draw with crayons?

WHAT STRIKES ME AS THE SADDEST THING ABOUT THIS SAD EXCUSE FOR A BOOK?

It's the expressions. Most of the kids wear fake little smiles. But on every double page spread, if there are any children in sight, at least one of them is sporting a GIGANTIC and totally insincere smile. Practically makes my skin crawl.

RATING THIS BOOK

My policy is to rate a book in terms of whether intended readers would like it. For this piece of work, I gather that the intended readers aren't interested in much beyond friendship, bland cliches, and getting to color with crayons... evidently, coloring instead of doing that boring thing called "reading."

FIVE STARS. Sob.

Eventually this readership may fall in love with reading, and discover the amazing adventure of reading a real story; a story written with love and caring imagination by a dedicated author of books for young readers.

That won't likely happen if all they see are "books" like this one.

For good measure, I'll add a COMMENT below, as well.

[Hwee Goh · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the girls were just starting to read, these Ready-to-Read books were very important to their journey.

This cute little reader is about the Buddy Bench programme that has sprouted in some places around the world.

If a child didn’t have anybody to play with at the playground, he or she could sit at this bench and other kids would know to ask them.

In this book, a group of kids decide to create a buddy bench and they have to figure how to paint it. I really like the extras at the back about the history of the Bench and some ideas about what it means to be kind, and to pay attention to a friend who might be quieter than usual.

📚: @definitelybookskids

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of school mates decide to make a buddy bench, but can't decide on what color to paint it. Each person wants to paint it their favorite color, or of something or someone they are fond of. This book also tells the history of how the buddy bench began.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great easy reader about a class participating in the national buddy bench movement where a bench is put in certain place and when someone sits on it the person is looking for company. Here the class is trying to figure out what color to make the bench. Preschool and up

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This idea went viral - to have a buddy bench at school. I know the school that I teach second grade at has a buddy bench.
It's predictable but teaches a great message.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids have different ideas on what color to paint the Buddy Bench. A creative solution is found.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope my schools will have buddy benches! I will do my best to be a good friend.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't give my 7 year old daughter much trouble. We had never heard of a buddy bench before.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all do the same thing, in our special colors.

[Camie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice explanation of the Buddy Bench.