How to Spot a Best Friend

by Bea Birdsong, Lucy Fleming (Illustrations)

Do you know how to find a best friend? Find out in this wonderful celebration of kindness and friendship!

Today, I will find a best friend! announces a little girl to her mother as they walk to school. Her mother reminds her that it's only the first day of school, and finding a best friend might take some time. But the girl isn't worried, because she knows exactly how to spot a best friend. A friend lends you a crayon. A best friend lends you a brand-new, extra-sharp green crayon, she explains. And so begins a whimsical exploration of what it means to be a best friend. Full of imagination and charm, this is the perfect picture book for little ones hoping to find--and be--a best friend at school.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 22, 2021

About the author

Bea Birdsong is the author of I Will Be Fierce!, Sam’s First Word, How to Spot a Best Friend, Boop!, Goat Is the G.O.A.T., How to Grow a Family Tree, That Is Not a Dog!, and Me Too!

Bea is also a former teacher who believes in the awesome power of books to educate, entertain, and empower. Visit her online at beabirdsong.com and connect on social media at @BeaBirdsong.

Reviews

[Marcia]

How To Spot a Best Friend by Bea Birdsong and illustrated by Lucy Fleming is a delightful book. I especially appreciate that this story for young children shows that everyone has the potential to be a best friend. Rather than singling out and preferring one pal, you can be best friends with anyone and everyone and just may find they treat you in kind. The illustrations are adorable with cheerful children in various depictions and situations. Nice how this lovely picture book covers both friendship as well as the first day of school and gives kids discreet tips for making new friends.

[Lisa Stroh]

I did like the story. The spread with the boy in a wheelchair pushing a friend on the swing was not appealing to me. I would have liked to see the boy in the wheelchair on a swing made for him.

I was going to give this a 2 star as it was just okay. But the end was the best!

[Dedra Davis]

HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND left me with chills, and that's how I know this is a good book. The illustrations are cheery and lovely. You follow a little girl as she excitedly walks to the first day of school with her mom and as SHE explains to her mom how she will find her best friend. It's a must-read friend story and a must-read first day of school story. It's a must-read!!

[Ashley Jones]

“How To Spot a Best Friend” by Bea Birdsong is about how to know what a best friend looks like. The book dives into what a friend will do, while they add a special step to what a best friend can do. Every other line, there is an emphasis on when discussing what a friend does versus what a best friend does. Both examples are a great insight to the qualities it takes, there are just extra details to what makes a friend closer to someone. The qualities that are mentioned contain supporting a friend when the other is down or if the friend won a competition they entered as well. There are many great examples of what it takes to be a friend and by the end of the book, the author mentions that being a great friend for someone else is what completes the idea of friendship. There cannot be a one-sided friendship, both people need to give support and make the friendship work from both ends. Nodelman describes in “How Picture Books Work” the idea that the characters “exist only so that we can look at them; they invite us to observe”. This is evident throughout the book as all the characters are facing the reader. The activities they do may not always have all the children facing one way, but because of the book and showing the actions of the characters, they are faced towards the reader to subtly show what they are participating in.

[Gmr]

This is a beautiful book with a message that's perfect for any age group. Our darling little narrator takes us step by step through the process of spotting a best friend...with the most important one saved for last. She's right though...on every level. It takes one to know one and it's not simply about showing up, but actually BEING there. It's about the little things and the big things, caring and sharing, ups and downs, smiles and frowns. It's not just agreeing that something is wrong, but helping to do something about it. It's not about congratulating them in times of joy, but celebrating with them so they know they're a star. The same goes in the other direction though and while it may be difficult to find at times, when found it is most definitely easy to spot.

A great read to ease the apprehension of the first day of school, or even heading back out into the crowded world after this pandemic, and a wonderful way to remember that kindness starts with us. It is the responsibility of each of us to put our best foot forward, offer a helping hand, or share a smile to brighten a day...and when we find those the reciprocate, it can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.


***copy received for review; opinions are my own

[Elise Phan]

In “How to Spot a Best Friend” by Bea Birdsong, the little girl explains to her mother the difference between a friend and a best friend. She explores what constitutes a best friend and how a best friend should treat their friends with kindness and love. However, the main point that she builds toward is that in order to find a best friend, the reader must treat others with the same kindness and love. This book is an important lesson to the little ones because they need to learn that their actions toward others matter as well. There can be many friendships that are one-sided, so this book puts into perspective that children should treat others the way that they want to be treated. At the end of the story, the little girl is seen walking through the school door, which can be a symbol of her new opportunities to make long-lasting and valuable friendships. Oftentimes, “gates, doors, windows, and stairs” serve as a representation of change and growth (Moebius). The little girl has a strong mindset and is determined to spot someone to befriend, however, she knows her worth and how she should be respected and loved. This book is very sweet and is an important lesson to teach young readers to treat people with the same attitude that they expect others to reciprocate.

[Rose Rosetree]

WHO says WHAT to WHOM?

On her way to school, a little girl explains to her mother the differences between a friend and a best friend.

Thank goodness, the mother knows a heck of a lot more about what a "best friend" means, compared to the narrator. Except for the very last page, every single way to spot a best friend is EXACTLY what one would expect from a very inexperienced-and-immature person.

At least this book is front-loaded with one intelligent statement from Mama:

"It's only the first day of school," Mama says.
"Finding a best friend might take a while."

Sure, I'll rate this as a FIVE STAR book. Because some readers (of any age) might prefer to confuse "Best Friend" with "Friend." Just as the little narrator-girl does.

Hey, that's a way to learn about relationships. Not a way I would recommend, however. Personally, I wish the mother had talked more.

[Katie]

A cute story about a little girl telling her mom how to tell a friend from a best friend. The illustrations are what make this book great. Each time the child describes an action the illustration shows them at school with a different classmate. I especially enjoy how the potential best friends are all of her classmates, including children of different genders, abilities, and who both do and don't look like her. It is not 5 stars, because the reading implies a best friend will be chosen, and the reader will learn who the best friend will be, but at the end of the book, no best friend is chosen. This leaves it a bit flat, and with a feeling of being unfilled.

[A.]

A sweet addition to the back-to-school shelves, this one is especially good for classrooms that incorporate social emotional learning with its concrete examples of behavior and ultimate message that you have to be a friend to a make one.

Minor gripe (I know, you can't win) but the spread with the kids on the swings was a missed opportunity. First off, the blonde woman in the background looks like the kid in the wheelchair's mom -- is their home really going to have that plain old swing set and not an ADA accessible seat? Second, why is always a white boy in the wheelchair? Just saying.

[Sarahs Reads ToKids]

I love the art work in this book and the story is so sweet. The main character tells her mom how she and the reader can spot a best friend. She tells her mom the difference between what a friend would do in situation and what a best friend would do in the same situation. The ending for this story is perfect.

I read this to my 7 year olds and 8 year old at home and we liked this story. I think most children will enjoy this story the illustrations. I think the target audience would be preschool up to first grade age and would best read during back to school season.

[Madison Shiflett]

I thought that this book was amazing! It tells the story of a young girl, who is convinced she knows exactly how to find a best friend. The young girl explains all the things that a friend would do, in comparison to a best friend. It ends by saying that in order to find a best friend, you have to be a best friend too. This book had a beautiful message, that is perfect for younger kids who are starting to find new friendships. The illustrations in this book were beautiful as well, making this book even greater!

[Diane]

“A friend swings on the swings with you. A best friend gives you a push.”

A little girl is sure she will find a best friend on the first day of school because she knows exactly what she is looking for and explains, in great detail, how friends and best friends are different. She has some simple examples and some more complex examples. She also knows that the most important way to find a best friend is to be one first.

Good for a social emotional read aloud.

[Marsha]

This children’s book about what makes a best friend is very specific but also general enough to apply everywhere. Best friends look out for you. Besties look out for each other. Yes, it’s a trite message but delivered here with so much warmth and vivacity that you can’t help but sigh and smile.

This book is a gentle primer for children about how to be a best friend as well as how to find one. It may also make adults nostalgic about their best friends, in youth and beyond it.

[Jared White]

A little girl tells her mother many ways you can tell if someone is a friend or best friend (generally being helpful, kind, and empathetic). She ends with saying one of the best ways to make a best friend is to be a best friend and that is quite wonderful advice.

There's a good bit of racial diversity and also in two page spreads there is a boy in a wheelchair.

[Alissa Faust]

A super cute picture book with great illustrations. A gel is telling her mom all about how to spot a best friend. She tells all the ways you can distinguish a friend from a best friend. The ending is the best, and I’m grateful it ended that way because I was using the same narrative all the way along!

[Amy]

A truly charming look at what makes a good friend and how to BE a good friend. I loved the darling illustrations and the format of a little girl explaining to her mom everything she knows about friendship. This is a great story to discuss the magic of friendship.

[Kim-Hoa Ung]

A cute story about friendship. So fun and interesting to see the little girl take charge and knowing what a best friend is and what it takes to be one. Bea's words make the text fun and the illustrations are so cute. A great book for kids everywhere. I love it!

[McKayla Costillo]

This book was sweet. It was about a little girl telling her mom that she was going to meet her best friend on the first day of school, and it went from there. It was a cute story and the end was the best.

[Anthony]

A young girl is determined to find a best friend on the first day of school. Her mother thinks this is an insurmountable task. But the girl explains to her mother that uings tried and true methods will land her a, best friend

[Pinky]

A little girl tells her mom how she will pick a best friend at school.

[Sarah]

This book is so sweet and fun. It's also perfect for the beginning of the school year. The illustrations are absolutely adorable, too.

[Ann]

Helpful hints on how to really be a good friend, maybe even a best friend.

[Patty]

All kinds of things that a best friend does for you.

[Judy Ripke]

A wonderful book to help children think about what it really means to be a friend.

[Melissa the Librarian]

I like how this book talks about friendship, but I don't love the focus on "best" friends. I think this book is more about spotting a good friend!

[Kelly Taylor]

Charming illustrations and a good outline of how to be a good friend. My only complaint is that it doesn't flow particularly well. Nevertheless, I'd still recommend it.

[Kristin]

More instructive than entertaining, but I could see this being used in a friendship story time.

[Lisa D]

Cute book about friendship

[KaitandMaddie]

Solid advice for making friends.

[Maarika N]

Kaunite piltidega armas raamat. “Pead lihtsalt ise☺️ ka parim sõber olema”. Nii lihtne see ongi.😉