Amitiés

by Charlotte Zolotow, Benjamin Chaud

A child reminisces about her old dear friend who now has a different friend, and though she is bereft, plans to find a new friend herself.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Nature, Fiction, Emotion

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Charlotte Zolotow was a distinguished American writer, editor, and publisher who made a lasting mark on children's literature. Over her career, she authored around 70 picture book texts and edited works by prominent writers including Paul Zindel, Robert Lipsyte, and Francesca Lia Block. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she studied writing at the University of Wisconsin Madison and later joined Harper & Bros in New York, where she worked her way up from secretary to publisher. Her own books were published by over 20 houses, and she became known for her poetic and emotionally insightful texts. Zolotow’s most celebrated works include When the Wind Stops, William’s Doll, and River Winding. Her story "Enemies" was featured in The Big Book for Peace alongside other notable authors. She lived for many years in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Her legacy endures not only through her own writing but also through the Charlotte Zolotow Award, established in 1998 to honor outstanding picture book texts. Her contributions helped shape modern children's literature with sensitivity, elegance, and enduring relevance.

Reviews

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Love the colorful illustrations. The ending of the story is surprisingly blunt. I kind of feel that a new book wouldn't be published that way today. Everyone would reconcile and there would hugs all around.

[Opetoritse]

An odd story about a young boy who grows jealous and lonely when his best friend starts spending time with someone new. The conclusion is abrupt and unsatisfying, and doesn't seem to send a very healthy message about friendship. Chaud's art has a child-like style that fits the narrator's tone, but because most of the illustrations are in the same forrest setting we don't get a lot of visual variety.

[Jared White]

I really don't like that there is no indication that the child even tries to make friends with the new person. Maybe this is a new neighbor, a cousin from out of town, someone who could temporarily or permanently join their duo and make it a trio. Maybe the old friend is showing the new friend all of their old favorite things to do and they're thinking of their old friend, wishing they were there too.

I did like the illustrations okay though so maybe I should have given it another star.

[Rebecca]

One of my favorite picture books from childhood, even though it was a little sad, the beautiful illustrations were a balm for the soul.

[Neha Thakkar]

Old text with new illustrations, promising concept but falls short and also the ending is a bit too vague for the intended age group.

[Beverly]

I read the 2021 edition with illustrations by Benjamin Chaud. I liked the illustrations of the landscapes, trees, birds, etc., but the illustrations of the children made them look like exaggerated cartoons, not in keeping with the backgrounds.

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

THE NEW FRIEND is a picture book about jealousy, evolving friendships, and moving on. A boy enjoys spending time with his friend with the long brown hair. Then, one day, he sees her with someone else, doing all the things they used to do. He goes home and cries all day until he falls asleep. In his dreams, he imagines he has a new friend. The next day, he realizes that he will find a new friend, and when he does, the memory of his friend with the long brown hair won't hurt anymore.

What I loved: This is a topic that is not frequently covered in picture books. Topics of jealousy, the loss of a friend, and moving on are all covered in this simple story. While losing a good friend may hurt, there will be friends in the future, and the book helps to show children their own resilience. The quietly spoken words of the book will speak to the heart, particularly for children who are struggling with changing friendships.

This is a newly illustrated version of an older book, and the new illustrations bring a lot of whimsy to the story. In particular, the dream is quite imaginative and intriguing to examine and explore. Even the forest takes on its own dream-like quality with trees like gemstones. The pictures are unique and really bring the story to life.

Final verdict: A sad yet hopeful story of friendship loss and moving on, THE NEW FRIEND is an intriguing picture book that addresses challenging topics.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jilanne]

I think that a lot of picture books tend to hit kids over the head with life lessons, and sometimes that's not a bad thing. But it's also not art. Art enters into a relationship with the viewer/listener/reader. It allows the reader to find their own meaning or interpretation. It's often open ended to allow for multiple meanings, depending on how you're feeling at the time you read/view it. I can see that some reviewers think it's a "bad" book because it's not a lesson-teacher, but I don't think the quality of a book should be measured with that kind of ruler. This book is a mirror of how relationships change in real life and in this particular way for this child. Some readers will have different experiences, but they should be able to empathize with the experience of this character. And kids who have had this experience will feel seen and understood. Would they make the same choice as the MC at the end of the book, or would they do something differently. It would be an interesting conversation to have with a child. And that's what some of the best picture books do, invite conversations, rather than quick judgments.

[Snail]

After reading a slew of subpar modern books - most with heavy handed morals forced on the reader … this ending made me laugh out loud in surprise. There is no way a book published today in the US would end like this.

I see other’s points about how this story could have gone in different directions, and how it could be read in a negative light. But. It spoke to me in a way that other picture books haven’t - sometimes it’s okay to leave relationships behind, and sometimes that’s the best thing to do.

I like how many elements of the book including the illustrations are open to interpretation. (I chose to read all the characters as female, for example.)

[Aubariah]

This is a beautifully illustrated book that has a bizarre message. It handles the very real and normal issue of childhood jealousy, but the apparent lesson is to hope to no longer care one day. It would be a better story without any lesson, simply depicting how hard it can be to see a friend happy with someone else and serve as a talking point for a further conversation. As it stands, it is a story that makes the heartache of loving someone and the jealousy that can attend it seem like the problem.

[Paula Smith]

Well this was depressing.

I’m still not even sure if the girl was imaginary or real or a ghost or what. Felt like the MC was having a psychotic episode tbh lol. And the friend then made a new friend and the main character (a child btw) was a stalker and watched her hang out with her new friend. And instead of talking to her and maybe becoming all friends and playing together, he said “ya know what? I’m gonna make an even better friend and I won’t care about my first friend anymore.” That’s a weird ending to a child’s book. Yikes.

[Jean]

I'm not sure what the author was trying to convey in this story. A child's friend starting hanging out with someone new. So the child decides to completely dump them and look for a better friend they'll one day meet. I guess maybe it's ok to move on from friendships, but it seems odd there wasn't some chance to try talking to the friend again. That sometimes it's ok to share your friends and to not be their only companion.

[Diane]

They were the best of friends until one day they weren't. One day when she goes to her friends house, she isn't there ... she's actually playing with another friend. So the girl imagines her own new friend, but it's not quite the same.

This is such a difficult part of childhood that so many kids go through. This would be a good book to read aloud and discuss ... it's just a little hard to follow, at times.

[Molly Cluff (Library!)]

I read the new 2021 version. Oh my goodness, this is so precious--a bit sad, too, seeing kiddos going through trouble with friends. Great to read with any child who is having trouble with drifting away from friends. The illustrations were whimsical, lighthearted, and colorful. I loved the lush greens in the forest settings.

[Katie Lawrence]

This is my first time reading this story which was originally published in 1968. I love the illustrations and Zolotow perfectly captured the pain and confusion a child might feel if their friend moved on to new friendships. The ending allows for some hope for future friends and allows the narrator to move on while still respecting children's emotions and the realities of changing friendships.

[Terresa Wellborn]

Poignant, poetic picture book with old school illustrations, except they only appear old school because it's 2024 and the book was published in 1968 (!!). Beautiful book that hits notes both sweet & tender and sad & thoughtful. Would recommend sharing with kids who might be in-between friends.

Themes: friendship
Ages: 2-4th grade
Pub year: 1968

[Mehsi]

Gelezen in het Nederlands, te moe op dit moment om dit boek in die taal toe te voegen, ik moet al een paar andere boeken straks toevoegen. Dit was een OK boek, over vriendschap, over samen heel veel moois doen (wat enorm zoet was), maar wat als je vriendinnetje een ander vindt, jaloezie, en dan de hoop op iets nieuws. Waarvan we een kleine hint krijgen, komen dromen toch uit? De illustraties vond ik het beste van het hele boek, een prachtige en leuke stijl.

[Maureen]

Text was originally published in 1968, and would have been perfect timing, as a 7 year old just moving to a new state and school -- don't remember it though. This new edition has fresh illustrations accompanying a poignant story of friendship and its ending. Nicely done.

[Lillian Slater]

I feel like maybe the moral of this story should’ve been “you can have more than one friend and your best friend can have other friends” rather than “my best friend has a new friend so we can no longer be friends.”

[Peacegal]

Wistful little slice-of-life story about the changing nature of friendship. Kids will relate to the story of a friendship that drifts apart, but I agree with other reviewers who note that if this book were written today, the outcome would have been handled differently.

[Lbsantini]

Lovely illustrations. And yes, I can understand feeling jealous when your friend makes another friend, but is this is hardly a reason to abandon old friends or look for new ones. And how passive aggressive the last line is.

[Rosa]

siccome mi occupo di bambini, di conseguenza cerco albi illustrati.
Questo a mio avviso è uno dei migliori albi sul tema dell'amicizia, spiega nel modo più naturale come le amicizie si perdano e si ritrovino nel corso della vita.

[Kelliane]

Amitié est un livre qui m’a énormément déçue. Visuellement, il est magnifique : les illustrations sont superbes. Toutefois, pour un ouvrage censé transmettre un message sur l’amitié, je ne le trouve pas du tout adéquat.
Ce livre avait été acheté dans un contexte scolaire, pour la matière CCQ, mais le message véhiculé me semble problématique. Lorsqu’un ami se fait une nouvelle amie, au lieu de montrer l’ouverture, l’inclusion, la création d’un trio ou l’apprentissage de la gestion de la jalousie, le récit propose plutôt de ne faire aucun effort et d’aller simplement vers une autre personne pour « trouver sa personne ».
Je ne suis pas certaine que ce soit le message que nous souhaitons transmettre à nos élèves, surtout dans un contexte où l’on valorise l’inclusion, l’adaptation et la cohabitation des relations. Pour cette raison, malgré sa beauté visuelle, ce livre fera l’objet d’un retour.

[Alessandra Gamboa]

This book is a good reminder for kids of all ages that we may face setbacks and pain, but we can still choose to feel hopeful and happy. We cannot always control circumstances in life, but we can absolutely control how we choose to feel about them.

[Laura]

Latest edition of this classic story featuring magical illustrations by the wonderful French artist Chaud.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[A.]

Such a resonant and real life experience, the loss of a young friendship and the pangs of envy, anger, sadness, and grief that follow.

[νίκη κωνσταντίνου-σγουρού]

*ένα πολύ πολύ ρεαλιστικό βιβλίο για τις φίλες που μοιράζονται μήλα και γλιστερές πέτρες 🌲

[Erin]

This is beautifully illustrated but it ultimately let me with a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't find it poignant, just sad.

[Angie]

Simple and short phrases with big bold illustrations.