Stories for Growing
Cover of Be a FriendAges 3 to 8
Respect

Be a Friend

Salina Yoon

Ages 3 to 8
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 3–8; Publishers Weekly: 3–6

The age tag follows Kirkus: Be a Friend. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Selected for a preschool kindness reading list.

A child who enjoys mime finds a friend willing to share his way of playing.

Good forMaking friendsMannersDisrespect

Recommended by Happily Ever Elephants

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What children see in the story

Primary interpretation: respect. Moments 3 and 4 model meeting another person on their terms and sustaining a relationship that accepts that difference.

Why it’s on these shelves

Respect
Dennis likes mime better than talking, and he feels apart from the other children. Joy answers his imaginary ball and joins his way of playing, and the two paddle a pretend boat together.

Why pick it up?

Friendship becomes possible without requiring Dennis to abandon how he communicates.

A note for parents

Mime may need a short explanation. Dennis’s communication style is not a defect to correct, and the sources do not establish a medical diagnosis.

Where this recommendation comes from

Happily Ever Elephants

Selected for a preschool kindness reading list.

Read Lauren Bercuson’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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