Book Description
for We Are (Not) Friends by Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
A sparsely worded picture book succinctly portrays a common social experience. Kang and Weyant’s appealing, now-familiar pair of fuzzy creatures—one tan and one purple—is playing happily when a new, blue creature approaches, asking to join their play. “Yes!” answers Tan, while Purple is not so enthused (“Well …”). Now that the interloper has joined, the game is much less enjoyable for Purple, who has been left out of the others’ duet. But then a new game begins, and Tan is the one feeling left out. An angry outburst leads to greater understanding and reassurances between Purple and Tan: “We are not friends. We are best friends.” “And [Blue] is our new friend?” “Yes.” With that understanding, the three decide on a new game, one in which they’ll take on equal roles. The relatable “three’s a crowd” conflict is resolved with grace as the creatures adjust to their new social dynamic. (Ages 3–6)
CCBC Choices 2020. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2020. Used with permission.