For Kids: You'll Always Have a Friend by Emily Ley | A Children's Book About What To Do When You're Lonely
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
This blog post includes affiliate links. View my affiliate disclosure here.
FEELINGS · Picture Book · CHILDREN
You’ll Always Have A Friend
What To Do When the lonlies come
By Emily Ley, Illustrated by Romina Galotta
Published by Tommy Nelson
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Ages 0 - 8
Imagine a world where you always have a place at the table, where you always have a friend. This reassuring and empowering book from Emily Ley helps kids realize that they can always have a place, and offers them practical tools to give them confidence and help them overcome lonely times.
We all know what it's like to feel left out, overlooked, and unseen. And this problem can be so much harder to face when you're a child on the playground, a kid sitting alone in the school cafeteria, and the new kid on the team.
Reassure your children that they are seen. And they are awesome! Help them know that they are not the only ones--everyone has felt lonely or left out at some time or another--and there are lots of ways to always have a friend. You'll Always Have a Friend features vibrant illustrations of a diverse cast of characters and will encourage children to have confidence to make friends and to be a friend to others.
My Thoughts:
This book is a gentle, sweet, uplifting book for children with a strong, secular message for dealing with anxiety or loneliness in a healthy, positive way. While this book does not contain any faith-based elements (outside of one statement reading “You were made with no mistakes”, implying a Creator), this book may encourage little hearts when they’re facing a new school, new town or feeling lonely.
WHAT I LIKED:
The beautiful matte cover with light embossing in the title
The inclusive illustrations that depict children of all kinds, including some with hearing aids, wheelchairs and different needs
The lyrical, rhyming prose
I loved that the words in the book encourage children to be a good friend, to show kindness and step outside their comfort zone by introducing themselves and trying to make new friends or attempt a new sport/team. It makes the concepts feel simple and attainable for little ones. I also loved it also reminded children they can also find friends in adults, pets and even in the pages of a beloved book or story.
Note for my readers:
For our family, we would have preferred the book have a Christian-based message for our daughter that would point her sad or anxious heart to God with a reminder of His constant love and companionship and the ability to always turn to Him in time of loneliness. In our home, we intend to use this book as a conversation starter - something where we will instill Biblical truths and God’s promises while using this book as a tool to demonstrate additional ways our daughter can move through loneliness and times of uncertainty.
