![]() There are so many people in the kidlit world who are full of heart and soul and that heart and soul carries over into their writing and or illustration. Salina Yoon is one of these people, and we get to experience this in Be a Friend. And you'll see that if you get to see this book in it's entirety, despite publishing tons of books all over the world, Salina retains a loving generosity and innocence that shines especially brightly in Be a Friend. Be a Friend is a heartwarming story about friendship and courage for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit in. The universal theme of this story appeals to a wide readership; people of all ages can relate to being different, feeling left out or feeling lonely. And, everyone can find hope in its underlying message of individuality, friendship and acceptance. Dennis is a young boy who expresses himself in “extraordinary ways.” Unlike the other children, Dennis does not speak. He does not show or tell. He mimes. He acts in scenes and he dresses like Marcel Marceau, all black and white stripes, a big top hat and a painted face. And, he is happy to be himself. Except that sometimes, Dennis gets a little lonely. While the other kids play, Dennis feels invisible and stuck behind a wall. Yet, even in this isolated space, Dennis does not change himself to fit in. One day, he kicks an imaginary ball and someone catches it! And that’s where the big shift happens for both Dennis and the reader. Salina’s soft, subdued illustrations perfectly complement the simple words of the story. The natural brown backgrounds accentuate Dennis’ black and white stripes, without ostracizing him from the other, more colorfully clad children. His new friend, clothed in black and white polka-dots, has a red stripe around her dress that matches the red heart pinned to Dennis’ shirt and his imaginary world. Eventually, the red, dotted lines bring the two children together and so much more. The illustrations add layers of meaning to the story, to be discovered with each additional reading. We find his special friend has been there all along, in her own world, watching Dennis. Colors have intentional significance. The red, dotted line represents many different emotions, ideas and themes. Dennis’ heart moves as the story progresses. Salina puts deep thought into the smallest details of the book, and this will bring readers young and old back for more. Be a Friend is more than a story about being different. It celebrates individuality and imagination and explores various types of communication. It illustrates the strength and power of friendship and encourages readers, both young and old, to truly see the beauty in others. It’s a beautiful book full of heart and soul and meaning for both children and adults. Yay Salina Yoon! And for those of you who would like to watch a wee video about the book here it is. AND now for the Giveaway - after Salina read this by surprise - she offered a GIVEAWAY autographed copy of this exquisite book!!! Just post a comment below and Salina will send you a copy. Extra points for creativity and you can post twice if you like :) I'll post the winner Wednesday morning with an email to send me your name and address!
And we have a WINNER! Melodye, thank you for your lovely, lovely comments on Salina's fabulous book! I will be contacting you shortly to make sure you receive your new autographed copy of Be a Friend. Congratulations!!
24 Comments
Oh Mira,... this is AMAZING!!!! I can't thank you enough for sharing BE A FRIEND, but mostly, for those lovely things you said about me. I did all that I could to hold back the tears. You are a beautiful person, and I am honored to know you. Thank you! Shine on!!!
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5/16/2016 12:34:27 pm
Beautiful blog post. One of my favorite books and one of my favorite people!
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Tricia Mathison
5/16/2016 12:36:59 pm
A beautiful blog post for a beautiful friend. :)
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Melodye
5/16/2016 01:24:40 pm
Lovely review, so well-deserved. BE A FRIEND is one of those books that "walks away" when friends are over and you've left your copy on the coffee table, unattended. You'll want to give one to everyone you know...and buy another one for yourself. :)
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Jill Jeffries
5/16/2016 02:41:11 pm
Sweet book that could be appreciated by so many kids. Tempting trailer that enticed me!
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Katie Parker
5/16/2016 04:14:10 pm
I recently purchased this for my elementary library and have been happy to share it with many of my classes... What a literary treasure!
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Charisse Tooze
5/16/2016 04:52:29 pm
This feels like such a sweet book. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to indulge in turning the pages on my own.
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Emily Wayne
5/16/2016 05:58:21 pm
Salina is so many kinds of wonderful, I'm so glad I can call her a FRIEND!
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5/16/2016 07:55:26 pm
Some authors make it look SO easy! Salina, that be you. :) This is yet another work of art from you that will touch so many lives in such positive ways. Thank you for sharing your gift.
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5/17/2016 10:27:43 am
This is a sweet and wonderful book written by a sweet soul.
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Judy
5/17/2016 10:46:19 am
I am always looking for meaningful ways to help my three-year old daughter to understand friendship. I will add this to my wish list!
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Ruth Ann Lingwall
5/19/2016 11:00:44 am
I love the illustrations! They are so beautiful and charming!
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We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with awesome Aussie debut author and former student Amanda Lieber who will be focusing on Aussie kidlit. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature our new blogger coming soon. 4th Mondays features new blogger, the fabulous Brentom Jackson, who has a beautiful approach to blogging. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
December 2023
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