That's What Friends Are For
What’s inside...
Archie Bear is a hero! No blackberry bush is too prickly and no tree too tall to stop him helping a friend in need. But all this helping Rabbit, Moley and Mouse is a messy business! Soon icky juice and sticky mud have covered the new jumper Archie's mummy knitted for him. Oh no! Whatever will he do? A reassuring tale of friendship for all brave little heroes! This sweet, funny tale is written by Julia Hubery (A Friend Like You, Who Loves Baby) and illustrated by Caroline Pedler (Don't Wake the Bear, Hare! and There's No Such Thing As Monsters). Badger, Hedgehog, and the rest of their friends are enjoying a beautiful, hot summer day. Suddenly, Mouse runs up to them. 'The stream has run out of water!' she cries. The friends set off to see for themselves. Badger knows they need to fix things, and quickly. But how?
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes someone a good friend?
How did the characters in the book help each other?
Can you think of a time when a friend helped you like in the story?
Why is it important to be kind and helpful to our friends?
How would you help a friend who is feeling sad or facing a problem?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressions and voice modulation to make the story lively and engaging as you read together.
Relate the story to real-life situations or personal experiences to make the themes more relatable to your child.
Encourage your child to talk about their friends and the qualities they appreciate in them, linking back to the book’s theme of friendship.
After reading, ask your child to draw a picture of a time when a friend helped them, discussing the story’s impact.
Reinforce the story’s messages by praising daily instances when your child is being a good friend, highlighting the traits shown in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of helping others
Explanation: The story illustrates how friends come to aid each other in times of need, demonstrating acts of kindness and cooperation.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by helping their peers in school tasks or sharing their toys during playtime.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: The characters in the book show empathy by listening to each other's concerns and understanding their feelings.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to be considerate of others' emotions and perspectives, fostering better relationships with family and friends.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship
Explanation: Throughout the story, the characters overcome obstacles together, highlighting the strength found in friendships.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and nurture their friendships, recognizing the support and joy friends bring into their lives.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving together
Explanation: The book showcases friends brainstorming solutions to problems, promoting teamwork and collaborative thinking.
Real-World Application: Kids can be encouraged to collaborate with others to solve problems, whether it’s during school projects or in playful scenarios.