About this book

“This thoughtful book is sure to spark conversations between child readers and sympathetic adults.” — The Horn Book

"A wonderful story for children and adults that reminds us about the importance of feeling all of your feelings." ⁠— Amanda Mintzer, Psy.D, Child Mind Institute

"The friendship between Oskar and Aya feels authentic, and the illustrations evoke ease and harmony." ⁠— Tara Sanabria Davila, LCSW Assistant Professor of Social Work, Yale Child Study Center

Aya and Oskar love to go on big adventures, build amazing creations, and make up stories together. But when Oskar gets sad, his feelings grow so big he doesn’t want to play. And that leaves Aya feeling hurt and confused. How can she help when she doesn’t know what Oskar needs?

With candor and compassion, this heartfelt story shows that big feelings are a normal part of life — something to be felt rather than fixed — and models how to be an ally when someone you love is hurting.

Reviews

Praise for When a Friend Needs a Friend:

“The mixed-media illustrations are a moving blend of naive and expressive, capturing a child’s perspective with visible strokes of color and purposely askew collage elements. Recurring motifs lend a sense of harmony and support the emotional core of the story. . . . This thoughtful book is sure to spark conversations between child readers and sympathetic adults.” — The Horn Book

"A wonderful story for children and adults that reminds us about the importance of feeling all of your feelings. Aya and Oskar help kids to see that even strong feelings do not last forever. Sometimes the best we can do is to simply support one another rather than try to make things better." ⁠— Amanda Mintzer, Psy.D, Child Mind Institute

“Children often feel powerless and powerful at the same time. When a Friend Needs a Friend helps to convey that duality. The friendship between Oskar and Aya feels authentic, and the illustrations evoke ease and harmony.” ⁠— Tara Sanabria Davila, LCSW Assistant Professor of Social Work, Yale Child Study Center