When You Meet My Friend
Mark Sperring and Marisa Morea
Little Tiger

This is a story about being a new member of a school community and a kind narrator who does their utmost to ensure the newcomer feels at home.

First off that newcomer needs to know where to hang their coat and having done that, find a place to sit with the other children for a carpet time learning session. Come snack time it could feel uncomfortable to sit with strangers: a friend is what’s needed – somebody to encourage that new special friend to feel part of things such as art, music, the lunch session and the playground games that follow. Maybe by the afternoon that new friend is ready to demonstrate their prowess at some PE skills.

They are sure to appreciate the budding friendship you are nurturing and after enjoying story-time just prior to going home, your brand-new pal would like to hear how much they will be missed as they run through the school gates to meet the waiting parent who is accompanied by a four-legged friend.

With its amusing final twist, Mark Sperring’s text reads aloud well and together with Marisa Morea’s playful scenes showing the ripple effect of friendship on that first day, this book is sure to make young children in a similar situation feel reassured about what’s to come.