Kindergarteners learn to "identify characters, settings, and major events in a story" (Durden, p. 104), which makes What Are Friends For? by Sally Grindley and Penny Dawn an excellent choice. Jefferson Bear looks very different than his friend Figgy Twosocks (a fox). So it's easy to identify the two characters. The setting is described and illustrated. "We share the sky and the hills and the trees," says Figgy Twosocks. The places in the forest where these friends play help children talk about detail. The games they play will be familiar and easy for young readers to comprehend and recall. Their disagreement--the conflict in this story--is also a common occurrence for children. This story shows young readers how to dialogue about innocent mistakes, hurt feelings, and apologies. "A friend is forever," says Jefferson Bear reassuringly. You may like Miss G ELD's graphic organizer "Character, Setting Events." My Picture Book Talk lesson for this story is here .
