What are friends for? by Sally Grindley and Penny Dann
(1998) is one of my favorite books. I love the characters. They are
distinct personalities. J B, Jefferson Bear, is a great big, round, brown bear. Figgy
Two Socks is an energetic fox with two white front feet. J B tells Figgy Two Socks that a
friend is for playing, so they play hide and seek. Jefferson Bear says that
best friends share their favorite things, so Figgy Two Socks searches for blackberries
to share. When Jefferson bear pulls a thorn out of Figgy Two Socks’ paw, we
learn that friends are for helping one another. When JB gets angry because
Figgy Two Socks wakes him up from a nap, it's feelings that are hurt. Jefferson Bear must look, and look, and look to find his friend, who has hidden away, worried their friendship is over. Jefferson
Bear apologizes because friends are forever.
