friendship: 11 Articles

Better Together: Interview With the Author

What’s better than a book about a band that welcomes a new member? A sequel about working out the challenges of growing and changing friendships! We interviewed author and illustrator Chloe Douglass about her new book, Better Together, the follow-up to Band Together. Here’s what she had to say:    APA: After writing Band Together, why did you decide to write this story about the members of the Band?  Cover idea Cover idea Chloe Douglass: I was interested to see what would happen to the band after Duck joined and they welcomed a new friend to the group and how that might change the dynamics within the band. I think we’ve all experienced this at some point.     APA: You explore some really powerful feelings with Seagull. She feels envy, ignored, pushed aside, sad, angry, lonely, and jealous. Why do you think it’s important for kids to explore these feelings? CD: They’re powerful feelings, and it’s ok to feel all of them and see how they might affect your own and others. I hope the book can be a starting point for conversations about an experience  readers might have with these emotions, or help them be better able to put themselves in other people’s shoes. They’re all feelings a reader is bound to experience sooner or later, like someone new at school joining your friendship group, or you’re the new person. Either way, I hope the book can help discussions from both viewpoints.     Seagull boils over APA: You describe how Seagull’s body felt when the band played Duck’s song instead of hers: “Seagull’s insides began to flutter, then rumbled, and finally boiled over.” Why was it important to include a description of how Seagull’s body reacted to big emotions?   CD: Feelings can manifest in so many ways, and that includes physical sensations. Again, it could be a conversation starter, learning to recognize how certain situations or things make us feel before you might lose your temper, or get control on rising anxiety before it takes over.    APA: Some readers might find they have more in common with Bear, Duck, and Fox. How did they not notice how Seagull felt? Were they just not paying attention? Were they carried away with someone and something new? Were they taking Seagull for granted?  CD: Absolutely this! We’ve all been there at some point. It's really exciting when someone new joins a group of friends, or a new baby becomes part of the family. But it can be easy to overlook those who might feel a bit left out, or those who don’t want the status quo to change. It’s not always intentional, from both sides, but when you realize that you’ve overlooked someone's feelings, you can make amends and be more aware going forward.     Seagull's Song APA: Tell me about writing the songs in the story: Work It Out, Better Together (Birds of a Feather), and Super Duper

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Better Together: Interview With the Author 2022-09-27T11:46:20-04:00

Better Together

Seagull has always been the lead singer and songwriter of The Band...until Duck joined. Now Duck is writing songs, and Bear and Fox seem to like them better! Seagull feels pushed aside and like she’s not even part of The Band anymore. Will Seagull’s jealousy make her quit The Band? Would a solo act give her all the attention she’s missing out on? Can this friendship be repaired? This heartfelt sequel to Band Together explores some difficult emotions of like envy and jealousy, and the ups and downs of friendship. Hear Chloe Douglass, the author and illustrator, read Better Together  aloud. Follow Chloe on social media:  @chloillustrates for Twitter and @chloeillustrates for Instagram.

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Better Together 2022-09-14T19:47:55-04:00

Making Friends and Nurturing Friendships

The United Nations proclaimed July 30th International Friendship Day. “The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.”   Magination Press books can help kids develop that understanding and respect for diversity with our stories that explore the ins, outs, ups, and downs of friendship. Check out some of our newest titles: Peacock and Sketch by Allan Peterkin, MD  A gorgeous peacock hatches an escape from the zoo in search of fame, only to realize that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be, and that instant stardom can be tough and beauty is more than feathers deep. Check out the book here.  Read an excerpt from the Reader’s Note about friendship and social media here. My Story Friend by Kalli Dakos There is the person who tells the story. This is the storyteller. And there is the person who listens to the story. This is the story friend. After a long journey, a child finds someone in this world who will listen to their stories, even the scary ones. Check out the book here.  Read an interview with Kalli Dakos about creating My Story Friend here.   Band Together by Chloe Douglas Duck loves peace and quiet! When a rowdy band asks him to join the show, he agrees, but gets nervous to perform with them. Why would they want him to play with them? A charming tale about being with friends and making new ones. Check out the book here. Hear Band Together read aloud here. Read an interview with Chloe Douglass about creating Band Together here. Keep an eye out for Better Together, the sequel to Band Together, coming out in September. It’s a classic battle of the band tale, where envy gets side-tracked by the sweet revenge of reconciliation and friendship. Check out the new book here.    Too Shy to Say Hi by Shannon Anderson Shelli wants to make friends, but being shy stands in her way. She decides to take brave steps toward breaking out of her shell. Check out the book here.  Hear Too Shy to Say Hi read aloud here. Read an excerpt from the Reader’s Note in Too Shy to Say Hi here.   Baby Blue by Judi Abbot Baby Blue is a little boy who lives in a blue world, full of blue trees, flowers, and animals. One day, he accidentally tears a hole in the world and a strange light pours in. Through the hole, he can see a world that isn’t blue, and another little person like him. Though Baby Blue is scared, he overcomes his fear and introduces himself to Baby Yellow. Check out the book here.  Hear Baby Blue read aloud here.  Read an interview with Judi Abbot about creating Baby Blue here.   Like Ability: The Truth About Popularity by Lori Getz, MA and Mitchell J. Prinstein, PhD Like Ability is a practical, insightful guide for teens

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Making Friends and Nurturing Friendships 2022-08-01T22:12:17-04:00