What a wonderful collection of stories to read to your little one! Patricia Furstenberg’s “Happy Friends” is a collection of 12 different stories with characters such as Pete, a yellow toy elephant, a blue lizard named Murphy, the Summer wind, and an adventurous traveling dog named Little Tail. I have to admit that Little Tail was my favorite, although every character was beautiful and had special significance.
It’s been quite a while since I have read a children’s book and I really enjoyed this collection of stories. There are such strong themes of friendship, adventure, and positive thinking from beginning to end! There is such happiness and love and acceptance in this collection, making these perfect stories at bedtime, or especially if your little one has had a bad day and needs their spirits lifted. Furstenberg’s beautiful writing and vivid imagery make these stories wonderful to read aloud, but not at a level too difficult for a child to understand. I loved all of the positive messages and lessons in each story about friendship, especially the beauty of unlikely friendships.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone that loves reading aloud to their children, grandchildren, siblings, and so on. Each story is full of love and happiness that will leave you and your little one with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
FIVE STARS
It’s that time of day, or should I say early evening. The time when, with pyjamas and slippers on, children can curl up on their bed or on the living room couch next to Mom, Dad, or a grandparent – or all of the above and just listen. There are stories that are fables, tales that teach for those who listen and truly have the desire to learn. But the best stories, the best fables are about friends. Because what would life be without friends?
There’s Pete the stuffed elephant who, though left behind in the acorn forest and somewhat lonely at first, always finds a way to be cheerful and he always finds new friends. There’s happiness and joy all around Pete and it’s very infectious. Then there’s Murphy the lizard, Pete’s new friend in the acorn forest. And there’s the ever curious Little Tail, a dog who wants to see and do everything, including finding Snow and making Snow his newest best friend. And there’s Summer Wind and a frozen dragonfly who, once he’s thawed, will help Little Tail find his way back home.
Patricia Furstenberg’s collection of twelve stories, Happy Friends, is a classic collection of stories to charm and to teach young readers the value of life and the value of good friends. Each of the twelve stories stands on its own, but each story interacts with the next as the plot thickens. The individual stories become Little Tail’s journey of discovery as he leaves his home and friends, only to discover that Snow might be interesting, but so are his friends back home.
For as “The Book of Life” says, and is often quoted in Happy Friends, “The time spent in the company of friends will, more than once, become part of our most cherished memories, staying with us for the rest of our lives.” Happy Friends is a treasure to be enjoyed and shared over and over again.
