When I first saw the title Friends Again, I imagined that this book would tell the story of two friends who had gotten into a fight. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it tells the story of a brother and sister.
Henry and Emma are both playing alone, enjoying quiet activities. Henry is creating an airplane, while Emma reads a book. She soon puts it down and goes skipping through the house, lost in the imaginings the story has brought to mind. Henry sees her coming and yells for her to watch out, but his sister isn’t paying attention and trips over the plane, smashing it into several pieces.
An angry Henry takes revenge by destroying something of Emma’s. This, of course, angers Emma, who hadn’t meant to break her brother’s plane.
Both siblings shout at each other and retreat to different areas, feeling angry and sad over what happened.
Their remorse is so great that they both begin to feel sick to their stomachs. These feelings of regret prompt both to contemplate their actions and eventually apologize, as they realize that their relationship is more important than the things that were broken. Furthermore, they come to understand that they must never do anything to hurt each other and their relationship.
This sweet story by Karine-Marie Amiot (Magnificat/Ignatius Press) helps young children learn to analyze their feelings of anger and frustration when something goes wrong or when someone hurts them, and it can be a great conversation starter as they learn how to deal with these feelings. Parents can use this story to help kids understand that it’s okay to feel angry, but it’s not okay to hurt someone else or take revenge if someone hurts them.
My favorite part of this book is the fact that the siblings consider each other friends. One of the best gifts we can give to our children is a sibling, and as parents, we should foster a friendship between them. This delightful book helps kids see that their closest allies and best friends throughout life should always be their brothers and sisters — as family is truly a gift.
As you read, make sure to pay special attention to the illustrations by Violaine Costa, as they enhance the story by adding many tiny characters with adorable facial expressions for the reader to discover. Young children will likely identify with the characters and their feelings and will hopefully feel comfortable opening up to discuss their own feelings. This book is a great addition to any home with small children.
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Copyright 2020 Susan Ciancio
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