The Buddy Bench

Having seen what being left out is like, children become agents of change, convincing their teacher to let them build a buddy bench. A school playground can be a solitary place for a kid without playmates; in one survey, 80 percent of 8- to 10-year-old respondents described being lonely at some point during a school day. Patty Brozo’s cast of kids brings a playground to raucous life, and Mike Deas’s illustrations invest their games with imaginary planes to fly, dragons to tame, and elephants to ride. And these kids match their imaginations with empathy, identifying and swooping up the lonely among them. Buddy benches are appearing in schoolyards around the country. Introduced from Germany in 2014, the concept is simple: When a child sits on the bench, it’s a signal to other kids to ask him or her to play.

Five friends from diverse backgrounds learn how to navigate common childhood challenges, new experiences, and the world around them in the realistic and kid-friendly Confetti Kids early chapter books.In this story, Padma is excited about meeting new people at school. Making friends comes easily to her, but she soon discovers that it can be hard for others. When she notices a boy sitting by himself every day, Padma enlists her friends to create a buddy bench, where kids can go if they need a friend.

On a surprisingly snowy day in Texas, a young student finds himself braving recess alone. That is until he spots a new face sitting on the school's Buddy Bench. After a quick introduction, the two spend their recess discovering fun ways to enjoy the snow. By the end of recess, both kids leave the playground with a brand new friend.

Turn a gray day into all the colors of the rainbow by sitting down on a buddy bench and having a chat with a friend in this imaginative Level 2 Ready-to-Read inspired by Crayola colors! When someone is feeling sad or lonely, it’s up to all of us to help him or her feel better! In this story, a group of kids is creating a buddy bench for the playground. But they can’t decide how to paint it. Read this book to find out what colorful solution they come up with. This picture book includes a backmatter section on the history of buddy benches, tips on being kind, and how to make your own buddy bench! © 2019 Crayola, Easton, PA 18044-0431. Crayola Oval Logo is a registered trademark of Crayola used under license.

A shift in perspective can change everything. This brilliant new novel from the author of The Seventh Most Important Thing celebrates kids who see the world a little differently. April is looking for an escape from the sixth-grade lunch hour, which has become a social-scene nightmare, so she signs up to be a "buddy bench monitor" for the fourth graders' recess. Joey Byrd is a boy on the fringes, who wanders the playground alone, dragging his foot through the dirt. But over time, April realizes that Joey isn't just making random circles. When you look at his designs from above, a story emerges... Joey's "bird's eye" drawings reveal what he observes and thinks about every day. Told in alternating viewpoints--April's in text and Joey's mostly in art--the story gives the "whole picture" of what happens as these two outsiders find their rightful places.

An adult picture book story exploring the end of life's questions.

Cozy illustrations make this the perfect introduction to the joy of school. A diverse class of excited youngsters are about to start school and experience all its wonders! Small moments like discovering one's own cubby space and big moments like a first nature walk are all brought to life with inviting artwork. This is a great book to help familiarize children with all the activities they can expect at school, from circle time to snack time to goodbye time, all the while sharing the experiences with lots of great new friends.

Annie and Lillemor are best friends for many reasons: they are both seven, love the colors pink and purple, and can speak two languages. (Annie is sure Oinky Boinky counts.) But when a new girl who seems to have even more in common with Lillemor arrives, Annie feels left out. Will she lose her best friend? Or is there room in their friendship for one more? A funny, note-perfect tale of friendship that’s sure to strike a chord with grade-schoolers.