BOOKS MAKE GOOD FRIENDS

You’re never lonely with books.

Lotti loves books; reading is easy and fun for her, but making friends is hard. At the library, Lotti asks for a book about friends to help her understand “how they work.” She worries it might be weird to sit next to a schoolmate, but that girl’s an avid reader, too, and before long, Lotti’s made a friend! She discovers bonding with people isn’t so tough and, though “still shy,” she figures out how to befriend a new student. Narrated in Lotti’s self-aware, first-person voice, this book offers an insightful glimpse into a young person’s feelings about friendship, self-worth, personal growth, and passion for books and reading. Throughout, readers will note the spines and covers of actual children’s and middle-grade books on Lotti’s bookshelf, bedroom floor, or in piles. They’ll recognize books they may have already read and will likely find items to add to their own to-read lists, from Louis Sachar's Holes (1998) to Celia C. Pérez's The First Rule of Punk (2017) to Jerry Craft's New Kid (2019). The lively, boldly colorful illustrations are created with gouache, ink, and gel pens. Blond, bespectacled Lotti and her family are pale-skinned; other characters are diverse.

Books do make good friends. Add people, and you’ve got the perfect mix.