Make new friends

Tomasso, the new kid at school, feels the weight of his father's well-intentioned daily question: "Did you make any new friends?" Rather than admit he's sitting by himself at lunch, Tomasso begins creating companions, drawing smiling faces on a milk carton, an eraser, and other objects he finds around school; giving them names; and creating stories to tell Dad at dinner. Eager to celebrate his son's adjustment, Dad nudges Tomasso to invite the new friends for pizza, and the story reaches an extraordinary crescendo. Astutely observational colored pencil and watercolor illustrations by Di Giorgio portray a touching parent-child relationship throughout, but when Dad is confronted with his son's literalized coping mechanism, readers may find themselves holding their breath around his reaction. Dad's ability to meet Tomasso exactly where he is becomes a profoundly moving display of parental love and, as the final pages hint, may even pave the way for genuine connection in the outside world. Protagonists are shown with pale skin; background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)

An imaginative kid makes new friends--literally. New student Tomasso is struggling; his classmates are perfectly polite, but few are truly welcoming, and even fewer seem interested in genuine friendship. Each evening, Tomasso's father asks whether the boy's made new pals; Tomasso promises that he hasn't yet but will soon. Then, during one particularly lonely recess, Tomasso takes a novel approach. Sketching friendly faces onto kickballs, à laCast Away, Tomasso makes two new pals, Roland and Barry. Every passing day offers new opportunities for inanimate intimacies: Coco, a smiling carton of milk; Henny, a paper bag with a wicked sense of humor; Karen, a grinning eraser. Now flush with buddies, Tomasso answers Dad's dinnertime query in the affirmative, prompting his father's excited suggestion--perhaps they'd like to join the two of them for pizza on Thursday! Stein's text captures the experience of loneliness with uncomplicated empathy, and the dynamic he establishes between the single father and son is simply lovely. The narrative's climax delivers affirmation with a just-right sweetness; this portrait of vulnerability offers both guidance to adults seeking to support the youngsters in their lives and reassurance for children. Di Giorgio's artwork conveys a coziness that teems with authentic detail. Tomasso and his father are tan-skinned; the boy's class is diverse. A tender, unexpected portrait of familial acceptance.(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.