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Reviewed by Irene S. Roth, for the National Writing For Children Center

Title: You are Friendly
Author: Todd Snow
Illustration: Melodee Strong
Reading Level: Ages 4-6
Soft Cover: 22 pages
Publisher: Maren Green Publishing, Inc., 2008
ISBN: 987-1-934277-18-8

Todd Snow’s book is a wonderfully crafted story about friendliness. The author shows the many ways individuals can be friendly. Kids will absolutely love Snow’s way of illustrating emotions and gestures of friendliness. What the reader finds out is that there are so many ways of being friendly. And friendliness makes other people feel warm and good. Friendliness also makes people happy. And sometimes, when we are friendly, we make another person’s day.

Being friendly is free and takes very little effort. All you have to do is to want to be friendly. For some people, being friendly is easy, while for others it’s much harder. However, it is never impossible to be friendly, if we’re willing and eager to try.

The illustrations in the book draw the reader into the attitude of friendliness. The kids in the illustrations look so happy and content because they are friendly. Most of the readers would try to be friendly after reading it. It is so enticing and mesmerizing. I found the book to be very encouraging too. I recently read the book to a group of four and five-year-old children. They were entranced by the book and wanted me to read it a second time.

About the Author: Todd Snow lives in Minnesota with his wife, author Peggy Snow, and their young daughter. He is also the author of Manners are Important for You and Me,
Feelings to Share from A to Z, Kindness to Share from A to Z, and the You are Important book series.

About the Illustrator: Melodee Strong draws inspiration from her South American heritage and the African American Community. She has received awards from the Society of Illustrators. Melodee also illustrated Colourful World and the You are Important board series.

About the Reviewer: Irene S. Roth is a freelance Writer for kids and young adults. Her work has been published in Girls’ Life and Boys’ Life. Roth is also a reviewer for the Muse Book Reviews and The National Writing for Children Center. Visit her website at www.sites.google.com/site/irenerothfreelancewriter.