Caspian Finds a Friend: (Picture Book about Friendship for Kids, Bear Book for Children)

by Jacqueline Veissid, Merrilees Brown (Illustrator)

Overview

Caspian Finds a Friend is an imaginative picture book about how the power to change our world lies within ourselves.

Caspian lives in a lighthouse surrounded by a cold gray-blue sea—every day, he watches, wishing for a friend, but no one comes. So, Caspian decides that wishing is not enough.

What follows is a friendship story between a boy and a bear that is tender, warm, and perfect for gift-giving.

• Features lyrical text and evocative illustrations
• Teaches the lesson about how reaching out to others can change everything
• Story is fresh yet enduring and familiar

Caspian Finds a Friend is a warm and evocative storybook that strikes a universal chord.

Featuring a cuddly bear and a relatable protagonist, this picture book is perfect for gift-giving and bedtime snuggles for children between the ages 4 and 7 years old.

• A wonderful gift for parents, grandparents, teachers, educators, librarians, and those looking for a stunning story about making friends
• The perfect gift for your little reader who loves bears
• Great for fans of Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, and Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452137803
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jacqueline Véissid can often be found staring out at the sea, wishing for a new picture book idea. She lives in Hull, Massachusetts. This is her second book.

Merrilees Brown studied fine art painting and drawing as well as documentary photography. Originally from London, she now lives in Philadelphia. This is her first book.

Editorial Reviews

"The striking, stylized art and text work perfectly together to create a whimsical, nonthreatening story that still has plenty of action and adventure-with the bonus of not one interfering grown-up... Bedtime or naptime perfection."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"[B]eautiful. an extraordinary adventure."—Booklist

"A quote by Rumi ("What you seek is seeking you") sets the stage for this gentle story about friendship and longing. Beautiful illustrations and a sweet story warrant purchase of this dream-like adventure, perfect for bedtime and small group sharing." —School Library Journal

"[B]eautiful. an extraordinary adventure."—Booklist

"A quote by Rumi ("What you seek is seeking you") sets the stage for this gentle story about friendship and longing. Beautiful illustrations and a sweet story warrant purchase of this dream-like adventure, perfect for bedtime and small group sharing." —School Library Journal

"A lonely little boy wishes for a friend and bravely takes steps to find one in Jacqueline Véissid and Merrilees Brown's dreamlike picture book."—Shelf Awareness

"The striking, stylized art and text work perfectly together to create a whimsical, nonthreatening story that still has plenty of action and adventure-with the bonus of not one interfering grown-up... Bedtime or naptime perfection."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"A lonely little boy wishes for a friend and bravely takes steps to find one in Jacqueline Véissid and Merrilees Brown's dreamlike picture book."—Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

10/11/2019

PreS-Gr 1- A quote by Rumi ("What you seek is seeking you") sets the stage for this gentle story about friendship and longing. A lonely child living in a lighthouse surrounded by ocean sends a message in a bottle across the sea, writing "Will you be my friend?" When he receives a one-word message back, he sets off on a journey to find the note's author. Will he succeed? And what was the answer? Debut illustrator Brown is a talent to watch. Digital illustrations in a fresh color palette combine oil paint, relief print, and charcoal to create a striking world. The artist does an excellent job of utilizing spreads to change the perspective of the story, zooming in and out throughout, giving the narrative immediacy and movement. The book's layout integrates text into the illustrations without clashing with the action happening in the art, and creates a lovely visual treat. VERDICT Beautiful illustrations and a sweet story warrant purchase of this dream-like adventure, perfect for bedtime and small group sharing.-Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, WA

School Library Journal

★ 2019-08-26
How will a lonely boy in a lighthouse find a friend?

Caspian is a self-sufficient young boy who probably ages from 6 to 7 during the story. The opening double-page spread immediately draws readers into Caspian's world of both natural beauty and isolation. Against a stark white background, a lighthouse sits above a sheer cliff of sand and rock. Far below and to the right, the tiny figure of Caspian is visible on a small sliver of land, gazing toward the sea. The opening words inform readers that Caspian lives in the lighthouse. Poetic lines about Caspian's life follow: "Every day, he watches the waves, / wondering, waiting, wishing for a friend." When he gets no results from beaming his lighthouse light, a delightful double-page sequence shows Caspian printing a message on a paper, emptying a translucent green jug of its flowers, and carefully pushing his rolled-up message into it. More lyrical text and dreamlike art follow, as Caspian sends his message out to sea, waits for months, and eventually gets a one-word response. He rows his little boat out under the night sky's constellations, and eventually he meets up with the friend who will bear him back home. The striking, stylized art and text work perfectly together to create a whimsical, nonthreatening story that still has plenty of action and adventure—with the bonus of not one interfering grown-up. Caspian is depicted with pale skin, straight, dark hair, and dark eyes.

Bedtime or naptime perfection. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews