A Better Best Friend
Published on 1. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
32 pages
978-1-77657-574-9 (ISBN)
Description
A feel-good picture book about best friendship told with dry comedy and an open ending-squirrel and mushroom are best friends until another best friend comes to play.
This morning when I was out walking, I found a best friend. At least I think so. It certainly looks a lot like it! He really has a best friend kind of face.
In this funny picture book exploring a forever childhood question about friendship, squirrel and a mushroom explore the forest through the seasons, show each other special trees, build snow mushrooms, share the good times and bad-which become good bad times alongside a friend.
Then spring arrives, and so does a new friend. And then another. This raises a profound question for an overthinking squirrel: should we have just one best friend?
"This book is adorable!"-starred, Youth Services Book Review
This morning when I was out walking, I found a best friend. At least I think so. It certainly looks a lot like it! He really has a best friend kind of face.
In this funny picture book exploring a forever childhood question about friendship, squirrel and a mushroom explore the forest through the seasons, show each other special trees, build snow mushrooms, share the good times and bad-which become good bad times alongside a friend.
Then spring arrives, and so does a new friend. And then another. This raises a profound question for an overthinking squirrel: should we have just one best friend?
"This book is adorable!"-starred, Youth Services Book Review
Reviews / Votes
"Demonstrates the value of a best friend-or two."-starred, Foreword Reviews "Tallec's charming, child-friendly story captures an ever-present concern of many readers, young and old, and offers an open ending that invites discussion. An outstanding read-aloud for adults and children, bursting with humor and warmth."-School Library Journal "Through a distinctive first-person narrative voice that sometimes verges on stream of consciousness, this book explores the question of what makes a best friend and whether it's possible to have more than one. . . The characters' simply drawn faces are evocative, their expressions rendered humorously hyperbolic through their stylized cartoon-like eyes."-The Horn Book Magazine "Tallec's illustrations reflect the quietly amusing quality of the text while giving each character a distinctive look and creating a beautiful forest backdrop with stately trees, filtered light, and seasonal changes of colors. The idea of finding a friend will resonate with many children, and Squirrel's first-person narrative reads aloud well."-BooklistMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Wellington
New Zealand
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to First Grade, Reading Age: From 7 to 8 years, Interest Age: From 4 to 7 years
Product notice
Picture book
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 205 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight
188 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77657-574-9 (9781776575749)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Olivier Tallec was born in Brittany, France. After graduating from the Ecole Superieure dares Appliques Duperre in Paris, he traveled extensively and now lives and works in Paris. He has illustrated more than sixty books for children. Olivier Tallec was born in Brittany, France. After graduating from the Ecole Superieure dares Appliques Duperre in Paris, he traveled extensively and now lives and works in Paris. He has illustrated more than sixty books for children.