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Lucy #2
You Will Be My Friend!
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2011)Lucy wants to make a friend today!
But it's harder than it looks.
Will Lucy give up before she finds a friend?
Will YOU be Lucy's friend?
But it's harder than it looks.
Will Lucy give up before she finds a friend?
Will YOU be Lucy's friend?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2011
15 people are currently reading
1423 people want to read
About the author
Peter Brown
30 books1,488 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books.
"Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.
After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.
Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.
Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York."
Source: About Peter Brown.
Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books.
"Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.
After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.
Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.
Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York."
Source: About Peter Brown.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
July 19, 2019
Lucy is going to make a friend today. She is excited and tells her mother "the forest is crawling with fun critters. Surely ONE of them will want to be my friend." Lucy sets off on her adventure with ideas of what she will do with her new friend: cartwheels, picnics, climbing trees, swimming, and a dance party. The first critter she meets is a frog. She is so excited to be friends with the frog that she jumps into the small pond, splashing all the water out and the frogs too. Things didn't work out and so Lucy continues her search for a friend. She meets all sorts of critters, but one thing or another happens and the new friendship doesn't happen. Finally, when Lucy despairs of ever finding a friend, a flamingo asks Lucy to be his friend. They do all the fun ideas Lucy wanted to do with a friend.
This delightful, funny book about friendship will keep young readers engaged with Lucy's adventures. The narrative is in blue rectangular boxes while the dialogue is in speech bubbles. The construction-paper type illustrations are lively and colorful. The author lists his "three important lessons about making new friends. Lesson 1: Always be yourself. Lesson 2: New friends appear when you least expect it. Lesson 3: Do not scream, 'YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND!' at people. Trust me, that never works." This book I feel will appeal to prekindergarten and up.
This delightful, funny book about friendship will keep young readers engaged with Lucy's adventures. The narrative is in blue rectangular boxes while the dialogue is in speech bubbles. The construction-paper type illustrations are lively and colorful. The author lists his "three important lessons about making new friends. Lesson 1: Always be yourself. Lesson 2: New friends appear when you least expect it. Lesson 3: Do not scream, 'YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND!' at people. Trust me, that never works." This book I feel will appeal to prekindergarten and up.
June 27, 2013
Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!
This is a nice story about perseverance and dealing with frustration and how to make friends. Lucy starts off with a good idea–she decides to make a new friend, and thinks of all of the fun things that they can do together. Unfortunately, it’s harder than it sounds to make a friend who likes the same sorts of things that Lucy likes, and sometimes they like things that Lucy doesn’t like. When she gets frustrated at how hard it is to make a friend, she ends up being bossy and ordering creatures around and being a bit of a bully. It’s not until she calms down that someone comes up to her and asks to be her friend, and they play all their favourite games together.
The pictures are big and bright and make it easy to follow the action of the story. The words alternate between narrative and dialogue, so the older reader can point out to their audience when Lucy is speaking, and sometimes just read the story. This also lends itself to reading the story aloud, since the reader can make Lucy’s voice distinct from the narrative. The theme of making friends is something that everyone can relate to, and the difficulty of the narrative and the vocabulary are suitable for preschool-aged children, which is the age when children start to socialize more with their peers.
Peter Brown includes some advice for making friends on the back flap of the book:
Lesson 1. Always be yourself.
Lesson 2. New friends appear when you least expect it.
Lesson 3. Do not scream “YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND!” at people. Trust me, that never works.
This is a nice story about perseverance and dealing with frustration and how to make friends. Lucy starts off with a good idea–she decides to make a new friend, and thinks of all of the fun things that they can do together. Unfortunately, it’s harder than it sounds to make a friend who likes the same sorts of things that Lucy likes, and sometimes they like things that Lucy doesn’t like. When she gets frustrated at how hard it is to make a friend, she ends up being bossy and ordering creatures around and being a bit of a bully. It’s not until she calms down that someone comes up to her and asks to be her friend, and they play all their favourite games together.
The pictures are big and bright and make it easy to follow the action of the story. The words alternate between narrative and dialogue, so the older reader can point out to their audience when Lucy is speaking, and sometimes just read the story. This also lends itself to reading the story aloud, since the reader can make Lucy’s voice distinct from the narrative. The theme of making friends is something that everyone can relate to, and the difficulty of the narrative and the vocabulary are suitable for preschool-aged children, which is the age when children start to socialize more with their peers.
Peter Brown includes some advice for making friends on the back flap of the book:
Lesson 1. Always be yourself.
Lesson 2. New friends appear when you least expect it.
Lesson 3. Do not scream “YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND!” at people. Trust me, that never works.
April 13, 2017
You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown was published by Hachette Book Group in 2011. The book is only 32 pages long and the genre is fiction. This book best accommodates students in prekindergarten to kindergarten. The lexile level is AD260L and the guided reading level is L.
You Will Be My Friend! is about Lucy who wakes up one morning and decides that she is going to make new friends. Lucy quickly finds that making friends is harder than she thought – she is much too big for frogs’ pond and she accidentally ruins giraffes breakfast. Then, just when she is about to give up, an unexpected friend finds her and loves her for who she is. This is a heartfelt story that offers a bit of humor about two themes, persistence and friendship.
I would use this book at the beginning of the school year and when needed to discuss making friends with both kindergarten and prekindergarten classrooms. In the back cover of the book Peter Brown gives three important lessons he has learned over the years about making new friends – “lesson 1: always be yourself, lesson 2: new friends appear when you least expect it, and lesson 3: do not scream, “You WILL be my friend!” at people. Trust me, that never works.”. I would use Peter Browns lessons to begin a class conversation and graphic organizer listing appropriate ways to make new friends and less than appropriate ways to make new friends.
CCLS.SL.K.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
You Will Be My Friend! is about Lucy who wakes up one morning and decides that she is going to make new friends. Lucy quickly finds that making friends is harder than she thought – she is much too big for frogs’ pond and she accidentally ruins giraffes breakfast. Then, just when she is about to give up, an unexpected friend finds her and loves her for who she is. This is a heartfelt story that offers a bit of humor about two themes, persistence and friendship.
I would use this book at the beginning of the school year and when needed to discuss making friends with both kindergarten and prekindergarten classrooms. In the back cover of the book Peter Brown gives three important lessons he has learned over the years about making new friends – “lesson 1: always be yourself, lesson 2: new friends appear when you least expect it, and lesson 3: do not scream, “You WILL be my friend!” at people. Trust me, that never works.”. I would use Peter Browns lessons to begin a class conversation and graphic organizer listing appropriate ways to make new friends and less than appropriate ways to make new friends.
CCLS.SL.K.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
September 10, 2013
Ohhhhh, I was a Lucy. I did everything my teachers and parents told me would help me make friends, but I think I was just always a LITTLE too loud, and LITTLE too big, or a LITTLE too obnoxious for many people. But Lucy found a friend, and so have I. The art is fabulous, Lucy's expressions are RIGHT ON, and I always love a self-portrait for an author's picture in the back of the book.
March 7, 2018
Lucy is trying way too hard. People can tell, Lucy. That's why you don't have any friends.
May 11, 2019
Lucille Beatrice Bear returns in this second picture-book devoted to her adventures, following upon
Children Make Terrible Pets
. Announcing one day at the breakfast table that she intends to make a friend, Lucy sets out into the woods, attempting to ingratiate herself with every creature she encounters. Unfortunately her efforts lead only to disaster, as she accidentally destroys other animals' homes, or makes inopportune remarks. Eventually giving up in despair, Lucy is thrilled when someone asks her to be his friend...
Every bit as entertaining as its predecessor, You Will Be My Friend! features the same warmhearted but overeager and slightly oblivious ursine heroine, who once again enters eagerly into a new project - in the earlier book it was pet ownership, here it is friendship - only to find things not going exactly to plan. Peter Brown's tale offers an amusing object lesson in the wrong way to approach friendship, demonstrating that attempting to force oneself on others is probably the worst way to go about it. The artwork here is humorous and heartwarming, easily engaging the reader's attention. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Children Make Terrible Pets , or who is looking for children's stories about friendship.
Every bit as entertaining as its predecessor, You Will Be My Friend! features the same warmhearted but overeager and slightly oblivious ursine heroine, who once again enters eagerly into a new project - in the earlier book it was pet ownership, here it is friendship - only to find things not going exactly to plan. Peter Brown's tale offers an amusing object lesson in the wrong way to approach friendship, demonstrating that attempting to force oneself on others is probably the worst way to go about it. The artwork here is humorous and heartwarming, easily engaging the reader's attention. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Children Make Terrible Pets , or who is looking for children's stories about friendship.
February 2, 2012
Lucy the bear has decided to make a new friend today. She sets off on many adventures in the forest to make this new comrade only to find it much more difficult than she expected. Becoming exasperated (some of my favorite illustrations,) she almost gives up but perseveres and accomplishes her goal in the end. This loving tale of friendship gives the reader both entertainment and a wonderful teachable moment. A teacher or parent reading this story to a child can help them see that making new friends can be a little difficult but it is also very fruitful. In a classroom setting, the illustrations bring to life the importance of friendship and the wonderful excitement of a new book.
Seeing the cover for the first time I knew that I was going to love the illustrations of this book. It immediately caught my eye with it's lively title and the adorable main character, Lucy. Peter Brown did an amazing job, both writing and illustrating "You Will Be My Friend!". Lucy's adventures in the forest to find a new friend are hilarious and poignant for children all at the same time. The message of the story along with the colorful and child-pleasing artwork makes it my nomination for the Caldecott. Not only were the illustrations and story well done but the way the text was arranged gave readers a new and innovative way to read. My Caldecott award would have definitely gone to Peter Brown's "You Will Be My Friend!".
Seeing the cover for the first time I knew that I was going to love the illustrations of this book. It immediately caught my eye with it's lively title and the adorable main character, Lucy. Peter Brown did an amazing job, both writing and illustrating "You Will Be My Friend!". Lucy's adventures in the forest to find a new friend are hilarious and poignant for children all at the same time. The message of the story along with the colorful and child-pleasing artwork makes it my nomination for the Caldecott. Not only were the illustrations and story well done but the way the text was arranged gave readers a new and innovative way to read. My Caldecott award would have definitely gone to Peter Brown's "You Will Be My Friend!".
January 7, 2014
This is a book kids will still enjoy even after they've switched to novels. It's just funny! Lucy is such a character. With her seagull-shaped eyebrows, square head, and squarish ideas of friendship, she bulldozes others in efforts to get a friend. Kids will enjoy her failures as much as root for her. As an added perk, this main character is a girl wearing a pink tutu, and yet boys will enjoy the story as much as the girls for Lucy's physicality and comic misunderstandings. I love it when she tells the egg that it WILL be her friend: "I can wait." What a show-down! I published a book in 2006 about a character seeking a friend, but my story was geared for two-year olds, and while there are similar obstacles, like the bunny eating bark to make friends with the beavers, Peter Brown's version for older kids allows for greater subtleties in social dynamics that makes the book hilarious on every page. Fun stuff!!! At first it seemed random that the flamingo wanted to be her friend, but then I turned back to the climactic page when she's at her wit's end, and there he was, a distinct character much moved by her lonely cry. Yay!
October 11, 2011
Lucy wakes up ready for adventure, and as she tells her mother, she plans to make a new friend today. But doing so is harder than it sounds. Things go awry quickly when she splashes out all the water in one potential friend's pond, and interrupts another's breakfast. As she tries to fit in with her possible friends, she becomes more and more frustrated; in fact, she even starts demanding that the animals she meets be her friend, a practice that sends them scurrying away as fast as possible. Just when she is ready to quit, a green polka-dot-wearing pink flamingo befriends her. The pencil, cut construction paper and wood illustrations were manipulated digitally and combine with the text to remind readers to be themselves rather than trying to emulate those around them. This one would fit well with Emily Gravett's Blue Chameleon, who faces a similar dilemma.
November 25, 2011
I'm a little confused as to what the message of this children's book is supposed to be. Annoy the shit out of people until someone randomly wants to be your friend? I was pretty sure given the first few pages that this was going to be some kind of lesson, like 'hey don't ruin people's stuff because then they don't want to be friends with you'. But no. In the end she just collapses after a long day of being a miserable brat and it just so happens that someone wants to be her friend. Apparently good manners and being respectful to others won't get you friends, but dumb fucking luck will. So so confused.
September 29, 2011
Read this to a kindergarten group today. Funny voices? check. Good pictures? check. Lots of laughter from the audience? check.
This is a perfect read aloud. I loved the mom's voice and character in the story... Peter Brown got that exactly right.
I added a few repetitions to Lucy's speech. Built up the excitement of a frantic five year old bear.
Bring on more perfect read alouds like this one!
This is a perfect read aloud. I loved the mom's voice and character in the story... Peter Brown got that exactly right.
I added a few repetitions to Lucy's speech. Built up the excitement of a frantic five year old bear.
Bring on more perfect read alouds like this one!
February 5, 2016
I found the 1st full of humor and cute, but in this one, our bear-girl was overacting a little too much. Some of her mistakes while trying to befriend other animals were not particularly funny or charming or cute, so I didn't really enjoy the story. Luckily, the art was really good so it was pleasant to look at the pages.
September 26, 2019
I relate to Lucille on so many levels.
February 7, 2022
I hate to admit it; but I was a Lucy! I tried everything to make friends. I would agree with everyone, never had an opinion, always went along with the crowd... but never felt comfortable!
Even now, at the age of 65, I have trouble making friends. But the friends I do have, are ones that are lasting and permanent!
I know that there are five people in this world who are my friends and that I can always count on! I feel very blessed!
The number used to be six, but my dear friend/ "Mother", Grandmother to Katherine - Eleanor, passed away last October. We had been friends for over 40 years! I think about her everyday!
Hopefully, children who read Lucy, will learn how to make a dear friend; and more importantly, be able to keep that friend close!
Even now, at the age of 65, I have trouble making friends. But the friends I do have, are ones that are lasting and permanent!
I know that there are five people in this world who are my friends and that I can always count on! I feel very blessed!
The number used to be six, but my dear friend/ "Mother", Grandmother to Katherine - Eleanor, passed away last October. We had been friends for over 40 years! I think about her everyday!
Hopefully, children who read Lucy, will learn how to make a dear friend; and more importantly, be able to keep that friend close!
December 21, 2020
I hadn’t read this book with the kids for sometime. It tends to not get a lot of attention in our house. I ended up liking it more this time because I think it’s a good depiction of making friends. You can’t force it, you can’t be disingenuous, it has to happen naturally to be a real friendship that lasts.
September 22, 2019
This book is super fun to read to a group of kids, especially since it can be difficult sometimes to make friends. I like that it shows Lucy's journey with finding the perfect friend. Funny.
For: bear fans; reader wanting a book about making friends.
Possible red flags: anger and tantrums.
For: bear fans; reader wanting a book about making friends.
Possible red flags: anger and tantrums.
April 4, 2020
This is a wonderful book for childeren!
December 12, 2022
A psychotic bear learns that you can’t MAKE someone be your friend in this funny and relatable book that readers of all ages will enjoy.
July 10, 2022
They must be... in a zoo?
March 3, 2020
Made me chuckle
September 25, 2018
Used in my classroom (special education)1/2 graders. Good examples of how not to be a good friend.
October 16, 2011
This is quite a charming book. I chose it because, of course, many people throughout my life have called me Claire Bear so I thought the bear on the cover was fitting for me. Lucy is a quirky square bear kind of like me. Her character made me chuckle, especially the part where she's trying to wash the skunk's smell away and asking the ostrich how it feels to fly. I like the meaning though, because it's about finding good people in your life when you least expect it.
October 7, 2012
This is the hilarious story of a bear who decides she will make a new friend but goes about it all wrong. After scaring most animals away or annoying them, she finally finds an equally gregarious flamingo who just happens to be looking for a friend. I liked the comic-style word bubbles and the muted colors in this book. Great for storytime!
September 20, 2013
Lucy decides to make a new friend and makes plans of all the things they will do together. But something always goes wrong. Just when it looks like Lucy will never find a new friend, something changes. Uncomplicated plot about perseverance and how to be a friend, bold illustrations and a cute bear make this an appealing story for primary age children.
September 19, 2011
Decided to give this one a try after hearing so much about it from Mr. Schu Reads. Very sweet and funny story with laugh out loud illustrations, my favorite being the annoyed ostrich. Good for helping a little one understand the boundaries of friendship.
March 23, 2012
I'm definitely late arriving on the "Peter Brown is awesome" bandwagon. Lucille, you crack me up! Lucille is having a hard time finding a friend where she can be her self despite her best efforts. Spot on illustrations paired with laugh out loud funny text make this a great read aloud.
August 29, 2011
Lucy is back and she is looking for a friend. But will her enthusiasm get in her way to finding that perfect friend. This is a "makes me giggle" not just smile book.
November 24, 2011
That bear looks scary. I'm afraid of what might happen if I refuse her offer for friendship.
November 30, 2012
A book about making friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews