Thanks for Being My Friend!

Children's Literature

Childhood can be a glorious time. But forces from within and without may cause undo heartache and pressure, causing us to behave in inappropriate ways. Thanks For Being My Friend refers to the forever friendship of Jesus. A series of short stories helps parents and children to explore their feelings by reacting to the characters' choices and applying them to their own lives. Darren's busy family makes time to go on a family outing to find the perfect Christmas tree. Young Darren shows us the real meaning of giving when his tree has something for everyone in the family. Josh's feelings of loneliness compel him to lie and do inappropriate things for others' attention. A camp counselor shows Josh that Jesus loves us in spite of our sins. He is not alone. Being the middle child, Lexee often feels that her older and younger siblings are treated differently than she is. When given the opportunity to do something for her older sister, Lexee learns that being fair doesn't always mean that everyone is treated the same. Shane's new braces make him feel self-conscious. It is not until someone needs his help that he forgets about himself and becomes a true friend. In "Saturday Morning Car Wash," we learn about responsibility and anger when P.R. forgets the hoses. Antonio is being pressured every day on the bus to school to join the boys in the back who do drugs. Through prayer, he realizes that he shouldn't face this alone and confides in his mother. At her big sister's wedding, Jill learns that the way you respond to a compliment can make others feel good as well as yourself. These and other stories help us deal with the pressure of growing up. Following each story is a series of questions fordiscussion, Biblical scripture verses paraphrased in approachable language, and a short prayer to help us. This text would be an excellent centerpiece for religious education or special reflection time between family members. "Let's Talk about It Stories for Kids." 2000 (orig. 1988), Bethany House Publishers, $7.99. Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Leslie Julian