In this companion to best-selling titles A Family Is a Family Is a Family and A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid, a child explores how to make a friend.
When a child arrives at summer camp, they see a lot of other kids. Will any of them want to be their friend?
One by one, the kids share their thoughts on friendship. One child makes friends by asking questions, while another says you can be friends even if you don’t speak the same language! Listening to each other’s stories, liking the same things and showing kindness are among the many ways of being a friend. And in the end — whoever you are — the best way to make a friend is to be one!
Author Sara O’Leary and illustrator Qin Leng have created a delightful, heartfelt, inclusive book about making and being a friend — the final title in the Who We Are trilogy.
Key Text Features
dialogue
illustrations
speech bubbles
vignettes
Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
In this companion to best-selling titles A Family Is a Family Is a Family and A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid, a child explores how to make a friend.
When a child arrives at summer camp, they see a lot of other kids. Will any of them want to be their friend?
One by one, the kids share their thoughts on friendship. One child makes friends by asking questions, while another says you can be friends even if you don’t speak the same language! Listening to each other’s stories, liking the same things and showing kindness are among the many ways of being a friend. And in the end — whoever you are — the best way to make a friend is to be one!
Author Sara O’Leary and illustrator Qin Leng have created a delightful, heartfelt, inclusive book about making and being a friend — the final title in the Who We Are trilogy.
Key Text Features
dialogue
illustrations
speech bubbles
vignettes
Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Apr 7, 2026 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 8.5 in x 10 in |
| Keywords | summer camp; sleep-away camp; campfire stories; outdoor education; forest school; environment; Montessori; books about; gift book; read-aloud; read-along; educational book; social-emotional learning (SEL); award-winning series; |
| Written By |
SARA O'LEARY, an author of books for children and adults, has won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People. Her notable picture books include A Family Is a Family Is a Family (USBBY Outstanding International Books) and A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid (TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist), both illustrated by Qin Leng, and The Little Book of the Little Brontës, illustrated by Briony May Smith, praised by SLJ for its “exquisitely crafted text.” Sara lives in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. |
| Illustrated by |
QIN LENG is a highly acclaimed illustrator and author of picture books and graphic novels. Her work appears in the award-winning Who We Are series by Sara O’Leary; Trèfle by Nadine Robert (Governor General Award); Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki (APALA Award, Governor General’s Award finalist); and When I Found Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam (Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award finalist); among others. Qin has written and illustrated I Am Small and Fantastic Lou: Little Comics from Real Life. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Written By |
|
SARA O'LEARY, an author of books for children and adults, has won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People. Her notable picture books include A Family Is a Family Is a Family (USBBY Outstanding International Books) and A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid (TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist), both illustrated by Qin Leng, and The Little Book of the Little Brontës, illustrated by Briony May Smith, praised by SLJ for its “exquisitely crafted text.” Sara lives in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. |
| Illustrated by |
|
QIN LENG is a highly acclaimed illustrator and author of picture books and graphic novels. Her work appears in the award-winning Who We Are series by Sara O’Leary; Trèfle by Nadine Robert (Governor General Award); Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki (APALA Award, Governor General’s Award finalist); and When I Found Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam (Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award finalist); among others. Qin has written and illustrated I Am Small and Fantastic Lou: Little Comics from Real Life. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Key Text Features | dialogue; illustrations; speech bubbles; vignettes |
| Common Core | CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 |
“An irresistibly charming conclusion to the creators’ beloved trilogy.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A helpful, jovial addition ... for collections with its gentle guidance on friendship and how to cultivate it.” — School Library Journal
“Equal parts earnest and humorous, [A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend] captures the fears, joys, and fun of making friends and invites readers to take the plunge.” — Horn Book
“An encouraging tale about finding your place among others when you’re far from home.” — Foreword Reviews
“A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend is an excellent option for parents and educators looking for a way to help young readers ease social anxiety or build social skills.” — Quill & Quire
“The colourful, activity-filled pages will have readers wanting to join in the laughing, sharing, climbing, running and exploring. ... A wonderful book to share with children to talk about relationships and what friendship means to them.” — Calgary Herald