Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! By Cori Doerrfeld – ESSENTIAL

Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! By Cori Doerrfeld. PICTURE BOOK. Dial (Penguin Random), 2019. $18.  9780525554233

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) -ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This book is the story of a little girl and the variety of hello’s and goodbyes in her life. “Every goodbye leads to a hello” is the mantra and it plays out in a heartwarming way as the little girl meets a new friend and says goodbye to sitting alone. Another example is: goodbye to daytime fun and hello to the fun that can be had at night like looking at the stars and roasting marshmallows. It also touches sadness as her goldfish dies and the friends make artwork to show how much they miss him (hello to a full heart). The end if this story is particularly touching.

This is a beautiful book that gives a totally new perspective on hello’s and goodbyes that is both charming and tugs at the heart strings. The illustrations are an intrinsic part of telling the story and require some thinking on the part of the reader. A teacher could use the concept of hello and goodbye for an engaging activity that asks students to give examples from their own lives. The artwork is large enough to share with a group and features harmonious colors and downright adorable characters.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.