FRIENDS TOGETHER (paperback version)
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FRIENDS TOGETHER

A Bear Buddies Learning Adventure Story: learn and practice early social language for making friends and playing together. By Tanya Saunders Illustrated by Faith Broomfield-Payne

Luna Bear is sad because she is on her own and has no-one to play with. Luckily, The Bear Buddies are kind and friendly; they scoop her up and before long, she is one of them!

Introducing the eight Bear Buddies, FRIENDS TOGETHER is all about making friends in the playground, helping children learn and practice early social language and interpersonal skills. In addition to modelling simple playtime language that children will need to make friends and join in, the story demonstrates the importance of inclusivity, acceptance, kindness and diverse friendships.

Onna Bear who wears cochlear implants is a main character who is deaf and a deaf role model

With a cochlear-implant wearing central character, FRIENDS TOGETHER was initially written for deaf children learning to listen and speak but is equally suited to other 3-6 year olds who need a little extra language practice as they transition from home to a school environment. This is a critical time in their developmental journey when children need to learn new language and appropriate behaviour for making friends, playing and thriving in a wider social setting.


This book contains 4 bonus Participation Pages, with fun, interactive activities to help children put their learning into practice, and encourage extended two-way communication between adult Reading Buddy and child. (You can also download a free copy of these pages here - especially useful if purchasing the eBook!)


Primary focus of the book (themes/concepts):

  • Playtime / play language (asking to play, inviting to play, initiating games to play)

  • Saying hello and introducing yourself and others

  • Saying ‘thank you’ and responding ‘you’re welcome’

  • Paying compliments and responding to compliments

  • Expressing basic feelings

  • Appreciating the importance of kindness and inclusivity in the playground

  • Interactive reading and activities stimulating two-way communication between adult and child, which is essential for the development of fluent receptive and expressive language as well as cognitive and social skills.

Secondary focus of the book (themes/concepts):

  • Learning that different words can have the same or similar meanings (synonyms)

  • Sequential time concepts: earlier…now / first…then / now…next

  • Learning left and right

  • Answering ‘Why?’ questions with ‘Because…’

  • Recognising and understanding basic emotions in yourself and others

  • Recognising basic personality traits in yourself and others

  • Recognising and accepting that different individuals have different preferences/quirks/likes and dislikes

  • Understanding that the things that make us different are the things that make us interesting

  • Basic theory of mind - recognising that actions/events have consequences (‘I am sad because…’)

  • Strengthening auditory memory by asking questions about particular characters in the story at the end

 FRIENDS TOGETHER
Author:
Tanya Saunders
Illustrator: Faith Broomfield-Payne
Genre:
Children’s picture/concept book (3-6 years old)
Page Count:
40 pages, full colour illustrations throughout (includes 4 bonus Participation Pages)
Dimensions: 8.5” x 11” / 216mm x 279mm
Weight: 0.274lb / 124g (paperback); 0.882lb / 400g (hardcover)
ISBN: 9781913968069
(paperback); 9781913968076 (hardcover); 9781913968083 (eBook)