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Making a Friend: A Heartwarming Picture Book About Beaver and Raccoon Building Friendship in the Snow for Kids
A clever picture book about the fun of making new friends and building unlikely relationships—and playing in the snow! From the bestselling author of
Nugget and Fang.
Beaver is good at making just about everything...but not friends. One winter day, Beaver sees some snowflakes in the sky and gets a great idea: he’ll make a friend. Yes! A snowman will be a great friend!
Raccoon passes by as Beaver sets to work and offers a helping hand. The two work side by side to give their snowman everything a friend needs.
But when the snowman proves to be a little cold, Beaver discovers that he may have unknowingly “made” another buddy instead.
Perfect for snuggling together for a read-aloud, this sweet snowy friendship story from Tammi Sauer and Alison Friend will warm the hearts of young readers.
Beaver is good at making just about everything...but not friends. One winter day, Beaver sees some snowflakes in the sky and gets a great idea: he’ll make a friend. Yes! A snowman will be a great friend!
Raccoon passes by as Beaver sets to work and offers a helping hand. The two work side by side to give their snowman everything a friend needs.
But when the snowman proves to be a little cold, Beaver discovers that he may have unknowingly “made” another buddy instead.
Perfect for snuggling together for a read-aloud, this sweet snowy friendship story from Tammi Sauer and Alison Friend will warm the hearts of young readers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Tammi Sauer
47 books135 followersTammi Sauer is the author of Cowboy Camp (Sterling, 2005), Chicken Dance (Sterling, 2009), Mostly Monsterly (Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2010), the forthcoming Princess-in-Training (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and something that's currently Top Secret.
Tammi and her family live in Oklahoma with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish.
Tammi and her family live in Oklahoma with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
January 15, 2022
Beaver has a talent for making many different things, but he doesn't have much luck making friends. He is ready to give up after the failure of so many attempts, when the snow begins to fall, and it occurs to him that he can make his own friend! Then Raccoon happens along, and the two solitary woodland creatures band together, making their snowman friend. But is he what they're really looking for...?
A sweet meditation on the importance of friendship, and how we might find it, Making a Friend pairs a gentle, heartwarming tale from author Tammi Sauer with cute-as-a-button artwork from illustrator Alison Friend. The idea that sometimes the best friendships evolve naturally, through common interests, and participating in an activity together, is worked naturally into the story, which ends in a most satisfactory way. Recommended to anyone looking for new children's stories about friendship.
A sweet meditation on the importance of friendship, and how we might find it, Making a Friend pairs a gentle, heartwarming tale from author Tammi Sauer with cute-as-a-button artwork from illustrator Alison Friend. The idea that sometimes the best friendships evolve naturally, through common interests, and participating in an activity together, is worked naturally into the story, which ends in a most satisfactory way. Recommended to anyone looking for new children's stories about friendship.
November 2, 2018
I love this book's core message of an inadvertent discovery - where working together to accomplish a mutual goal, can result in the creation of a friendship.
While Beaver can make amazing things - such as a multi-story lodge with a slide, striped socks, and sweaters - he couldn't seem to make a friend. Until "an idea fell from the sky," and Beaver starts making a friend. Before long, Raccoon happens by and suggests that "it takes two to make a friend." When Beaver sadly notes he's just one, Raccoon suggests that one Beaver and one Raccoon make two. Together they make a remarkable snow friend. In the end, they both discover they have actually made more than one friend.
I fell in love with Alison Friend's adorable cover and found her bright, colorful, energetic illustrations so full of emotion and an ability to capture the innocence of children. This is a wonderful book that plays with language and shows kids that working toward a goal or sharing fun can be a great way to discover a friend.
While Beaver can make amazing things - such as a multi-story lodge with a slide, striped socks, and sweaters - he couldn't seem to make a friend. Until "an idea fell from the sky," and Beaver starts making a friend. Before long, Raccoon happens by and suggests that "it takes two to make a friend." When Beaver sadly notes he's just one, Raccoon suggests that one Beaver and one Raccoon make two. Together they make a remarkable snow friend. In the end, they both discover they have actually made more than one friend.
I fell in love with Alison Friend's adorable cover and found her bright, colorful, energetic illustrations so full of emotion and an ability to capture the innocence of children. This is a wonderful book that plays with language and shows kids that working toward a goal or sharing fun can be a great way to discover a friend.
March 12, 2019
Beaver is handy and can make all kinds of things--wood sculptures, crafts, etc. But Beaver can't seem to make any friends until he does when he's not even trying to. Beaver and Raccoon's friendship is natural and sweet. Pair this book with LITTLE BEAVER AND THE ECHO by Amy MacDonald for a primary classroom discussion about friendships.
December 23, 2019
A darling story about a beaver searching for a friend. He can't seem to get things just right so he decides to make a snowman to be his friend. While he's building, a raccoon joins him and the two are delighted to realize that they have become friends. A sweet story that is perfect for preschool storytime.
January 7, 2019
"Brennan: Did we just become best friends? Dale: Yep!" - Step Brothers movie
February 27, 2019
Cute funny book about making things, making friends and snowmen!
February 1, 2019
A very cute story about a beaver that has a hard time making friends. One day he decides he is going to make a friend out of snow. The ending is adorable and teaches a great lesson. This would make a great storytime book.
January 4, 2020
E (age 7)- Only 3 stars. 1 for the cuteness of the pictures. 1 for the really good details. And the other 1 for making it cute by the words too. It wasn't 5 stars because it didn't have much of a story and was a really short book.
Me- I with Goodreads would add a 1/2 star system because I would give it more like 3.5 stars. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. It is a solid story about making a new friend and is a good "winter" time story since the main part is about making a snowman together. Not one I feel I need to run out and get for my personal library but a good inclusion for elementary school libraries.
Me- I with Goodreads would add a 1/2 star system because I would give it more like 3.5 stars. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. It is a solid story about making a new friend and is a good "winter" time story since the main part is about making a snowman together. Not one I feel I need to run out and get for my personal library but a good inclusion for elementary school libraries.
January 6, 2019
Beaver likes making things but has trouble making friends. (He could use some reflection on what makes a good gift and for whom.) So he decides to make one out of snow. Raccoon joins him, and they have a lot of fun making the snowperson friend... but the snowperson isn't a very good friend. Luckily, Beaver and Raccoon now have each other.
When Raccoon initially said that it takes two to make a friend, I thought he knew where this was going! So I was a little surprised that both Beaver and Raccoon were disappointed about the snow-friend.
When Raccoon initially said that it takes two to make a friend, I thought he knew where this was going! So I was a little surprised that both Beaver and Raccoon were disappointed about the snow-friend.
May 4, 2019
I love anything by Tammi Sauer! Sweet and short stories that shoot straight into your heart; she always write wonderful books that leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Speaking of warm and fuzzy. . .
Beaver has the very best intentions in his attempts to make friends with the forest animals. But, his efforts always fall flat. But he’s very good at constructing things, so he commits to (literally) making a friend out of snow. The helpful Raccoon comes along to offer his aide, and what should they discover? By the end of the story, both sad little animals have made a true friend.
Sigh, see? The warm fuzzies have overtaken you, right?
Beaver has the very best intentions in his attempts to make friends with the forest animals. But, his efforts always fall flat. But he’s very good at constructing things, so he commits to (literally) making a friend out of snow. The helpful Raccoon comes along to offer his aide, and what should they discover? By the end of the story, both sad little animals have made a true friend.
Sigh, see? The warm fuzzies have overtaken you, right?
April 12, 2025
Beaver is good at making things, but he's not the best at making friends.
He decides to make a new kind of friend. Out of snow!
Raccoon helps Beaver. Soon as you can say "Wow!" there's a parade. Best of all, an unlikely relationship turns promising -- that is, with Beaver finding new friends who are promising that an uncommunicative snowman.
Subtly, through this unfolding story, Tammi Sauer guides picture book readers to develop some standards: a promising friend COMMUNICATES.
RATING THIS BOOK
Very simple: FIVE STARS. This book might actually help a young child to start developing standards for friendship. Excellent!
He decides to make a new kind of friend. Out of snow!
Raccoon helps Beaver. Soon as you can say "Wow!" there's a parade. Best of all, an unlikely relationship turns promising -- that is, with Beaver finding new friends who are promising that an uncommunicative snowman.
Subtly, through this unfolding story, Tammi Sauer guides picture book readers to develop some standards: a promising friend COMMUNICATES.
RATING THIS BOOK
Very simple: FIVE STARS. This book might actually help a young child to start developing standards for friendship. Excellent!
February 10, 2019
I loved this book. It has a great message about making friends.
I love the quick pace of this picture book. The dialogue and narration are easy to tell the difference over, and the pictures are very fun. It definitely feels like a Canadian book.
I also love when both Beaver and Raccoon realize they've become friends. It's a great build for the book overall.
I highly recommend this book for a fun story time.
I love the quick pace of this picture book. The dialogue and narration are easy to tell the difference over, and the pictures are very fun. It definitely feels like a Canadian book.
I also love when both Beaver and Raccoon realize they've become friends. It's a great build for the book overall.
I highly recommend this book for a fun story time.
March 10, 2025
Aww... if only it were that easy to make friends as an adult. Judging by the condition of this library book, it's popular with the intended audience, too. I wonder how old children have to be before they can predict the ending 'solution' in this one... I encourage families new to the book to read it slowly, and stop on the spread with the parade (and stop on the next spread, too) for a prediction.
December 4, 2018
Beaver is clever at creating items but not very good at making friends. He set out to make a friend out of snow. A raccoon comes along and offers to help. Together they create a friend but discover he doesn't do much. They both lament needing a friend and realize how much fun they've had together. The two begin doing all sorts of things together.
Use to talk about ways to make friends.
Use to talk about ways to make friends.
December 27, 2018
Squirrel was good at making things, except he had trouble making a friend. Then one day an idea dropped right from the sky! Brightly colored illustrations and friendly character faces will draw children into this sweet book about making friends. Making a Friend by Tammi Sauer and Alison Friend is a great read for ages 2 - 6.
January 1, 2019
Making friends isn’t always easy, but sometimes it happens when you aren’t really trying. Beaver thinks he can make a friend with snow; Raccoon offers to help. Once the “friend” is completed, it seems “a little cold.” That’s when Beaver and Raccoon discover they don’t need the snowman, they have each other.
September 23, 2020
This book was surprisingly perfect. Oh. My. Layered and playful and smart. It has a simple kid-friendly heart with a totally Tammi Sauer-ish voice. Clever story of friendship and belonging. Touches on creativity and expectations and witty word play. Quirky and delightful. Excellent touches by the illustrator adding lots of character and movement
January 12, 2019
Beaver has a problem even though he makes many things and is good at that he has no friends. This story shows what he tries and fails to do and then how he and raccoon connect with a friendship and a dual effort to create something. Colorful pictures of winter activities.
October 19, 2021
Beaver was good at making things, except for making a friend. But when snow falls, he has the idea to roll a friend. Raccoon helps give the snowman pizazz...but snowman isn't very friendly. They are both sad they didn't make a friend...unless they are now friends!
December 8, 2021
I genuinely enjoyed this book. I think any kid struggling in making friends would love this so much. It avoids such a sad topic by making it seem like someone is building a snowman. I would recommend this for independent reading.
January 6, 2022
Beaver and Raccoon go out to build a friend, but discover they've already made on in each other. Good lesson, but the format was a little strange. I didn't like how there was a narrator and a dialogue going on between the characters. Made the pages a little clunky.
December 27, 2022
Beaver wants to make a friend, but he's not very good at doing so the traditional way. So when it snows, he's determined to literally make a friend. Thankfully fanny-packed Raccoon offers to help, and some kindred spirits find each other.
November 21, 2018
Another Tammi Sauer winner! And her words paired with Alison Friend’s illustrations are a match made in heaven. A fantastic book for younger set showing how much fun it can be to make a new friend.
November 20, 2018
This is just darling <3
November 23, 2018
A beaver and a raccoon want a friend, so they make a snowman. It turns out they make friends for each other.
December 8, 2018
a sweet story of making friends
December 8, 2018
Super cute!
December 11, 2018
Great for a friendship storytime.
December 18, 2018
Loved it ! a great book for kids about friendship!
December 20, 2018
Precious story. Illustrations jump off the page with color and personality. So looking forward to reading it in story time. Review will after that!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews