Will I Have a Friend?

Based on Miriam Cohen's 1967 picture book, featuring illustrations by Lillian Hoban, the iconographic-animated Will I Have a Friend? tackles the subject of first-day-of-school jitters. After asking his father the titular question, young Jim spends a very nervous morning watching his classmates interacting (Bill pretending to be a rocket man, Sarah telling Margaret a secret, George passing around cookies during snack time) as they engage in typical kindergarten activities (playing with toys, story time, nap) before a boy named Paul shows Jim his toy truck, and a new friendship is struck. Narrated by David deVries, this is a goodhearted, inspirational story that, unfortunately, also shows its age, both in the decidedly low-tech classroom, and in the washed-out looking illustrations. Optional. Aud: K, P. (R. Pitman)