Lillian Hoban – illustratör

Jim faces his fears of making a friend on his first day of kindergarten in this picture book by Miriam Cohen, chosen as the Library of Congress’s Children’s Book of the Year.When Pa was taking Jim to school for the first time, Jim said, “Will I have a friend at school?” “I think you will,” said Pa. But even his father’s gentle reassurance doesn’t make Jim feel any better. The other children in kindergarten are scary strangers to him. He’s sure that he’ll never find a friend…until naptime, when he discovers someone who feels the way he does.

For big sisters and little brothers in dens, burrows, and houses everywhere. "Mildred," said Father Muskrat, "it is true that Harvey is selfish and inconsiderate, but he is not stupid and no-good. Mildred is loudmouthed and bossy," Father said to Harvey, "but she is not mean and rotten." When Mildred goes off to a big party where little brothers are not invited, Harvey finds a secret club in a secret place where big sisters are not allowed to be members. But when Harvey's lonesomeness overpowers his stubbornness, he discovers that a secret club with two members is much better.