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What it Means to BE A FRIEND by Salina Yoon
I was an ordinary Korean child.
Dennis was an ordinary boy . . .
In America, my new home, I felt anything but ordinary. Kindergarten was scary. I didn’t speak English or know American culture. I didn’t even know how to make a friend.
Dennis didn’t speak a word.
He would only ACT — in scenes.
I felt foreign, different, and out of place. I also had to get used to my new given American name, “Salina Yoon,” to take the place of my Korean birth name, “Yoon Ah.” My parents hoped that the new name would help me blend in and better assimilate.
Everyone called him Mime Boy.
I couldn’t understand my teacher or my classmates.
It was as if he were standing on the other side of a WALL.
I had come from Busan, Korea just one year before I started school. I learned what I could from watching Sesame Street and Romper Room on television. But since my parents couldn’t read, write, or speak English, it was difficult to learn. I was surrounded by a classroom full of kids, but I felt alone and stayed silent.
Dennis felt INVISIBLE.
People just assumed I was shy.
Even trees get LONELY sometimes.
Until one day, I met a friend. And this changed my life.
One day Dennis kicked an IMAGINARY ball . . .
In first grade, I met a friend named Dorothy.
. . . and someone caught it! Her name was JOY.
She was Korean just like me! And she spoke English and Korean. Turns out I wasn’t shy after all, because I loved talking with her in Korean and broken English. In fact, I even got a note sent to my parents because I was talking TOO MUCH! I made jokes, laughed out loud, ran, and played in the playground. It meant everything to have a friend.
BE A FRIEND is a story about a boy named Dennis who’s life is silent because he is a mime, but lonely because he’s not understood. Until one day, he makes a friend who does.
It was not my intention to write a story about my experience as a child, but as this story developed, it was clear to me how much I identified with the main character. And it also occurred to me how many other people of all ages would identify with his personal struggle with connecting with the world.
But this story isn’t only about Dennis. This story is about Joy, the young girl that reaches out to Dennis in just the right way to make the friendship that ultimately changes his world, and hers.
While adults today are busy making new virtual friends by the dozens or even hundreds through social media, young children are still making new friends the old fashioned way, one child at a time, one on one—in their classrooms or the playground. Joy demonstrates this in a gentle and sensitive way.
My hope for this book is to encourage readers (both children and adults) to embrace their uniqueness no matter how different they feel, and to keep their heads up. If your head is down, you might never see the friend that’s reaching out.
Everyone deserves a friend like JOY.
Look up. And be a friend.
Salina Yoon has written/illustrated more than 100 books for children. Her latest, BE A FRIEND, celebrates its book birthday today. You can find her online at www.salinayoon.com and on Twitter as @SalinaYoon.
Such a sweet story and I love the illustrations. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
Hooray for Dorothy! Hooray for Joy! Hooray for your beautiful book.
Dorothy, as an adult, turned out to be a JUDGE in L.A.! We’ve lost touch, but I love how successful she’s become. And thank you, Nancy!
And you know something else funny I realized? A girl named Joy was my Dorothy when I moved to a new school in first grade. True Story! Best wishes that your beautiful book has a long life and inspires many kids to look around for someone to friend.
The power of friendship to transform – beautiful!
Thank you, Cathy!
Your story gave me goosebumps, thinking of my own 6 year old and 3 year old daughters making friends “the old fashioned way.” I hope it is a kind world out there for them on the playground. I hope they find Joy, too. 🙂
Making friends does not come naturally to everyone. I hope teachers, esp those in the younger years, are sensitive to that and facilitate activities to nurture friendships. Children in preschool get a lot of exposure to this–and make it easier for them to make friends in kinder and on. 🙂 But each child is unique. And thank goodness that they are.
I struggled with making friends and still do. But I now have many “Joy’s” in my life now
I am so glad that you do! For people that struggle with making friends often have very few but very CLOSE friends… like Joy…which I think is much more meaningful than simply a lot of friends. 🙂
i agree
Wonderful, Salina! So happy for you on this book’s birthday!
Thank you, Dow! You are always so supportive! XOXO
That’s so beautiful! I can completely relate as my parents moved us from Hong Kong to Canada in ’72. 🙂 You are so cute in that passport photo, Salina! ❤️ We must meet one day so you can sign my copy of this book. 🙂
Thank you, Teresa. I was here in ’76! I think a lot of immigrant children could relate to feeling displaced and insecure. I hope teachers make it a point to share with those kids to let them know that it’s okay to be different. It doesn’t make you any less extraordinary.
Wise words, dear friend! I hope this book is widely read, too!
Love Salina’s story behind the story.
Thank you, Mary. There’s always a story behind a story. My stories shaped me and the stories I write. 🙂
Your book looks absolutely adorable. I can’t wait to get one. I teared up reading your post. I think many, many children (and adults) will relate to your story.
Thank you, Catherine!
I love this post, Salina and can’t wait to read the book! 🙂 Congrats!
Thank you, Carrie!
Awwwww!
yayyyy! I appreciate the awwww’s. 🙂
Just beautiful! I love the difference between your first photo (a scared young girl) & last (lovely confident smile)!
Thank you, Nancy! It took work to get from there to here. I think I was scared just 5 yrs ago. It’s hard work to build one’s confidence… and it still requires work! 🙂
Very beautiful…
There are two beautiful stories in this post, and both are written by Salina. One is fiction and one is not. Thank you.