"You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!)" is a heartwarming debut picture book by Taraji P. Henson that encourages children to embrace empathy, patience, and love in their interactions with others. Through the endearing character of Lil TJ, readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery and friendship that is both relatable and empowering.

As Lil TJ navigates her first day of school, she discovers that her quirks and unique personality set her apart from her classmates in unexpected ways. When faced with teasing from her classmate Beau, Lil TJ grapples with anxiety and doubt until she remembers the wise words of her Grandma Patsy. Drawing strength from her own creativity and individuality, Lil TJ not only learns to embrace what makes her unique but also finds the courage to reach out and help others.

Henson's storytelling is infused with warmth and authenticity, making Lil TJ's journey one that resonates with readers of all ages. The message of embracing diversity, overcoming anxieties, and fostering meaningful connections is skillfully woven throughout the narrative, making it an ideal read for easing back-to-school jitters or bedtime reflection.

Moreover, "You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!)" serves as a valuable tool for promoting mental wellness and socialization skills in young children. By emphasizing the importance of empathy, kindness, and friendship over bullying, Henson encourages readers to celebrate their individuality while fostering a sense of inclusivity and understanding.

With its vibrant illustrations and empowering message, this book is a must-have addition to any child's library. It not only entertains but also educates, inspiring children to be their authentic selves and to approach others with compassion and acceptance. "You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!)" is a delightful and uplifting read that reminds us all of the power of friendship and the beauty of embracing our uniqueness.

Vibrant illustrations and a book full of personality! Read this with my 7yo son tonight and we enjoyed it. He loved making all the sound effects, I love the lesson to be kind even when it’s a really tough choice to do so.

Thank you so much to Zonderkidz and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Lil TJ is so excited to be going to school, she is full of confidence and ready to make a million friends, but then she finds a boy starts bullying her and her sparkle disappears, until her grandma reminds her to be herself and to be kind.

This is a gorgeous book it’s perfect for helping with children that are struggling at school, that are being bullied at school, that maybe are about time to start school. It’s got a wonderful way of sharing how to figure things out, a great adult that was there to help her figure out the situation.

I loved little TJ she’s so full of personally and so vibrant, she had her own style and that was exactly who she needed to be, she found the music room to be her favourite thing at the school which was so sweet, and it was the key to figuring everything out that she was struggling with.

This is such a wonderful book about being yourself and finding friendship, it has a helping guide at the end about identifying bullying which is a wonderful things, the storyline itself is a wonderful read with such adorable illustrations and the cutest characters. I really enjoyed this book and love the messages it sends out.

No matter what.

Other people can be cruel.
This book is about self-love and compassion. I liked the fact that the main character practices those two and other life-affirming techniques and perspectives through her own agency. The pictures have immense colour harmony. This book is inclusive and contributes to the representation of the underrepresented.

Little TJ is so excited about her first day of school! She is dreaming about all the things she will learn, the activities she’ll get to participate in, the lunch room and of course, making a million new friends. However, when she arrives at school her first day jitters set in and she ends up alienating her classmates and attracting a bully. Each day seems to go wrong and TJ finds herself shrinking to avoid being bullied; she stops wearing her favorite clothes, eating her favorite lunch and sharing her work in class. TJ confides in her grandmother who offers support, gives her advice on how to deal with a bully and encourages her to find her confidence once more. The next day TJ feels more like herself again, during recess she finds her rhythm in the music room and once the other kids see how much fun she is having marching to the beat of her own drum (literally) they come to join her. TJ even finds common ground with her former bully and makes a new friend.

THOUGHTS: With notes from the author about how to help your child deal with a bully, this book is great for parents whose child might be struggling at school. The lessons in this book would also resonate with teachers and could easily be used at the beginning of the school year to encourage classroom community. This picture book has fun, vibrant illustrations that will catch the attention of kids ages 4-8.

A beautifully illustrated story that follows Lil TJ as she navigates school and forms friendships. The story teaches the lesson that even though you can be a good friend, not everyone is meant to be your friend and the feelings may not be reciprocated. I was happy that TJ shared her excitement and nervousness about school with her Grandma Patsy, and her grandmother was there to give her advice. Having support at home gave TJ the courage to be her unique self and that she can stand up for herself while still being kind to others. I was confused as to why Beau is much taller and less behaved than the other children, did the author do this on purpose?  Beau's negative energy and bullying made TJ feel like she needed to not be seen and to make herself plain. The story teaches an important life lesson that I hope resonates with young readers - that it's important to be true to yourself and have grace for others, even if they are unkind.

This is a really cute picture book with great themes. You really can embrace your own uniqueness and individuality while being open to others and accepting them for who they are! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This book was so adorable. I wanted to read it because my child started pre-school. She loved the bright colors and the story. We were able to have a lively discussion abut her time at school. The character of TJ was also adorable and it was great to see that she embraced her individuality and uniqueness, but also was more than willing to be a friend to everyone.

What a fantastic message about being true to yourself and having grace for others even if they are unkind. The illustrations are vibrant and fun as well.

Lil TJ is going to school for the first time. She’s so excited to make friends. Her sweet Grandma Patsy is her confidant and support. They FaceTime daily, since they live far apart. Lil TJ soon learns about a bully and that making friends can be difficult. She also learns that honey catches more flies than vinegar per Grandma Patsy. The pictures were just as great as the story. She also learns how important it is to be herself and not adapt to try and fit in. I was blessed with a free ARC, and I’m leaving my review voluntarily. Highly recommend.

I would say this book is for ages 2 years and older. I liked the concept of the book and how the main character over came how one of the characters made her feel. she came back to school the next day after talking to her grandma and stayed true to herself. My final rating of this book is 4.5 stars.

A beautifully illustrated story showing how you can give someone a chance, even when they aren't so kind to you at first. Lil TJ learns this lesson when she first goes to school. At first, she thinks everyone will become her best friend, but it doesn't quite work out that way. Eventually, Lil TJ learns that she can be kind anyway, and maybe her luck will change. Spoiler: It does.

This is a cute book about a TJ, a little girl who is excited for her first day of school. She chats with her grandmother about her thoughts surrounding school and her grandmother helps her prepare. Unfortunately, TJ soon realizes that not all kids may want to be her friend and deals with a bully. Her grandmother helps her work through this so she can overcome bullying and possibly make a new friend. This is a great book for children who are handling scary new situations such as starting a new school or making new friends.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I enjoyed reading this picture book. I could see including it on a friendship or back to school display in our Youth Services area. The artwork was very vivid and I liked that the book included the tips on the last page. Overall I appreciate the message that was shared and hope it will resonate with readers.

#YouCanBeaGoodFriendNoMatterWhat #NetGalley

This book confused me quite a bit. First of all, the drawings were beautifully detailed and the colors were bright and joyful. However, it did appear that Beau was a lot taller than TJ, or older than her, but I don't think that was the case. It seemed that they were in the same class, but it was hard to tell.

Secondly, I feel that the saying "you get more flies with honey" was wrongly used throughout this book. That saying means that someone is being salty (like vinegar) and will make more friends by being sweet (like honey). The reason why this doesn't make sense is TJ wasn't being mean to Beau at all, Beau was the rude one, the problem child. Adding on to that: not everyone needs to be your friend!!!! That is difficult to expect children to do, and at the same time it paints an unrealistic picture for kids when they are first making friends or meeting new people.

TJ also never advocates for herself and hides her true self to avoid Beau's teasing. I think a way more effective message would have been to stand up for yourself against bullies, and not let them get to you. Allow the bullies to sink their own ship, not bring yours down, too.

This is a great book about learning how to be comfortable with yourself no matter what other people think. Lil TJ was so excited to start her new school. She has a unique style and flair about her that will make you smile. She is enthusiastic about trying new things and making friends. But when she gets singled out by a bully, she starts to lose some of that joy. Getting constantly picked on takes a toll on Lil TJ. She eventually tries a different tactic to avoid the bullying by dressing plain and trying to blend in with the other kids. But she gets some advice from her grandmother and decides to try it out on her bully. By centering her joy and being kind despite the bully's antics Lil TJ triumphs and regains her strength. This tactic might not work with all bullies, but it's good to read about Lil TJ's journey and how the bullying affected her. It's a great opportunity to discuss her mental health and her reaction to the bully. I also like the note in the back for parents that talks to them about actions that they can take if their child is being bullied.

This is a gorgeous picture book about one girl and her hopes of making LOADS of friends at school… but someone ends up being mean to her. She loses herself and starts being like everyone else until her Gran gives her some sound advice. Gorgeously illustrated. Def one I’ll pick up! Loads of lovely messages about being a good friend and empathy in this.

This is a beautiful children’s story demonstrating the difference between expectations and reality. I love how the author showed the excitement TJ had concerning starting school and how the actions of others affected her experience. This is a story I will gladly read to my grandchildren. It’s an excellent tool to teach about bullying. Well done.

Thank you NetGalley and ZonderKidz -Books for allowing me to read this book.

As parents, we want to protect our kids from anything that will hurt them. But there comes a time when they will be away from us and we can't protect them from the hurts of the world. Little TJ is so excited about all of the friends she will be making at her new school, but all she seems to make is a "bully." She talks to her beloved grandmother about it and her grandmother suggests she can "catch more bees with honey." TJ takes her advice, and soon realizes that the bully just needed someone to give him a chance.

A great book for young elementary aged children to learn how to navigate school and friendships. Cute, colorful, eye-catching illustrations. Loved it!

Such a cute book that explains bullying in an age appropriate way and teaches kids to always be nice to everyone. It’s a lot like many of the book out there but I don’t think there can ever be too many books showcasing kindness as the message. The illustrations are bright and vibrant and definitely my favorite part!