The Friendship Bench

Tilly has just moved to a new house by the sea and loves playing with her mother, Shadow, and the dog. When it's time to start her new school, Shadow and Mummy must stay outside, and Tilly is alone. Her teacher suggests the Friendship Bench, but someone is already on it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 32 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Tilly has recently relocated to a new home, right by the sea's splash and curl. She adores playing catch with Mummy and Shadow the dog while doing cartwheels in the sand. However, when it comes time for her to start her new school, Shadow and Mummy are forced to stay outside. The inside is filled with unfamiliar faces.

"Why don't you try The Friendship Bench?" her teacher suggests when Tilly is playing alone. "It helps children find new friends to play with." But when Tilly arrives, someone is already sitting on it.

"It's taken," a girl says. "But we can play together later."

Tilly is disappointed, but she decides to give it a try. She walks around the bench, looking for someone to play with. She sees a boy playing with a toy car and approaches him.

"Do you want to play with me?" Tilly asks.

The boy looks up and smiles. "Sure!" he says. "What do you want to play?"

Tilly and the boy play together for a while, building cars and houses in the sand. They laugh and talk, and Tilly feels happy and content.

As the day goes on, more and more children come to the bench. They sit down, looking around, hoping to find someone to play with. Tilly notices a girl sitting alone, and she goes over to her.

"Do you want to play with us?" Tilly asks.

The girl looks up and smiles. "Yes, please!" she says. "I don't have any friends yet."

Tilly and the other children introduce themselves to the girl, and they play together for hours. They build a sandcastle, play catch, and even have a picnic. Tilly feels happy and proud, knowing that she has made a new friend.

As the day comes to an end, Tilly and her new friend say goodbye. They promise to keep in touch and to play together again soon. Tilly walks home, feeling happy and content.

She knows that starting a new school can be scary, but with the help of The Friendship Bench, she has found new friends to play with. She is grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and make new connections.

As Tilly enters her new school the next day, she is excited to see what new adventures and friendships await her. She knows that with the help of The Friendship Bench, she will never be alone again.

Weight: 162g
Dimension: 230 x 269 x 6 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192777331
Edition number: 1