By Lana Button & Peggy Collins
Make-believe + melodrama = comedy as one dramatic little girl learns the new skill of finding a friend
Leah is looking for a friend to play fairies. But when her invitation fails to sway her classmates, Leah is left all…ALONE.
Poor Lonely Leah! Will she always be the only one standing alone in line? The only one reading fairy tales in the book corner? The AGONY of her SUFFERING is so overpowering that she almost misses the quiet voice trying to get her attention…
From the creators of Percy’s Perfect Friend comes an entertaining new journey into social-emotional growth. Author Lana Button is an early childhood educator who has seen firsthand the struggles many kids experience learning to navigate social situations and conflict—especially if pandemic lockdowns were part of their early lives. In The Only Lonely Fairy, she tells a relatable story of someone trying to make friends and missing the mark, while Peggy Collins brings lively humor to the illustrations, letting readers know what Leah doesn’t yet: that she isn’t alone after all.
Praise for The Only Lonely Fairy
49th Shelf Spring 2024 “Most Anticipated Books for Young Readers” Selection
CBC Books “32 Canadian Books for Children to Check Out in Spring 2024” Selection
“Teachers will find this brightly illustrated book to be a very useful tool for assuaging hurt feelings, discouraging exclusive friend groups, and guiding children to recognize options in tough social situations….An excellent resource for social-emotional learning that will be a welcome addition, particularly for classroom and school libraries.”—School Library Journal
“Making friends in the early grades, even getting someone to play with you for a little while, can be a thorny business….Button, an early childhood educator, shows the problem—and solution—in this book that can be read as a springboard for discussion….The cheerful digital illustrations play up the ironic humor beautifully….A nice resolution comes with Allie picking up Leah’s discarded wings and saying yes to her invitation. An author’s note gives tips on how adults can help kids make friends.”—Booklist
“Bright artwork, dominated by pastels, shows a diverse classroom. Leah and her friends are generally presented against a plain white background, making this a good read-aloud choice. Clearly capturing the children’s emotions, the illustrations can help start conversations about whether Leah’s actions are helping or hurting her chances of making a new friend and about what Allie is feeling as she watches….A simple story that will sprinkle fairy dust on budding preschool friendships.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Children will enjoy having The Only Lonely Fairy read to them and will learn some very important tips for a very important skill—how to make a friend.”—CM Magazine
“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in a class full of students, so it’s nice to show them they aren’t alone in the endeavors to find friendship….I would recommend this to school age children who are nervous about making friends. This can show them that sometimes you have to look at everyone before finding that person instead of giving up.”—YA Books Central
“This story is brilliant! The designs for the characters really bring the emotions into the forefront, but also has a comedic element…”—Luminous Libro
“I learned from The Only Lonely Fairy…that it’s important to include others.”—Kids’ BookBuzz
“The Only Lonely Fairy is a beautiful picture book.”—Jill’s Book Blog
