Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Retro art, collage bring fond school-day lyrics to life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS takes Jack White's song lyrics about the childhood pleasures of school, play, and friendship and sets them amid black-and-white photos, retro illustrations of a boy and a girl, and fantasy drawings of animals, birds, and bugs to create a simple story of a day at school. A young boy meets Suzy Lee and asks her to "walk with me," then they head to school "all by ourselves," sit "side by side" in class, and eventually walk home together, hand in hand, looking forward to more shared fun the next day: "when I wake tomorrow I'll bet / that you and I will walk together again."
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat and upbeat story of a day at school and making a new friend offers a cheery, nostalgic view of free-range childhood and a fun day in the classroom and at recess. We're Going to Be Friends is simple enough for kindergartners but should also please grown-ups who recall a more carefree time -- and for fans of the White Stripes who know the song the book is based on. The book's publication comes just a few months after the band's 20th anniversary. The design includes fanciful drawings and clever collage work by veteran animator Elinor Blake, aka singer-songwriter April March.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how school looks in We're Going to Be Friends. How different does it look from your school?
Why do you think the artist chose an old-fashioned look for the story? Why do you think she added in illustrations of animals playing and teaching the kids?
Try making a picture that mixes photos from magazines and your own drawings. Can you tell a school or friendship story that way?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Elinor Blake
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Bugs ) , Numbers and Letters
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Third Man Books
- Publication date : November 22, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 6
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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