Life brings changes, some planned and expected, others surprising and unwelcome. This picture book, “My Best Friend Moved Away” by Nancy Carlson, talks about one of those changes that is bound to happen during the course of one’s childhood, that of losing a friend.
The book begins by showing us all the things that the two girls used to do together. “My best friend and I did everything together,” it reads, and we see pictures of the girls on the swings, making a snowman, building sandcastles, and just enjoying each other’s company. “But then she moved away,” as the moving van kicks up a cloud of dust. “Now the neighborhood seems so quiet. Will I ever have a best friend again?” A common question children ask when they lose a friend.
“My best friend and I knew each other when we were babies. We started kindergarten and grade school together. But then she moved away. Now I will have to go to school all by myself.”
The illustrations show us the worry on our character’s face, the insecurity and shyness she feels. As she reminisces on the time spent with her friend, we can see her happiness and the fun she’s having, in contrast.
Her reverie is interrupted by a moving van pulling up out front. “A new family is moving into my best friend’s house. They have a dog, and toys, and someone who looks my age! My best friend moved away and I’m sure going to miss her. But I know she’ll make new friends – just like me!” We see our character and her new friend playing together happily.
Moving is a part of life, one that children hate to think about and hate even more to do. This book is a great tool for helping children to learn that even though friends move away and we might not see them again, we can always make new friends and there doesn’t need to be a permanent loss.
(This book was published in 2001 by Viking, and was illustrated by the author.)
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