Product Description

"Kids will take comfort in this endearing — and enduring — tale of friends helping friends." — BOOKLIST

Theodore the elephant has hurt his leg and can’t meet his cousin at the end of the forest. What a pity! Of course, all the other animals are more than willing to give him advice. After all, that’s what friends are for — isn’t it? Enhanced by Holly Meade’s vivid collages, Florence Parry Heide’s dry wit rings through this cumulative tale of a long-suffering elephant, his well-meaning friends, and a straight-talking opossum who shows them all what being a REAL friend means.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #303330 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-13
• Released on: 2007-02-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 40 pages

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-First published in 1968 (Four Winds; o.p.) and illustrated by Brinton Turkle, this selection is a bit more didactic than most friendship stories, but the topic is always in demand, and the language patterns and repetition may make it useful for beginning readers. "Theodore the elephant is sitting in the middle of the forest. He has hurt his leg. What a pity!" So begins this cumulative tale of how he enlists his many friends to help him visit his cousin. He gets lots of advice; for instance, the bird tells him to fly, the spider tells him to use his other legs, the monkey suggests that he just swing by his tail. It's not until he meets the opossum that he gets what he really needs, and everyone learns that, "Friends are to help." Told in the present tense with an old-fashioned flavor, this story offers a simple variation on a very old theme. Meade's cut-paper and watercolor pictures are fresh and lively, with soft clear colors.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. Caldecott Honor Book artist Meade's lovely new watercolor and cut-paper collages add warmth and humor to this story of friendship first written in 1968. Theodore the elephant has hurt his leg, preventing him from visiting his cousin at the other end of the forest. Stuck, he ponders his plight: "'I'll ask my friends for advice. That's what friends are for.'" Let the useless spool of advice unravel! The bird suggests that Theodore fly, the daddy longlegs advises him to use his seven other legs, the crab suggests that he grow another leg, and so on. In the end, the sensible opossum proclaims that friends should do more than give advice. He suggests that they bring the cousin to Theodore, and when they do, a party ensues. The precise lesson on advice giving may be beyond some children, but kids will take comfort in this endearing--and enduring--tale of friends helping friends. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Sylvia Van Clief collaborated with Florence Parry Heide on a wide variety of books and songs, including the children’s collection entitled "Songs to Sing About Things You Think About," with Ms. Van Clief composing the music and Ms. Heide writing the words. Sylvia Van Clief died in 1974.

Holly Meade has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including ON MORNING WINGS by Reeve Lindbergh and HUSH!: A THAI LULLABY by Minfong Ho, a Caldecott Honor Book. "I just love the genuineness and warmth of this story. These well-meaning forest critters so completely miss the mark in helping their friend - thank goodness for the opossum!"

Customer Reviews

That's What Friends Are For
I have loved this book ever since I was a child! After years of searching for it for my own children I was ecstatic to finally find it was reprinted. My kids now love it & I have just ordered a few copies to give to family & friends.

Aww!
"That's What Friends Are For" is a picture book written by Florence Parry Heide and Sylvia Van Clief, with illustrations by Holly Meade.

In "That's What Friends Are For," an elephant named Theodore hurt his leg and can't walk. This is a big problem for him, as he was going to go meet his cousin, but he can't do that if he can't walk. He decides to ask his friends for help and his friends have plenty of ideas for help --- they give him advice! Whether or not any of this advice is helpful is another matter. For example, his friend who's a crab tells him that if his leg was hurt, he would cut it off and grow a new one. But Theodore can't grow a new leg. In the end, Theodore's friends discover the perfect way to help him.

The illustrations are sweet and pleasing. The characters look kind of like stuffed animals. A compelling tale about friendship.

Great Message for Any Age
This has been one of my most favorite books since I was a young person. I have used it to teach in church and in college. It carries such a wonderful and timeless lesson - the joy of service. A must for any collection.