Amaleigha Makes a New Friend by Janice Pratt – Review by Ayla Phipps

Amaleigha Makes a New Friend by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thought provoking. Informative. Inspirational. This is the first book I have read by the talented Janice Pratt and honestly, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect which led to a huge surprise.
Amaleigha is an American third grade student. Her teacher Mr. Bowels has exciting news about the class having pen pals across the world in the Ukraine. Throughout the book her class learns about the Ukraine, their customs and history between waiting for their next letters. Suddenly, Vova, her pen pal and several others are saying the same things that the news is. Russia has declared war on Ukraine, and they don’t know when they can write again. Determined to try and help Amaleigha and her class work together to help their new friends.
This book covers several levels of curiosity. About other countries outside your own, the customs and traditions of others, empathy for others, and finding ways to help when you feel too small to do anything. I read this book to my two sons, eleven and six, and they both started asking more questions, asking if it was real, if it was still happening and if we could do anything to help. This book helps children understand that just because we live in different places and do things differently it doesn’t mean we are different. Amaleigha instantly saw the similarities in her and Vova. The book doesn’t necessarily have an end, but it ends with a prayer. For the children, families, and people of Ukraine.

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