Summer Reading #7: ‘The Friendship Bench’ by Wendy Meddour

✨ About the Book

A new house, a new school, new friends… and a very special bench!

Tilly has just moved to a new home by the sea. She loves playing on the beach, doing cartwheels in the sand, and spending time with her mum and her dog, Shadow.

But starting at a new school feels very different. Inside, everything is unfamiliar, and everyone is a stranger.

When Tilly finds herself alone, her teacher suggests she try The Friendship Bench—a place where children can go to find someone to play with.
But when Tilly sits down… someone is already there.

📖 Book Information

Author: Wendy Meddour
Illustrated by: Daniel Egneus
Publisher: Oxford University Press (April 2022)
Age: 5+
Pages: 32
Level: Young learners
Topic: Children’s fiction, friendship
Skills: Reading for pleasure

🎯 Learning Aims

Talk about making friends
Explore feelings and emotions

💡 Language & Learning Focus

Revise verbs in the present and past tense
Learn vocabulary related to:
- The beach
- Friendship
- School routines

💬 My Opinion

All the Summer Reading recommendations are meant to be shared with children during a relaxed time of the year. They also aim to encourage meaningful conversations during and after reading.

Summer is a great opportunity to talk about changes in our lives and how we feel about them. After all, life is about adapting to change.

This book is a warm and beautiful story that gently opens the door to conversations about: