Friendlies: A Rhyming Picture Book about Acceptance and Friendship

⭐ First Place, 2026 BookFest Awards.

⭐ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards FINALIST, evaluated by children themselves.

When food inspector Sparky, a rat, arrives to investigate a diner run by a cat, he expects to find a serious violation. Instead, he walks into Friendlies, where animals of every kind gather around the same tables. But Sparky's arrival throws the café into chaos. A cheese platter and a few honest words from master chef Rags help him see that he may have judged everyone too quickly.

Told in playful rhyme, Friendlies is fun to read aloud, with memorable characters and detailed, 100% human-made watercolour illustrations that children and adults will want to stop and look at. It is a story about acceptance, kindness, and friendship, and a lovely gift for a child.

★★★★★ "A heartwarming, laugh-out-loud rhyming adventure that helps children discover kindness, inclusion, and friendship through unforgettable characters and charming illustrations. A FINALIST and highly recommended!" - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (c)