The Friendship Surprise
By Giorgio Volpe & Paolo Proietti
$17.99
32 pages • Hardcover • Ages 4-8 • 8.25” x 11.5" • ISBN: 978-1-63655-028-2
Translated by Angus Yuen-Killick
It is spring and Little Red fox is excited to be reunited with his best friend, Hazel dormouse who will shortly wake from hibernation. But over the winter, the fox has made another friend, Brock the badger. Little Red needs to find a way to introduce the friends while maintaining the special friendship with Hazel he holds so dear.
This book continues the friendship story told in the companion title Before We Sleep, also by Volpe and Proietti, although it may be read and appreciated completely on its own.
“This sweet, colorful, engaging picture book uses charismatic animals to explore friendship, and it’s ideal for SEL shelves.”
— School Library Journal
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“A perfect Spring storytime book, with a playful sense of hope, joy, and renewal to share.”
— Momreadit.com
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“Picking up where the heartwarming yet bittersweet Before We Sleep left off, Little Red and Hazel’s new story explores another classic theme of childhood friendship: navigating the meshing of friend groups. It’s wonderful that both Hazel and Brock treat Little Red’s fear with delicacy and sincerity, proving that they are loyal friends.
A worthy sequel, and a delight all on its own.”
–TheBabyBookworm.com
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“A tender inclusive book that acknowledges emotions while teaching honest conversations and community building.”
–The Wandering Bookseller
Giorgio Volpe
Giorgio Volpe was born in, Germany, but grew up in the Calabria region of Italy. He has lived in Barcelona, Paris, and now Rome, which has been his home for more than a decade.
Giorgio Volpe has a degree in literature and philosophy from the University of Rome where his thesis focused on children’s theater experiences in Italy and France. In 2014 he founded the theater company Giù di Sù per Giù which has produced several plays he has written including Martina 3 Nocciolino (2014), Standby – l’attesa (2018), Anfotero (2018) and Cercasi befana (2020). To his credits as an actor and playwright, he adds children’s book author. He has written a several titles. Before We Sleep is his first book to be published in English. Giorgio Volpe also loves art, traveling, eating cakes, the cold of winter and reading a lot. When asked “What type of person are you?”, Volpe replies: “I’m a hyperactive creative.”
Paolo Proietti
Paolo Proietti was born in Rome in 1986. Passionate about manga and anime since childhood, he attended the art school and a course in graphics and visual communication at the International School of Comics in Rome. Only after a few years he became passionate about reading for children and in 2016 he won the Scarpetta d ’oro Award with his illustration. Since 2018 he has worked with several publishing houses. He has already published seven picture books. Paolo’s greatest source of inspiration are the works of Hayao Miyazaki, one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation.