When I read Brin and Melly to a first grade class, I thought I knew which parts would stand out. I expected the bear, the owl, and the adventure to lead the conversation.
The children had other ideas.
They noticed the mushrooms. They noticed the clouds and the squirrels. And they had plenty to say about Melly. One of the things I heard was that she was “sassy.”
Then came a question I loved: “Is this story true?”
That question stayed with me. The children were not only listening to the words. They were looking closely, making connections, and deciding what felt real to them.
A story that began with carving
The idea for Brin and Melly grew from my time in China, where I created chainsaw carvings of a bear and an owl. Those two carvings became the beginning of a story about unlikely friends.
Brin and Melly come from different worlds, but they find common ground through curiosity, trust, and adventure. That idea matters to me beyond the pages. In my own life, I have seen how people with different backgrounds can learn from each other and build a real friendship.
I hoped children might feel that connection in the story. The first graders reminded me that they find their own way into a book. Some noticed the characters. Others spotted a small detail in the pictures. Their comments made the story feel like something we were discovering together.
Why friendship stories matter
Children’s books about friendship can give families and classrooms a comfortable way to talk about differences, kindness, and belonging. A story does not need to explain every lesson. Sometimes a character’s choice, a funny moment, or a surprising friendship is enough to get a good conversation started.
After reading a friendship story together, you might ask:
- What do these characters like about each other?
- What did they learn by spending time together?
- Have you ever become friends with someone who seemed different from you?
- Which part of the story made you laugh or wonder?
There is no single right answer. Listening to what children notice can be just as meaningful as asking the questions.
The story keeps growing
When those first graders asked if Brin and Melly were real, I smiled. The bear and owl began as carvings, and the story grew from there. But the feelings inside it, friendship, curiosity, and finding a place together, are familiar to all of us.
That is one of the things I hope readers carry with them after closing the book. We may come from different places and see the world in different ways. A shared adventure can still bring us closer.
I am grateful to the first graders who welcomed Brin and Melly into their classroom and shared what they noticed. Their laughter, questions, and observations reminded me why I wanted to tell this story in the first place.
If your family or classroom enjoys stories about friendship, curiosity, and adventure, meet Brin and Melly and explore the books at BrinAndMelly.com.