Does your child want to make friends yet feel too shy to say hello? If you are looking for a making friends book for kids, this playful story turns first-friend jitters into a warm undersea adventure with one simple message: saying hi is brave.

Nala is a rainbow-colored young narwhal who longs to join the other ocean animals, but her colors turn bright pink whenever she feels nervous. With encouragement from Mama Narwhal, she discovers that friendship can begin with a smile and a simple hello. After funny and unexpected attempts with a lobster, dolphins, and jellyfish, Nala meets a pufferfish who feels nervous around new friends too. This gentle story about overcoming shyness shows that courage can begin with one small step.

What Children Can Learn:

• Recognize shyness and nervous feelings.

• Use a smile and a simple hello to start connecting.

• Understand that others may feel unsure too.

• Keep trying when a first attempt does not go as planned.

• Build courage, empathy, and social confidence.

Created for kids ages 3-5, this social-emotional picture book combines playful rhyming text, bright full-color illustrations, expressive ocean animals, and funny mishaps. Nala's changing colors make feelings easier to recognize, while the 28-page story keeps read-aloud time lively and memorable.

This friendship book for kids works well at home, during classroom storytime, or before preschool and kindergarten. Parents and educators can use it to support conversations about building confidence and early social skills while offering children a friendly way to practice how to make friends. The book also includes access to a bonus coloring page.

This 9.5 x 10 inch hardcover features an eye-catching cover with sparkling details and raised title lettering. It launches a new Nala the Narwhal SEL series from Elizabeth Cole, whose children's books have sold more than 800,000 copies worldwide.