Families who loved Maude and Sally by Nicki Weiss often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels like their world has stopped because a best friend is moving away, going to camp, or simply busy with someone else. It is the perfect balm for the 'left behind' friend who feels a deep sense of loyalty but is struggling with the loneliness of a temporary or permanent separation. Maude and Sally are inseparable until Sally heads off to summer camp, leaving Maude to navigate life solo. The story follows Maude as she moves through the stages of missing her friend, from counting days to finally noticing Emmylou, a neighbor who has been there all along. It beautifully validates the 'one and only' friendship dynamic while gently encouraging children to see that their hearts are big enough for more than one person. It is a classic, quiet story suitable for preschoolers and early elementary students dealing with friendship transitions.