Penny Draws a Best Friend

Penny Draws a Best Friend introduces Penny Lowry, a relatable fifth grader whose anxiety means a million questions are always spinning through her thoughts. As she starts a new school year, Penny faces the bewildering experience of her best friend, Violet, pulling away and spending time with the 'meanest girl in school.' This highly illustrated chapter book beautifully captures the humor and heartache of navigating changing friendships and the journey of self-discovery. It offers a gentle, honest look at managing anxiety and the importance of finding friends who truly understand and accept you, all wrapped in an engaging, accessible narrative perfect for middle-grade readers.

A humorous, heartfelt, highly illustrated middle grade series about friendship, feelings, and finding your people, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard. Why does the cubby room always smell like farts? Who etched the words "I Am Bug Man" inside my desk? Why is Mom suddenly acting like she has a secret? Nobody said starting fifth grade would be easy, and Penny Lowry's anxiety means a million questions are always spinning through her thoughts. Luckily she's got a lot to look forward to, like her favorite after-school activity, Art Club, and seeing her best friend Violet again after spending the whole summer apart. The thing is, Violet has been acting weird ever since she got back. She never wants to hang out anymore, says Art Club is for babies, and spends all her time with Riley, the meanest girl in school. Did Penny do something wrong? And if she did, can she undo it? In this hilariously sweet introduction to a lovable kid still figuring out how to manage her anxiety, the author of the #1 bestselling Pretty Little Liars series gets to the heart of how to let go of the friends who aren’t right for you . . . and how to make room for the ones who are.