Thy Friend, Obadiah

Name: Thy Friend, Obadiah
ISBN: 9780140503937

by Brinton Turkle

For the child learning to embrace unexpected friendships and overcome initial embarrassment, this gentle story shows how helping others can open hearts.

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About This Book

A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling embarrassed by unwanted attention or is hesitant to accept a friendship that seems strange or different. "Thy Friend, Obadiah" is a gentle, classic story set in a historical Nantucket Quaker community. A young boy named Obadiah is mortified when a particular seagull starts following him everywhere. His initial annoyance and shame give way to concern and then true friendship when he helps the bird out of a dangerous situation. It's an excellent choice for children ages 4 to 8, beautifully illustrating how acts of kindness can overcome self-consciousness and open our hearts to unexpected connection.

Friendship & Loyalty Animals Birds Empathy & Kindness Making Friends Friendship & Social Shame & Guilt Nature & Outdoors

What Parents Should Know

Mild PerilMild

A seagull gets a fish hook caught in its beak but is quickly and gently helped by the boy.

Sensitive Topics

The book deals with the internal emotional struggle of shame and social embarrassment. The primary sensitive moment is mild peril: the seagull is injured by a fish hook. The approach is direct but gentle, and the resolution is immediate, hopeful, and entirely positive. The Quaker setting provides a specific cultural and religious backdrop, but the story's moral of kindness and acceptance is universal and presented in a secular way.