A young girl and a giraffe are friends. What happens when she has to go to school and meets new friends leaving her giraffe friend behind?

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
A young girl is best friends with Nonnie, a giraffe who was abandoned as a baby. They are best friends and when the girl must go to school without her best friend school seems impossible. Both Nonnie and the girl find friends throughout the day but find their way back to one another at the end of the day.

This book has the most amazing and beautiful images to tell the story - the story is about a young girl who makes friends with an orphaned giraffe and its very nicely written. Its easy to follow and has a good ending - 4 stars

A little girl in Africa confesses to her best friend—who just happens to be a giraffe—that she’s feeling anxious about the first day of school. Enjoying that last day of freedom, they wander—with the little girl on Nonnie’s back, which I didn’t think was possible—taking in the rest of the wildlife, especially the grinning meerkats. The next day at school she makes a new friend, and so does Nonnie.
Except for the giraffe not talking, this reminds me of the comic strip “Phoebe and Her Unicorn.” It’s sweet.
The artwork is nothing spectacular, kinda rudimentary, but I like how the colors are accurate, at least to how the animals are usually portrayed.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

Based in Botswana, Hendricks recounts the sweet friendship between a young girl and her best friend, who also happens to be a giraffe, Noonie. Since they first met, the two haven't been separated until it's time for the little girl to go to school. At first jittery, the main character encounters a pleasant surprise on her first day of school and also learns a few important life lessons. Coupled with the vividly colorful and scenic illustrations, young readers would truly enjoy this book.

This is a bright, colorful picture book about a little girl in Botswana whose only friend is a giraffe. When she has to go to school, she has to make new friends, as does her giraffe, Nonnie.

The pictures of the giraffe are beautiful, as are the pictures of the wildlife that can be found in Botswana.

The only problem I have with this book is the little girl riding the giraffe around. I don't think Nonnie, the giraffe would be too comfortable with this, and I don't think the girl would be either. Other than that, this is a fine book about making friends at school, although the girl is a bit rude about it.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

'Nonnie and I' is a book about friendship. There is quite a lot of text to the story so may suit slightly older youngsters with a little more attention span. The illustrations here are beautiful and soft, the pages packed with colour.

I was a little alarmed to see the story start with a little girl who only has one friend, Nonnie her giraffe. She lives out on the plains in Botswana, amongst the animals, so the relatability of this book is fairly limited, as I'm sure not many children will be able to imagine what this is like! I was relieved however to see that once Nonnie starts at school, she learns that you can have more than one friend, and gleefully returns home to impart this wisdom with Nonnie. A great message to send.

Great illustrations and fun story. Read it with your kids! Would recommend it!

Nonnie and I by Savannah Hendricks. Xist Publishing. Illustrated by Lisa M. Griffin. Captivating art showing a sweet, sensitive Botswana girl with soulful eyes and her friend, Nonnie, a giraffe. She begins school missing Nonnie, but soon learns she can make other friends without losing the love and presence of Nonnie. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Xist Publishing for providing this ebook for review.

Nonnie and I by Savannah Hendricks is a sweet cute story on first day of school and making new friends. It has a charming Botswana, Africa setting, reminding us that no matter where we live first can be difficult. The idea of making new friends while keeping the old friends too is an important one that this book gently teaches.

The illustrations are colorful without being overly busy. The text simple and short; easy enough for an older brother or sister to share with young ones. I read this story with a granddaughter starting kindergarten in a few weeks, while we were reading it the younger sister came over to see the illustrations, before long so did the older first grader sibling. All were interested in Nonnie. She was a hit with them.

I am somewhat alarmed at the way this giraffe is treated by the little girl- she yanks herself up onto his back by grabbing his horns and sliding down his neck??? This doesn't sound right. Not sure I'd want the book in my collection...

A very special little girl has a very special best friend. Nonnie is tall, and beautiful. She also has four legs and a long neck. That is because she is a giraffe. But our girl is about to start school and as much as she would like, Nonnie can not go to school with her. It is time for everyone to learn to make new friends.

With school starting in a month, this is a great book to pick up. Nonnie, is a little girl who lives in Africa. Her best and only friend is Nonnie, a giraffe that her family raised when it was abandoned at six months. It is time for the girl to begin school and she does not want to leave Nonnie. When she is at school she is worried and anxious, but meets a new "school friend". When she returns home, she sees Nonnie with some other giraffes and realizes that it is okay to make new friends but that they will always be friends. If your child is worried or anxious about starting school, this is a cute book to read them. The beautiful illustrations are colourful, vivid and show what the landscape in the area of Africa is like. A nice addition to a family library.

This is perhaps one of the most adorable and imaginative things I have ever encountered.

This is a sweet friendship story about the bond between a young African girl and her giraffe friend. The illustrations are beautiful, and I especially loved the sunset depiction. The focus on overcoming anxiety when becoming part of a new (school) community yet always having your roots and friendships and relationships to return home to is very appropriate for children transitioning into the school environment or even those facing relocation.