80,000+ Books in NZ | Overnight Delivery ๐Ÿš€

Did you know we also sell Board Games & Puzzles? ๐Ÿงฉ

Lilibet Makes a Friend

Brief Description
Lilibet has lots of friends-it's just that they are all imaginary! Can she build the perfect real-life friend? With a relatable neurodivergent main character and a message of friendship and acceptance, this funny and heartfelt picture book is perfect for 3-5 year olds. Lilibet has lots... Read More
Format: Hardback
$3800
Pre-order
Releases 30th June 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Lilibet Makes a Friend" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

Lilibet Makes a Friend

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Lilibet has lots of friends-it's just that they are all imaginary! Can she build the perfect real-life friend? With a relatable neurodivergent main character and a message of friendship and acceptance, this funny and heartfelt picture book is perfect for 3-5 year olds. Lilibet has lots of friends-it's just that they are all imaginary! Can she build the perfect real-life friend? With a relatable neurodivergent main character and a message of friendship and acceptance, this funny and heartfelt picture book is perfect for 3-7 year olds. Lilibet has tools, a lab, and a notebook. She also has lots of friends, like Calico Cate, Tom Zombie, and Dire Pup. It's just that they're all imaginary. So she plans a new project, REAL FRIEND 1.0, and makes a list of requirements- Knows the difference between a bug and an insect (extremely important!) Never calls her robot face Or computer brain Does not ask if Lilibet is a boy or a girl As she sets out to build a friend, she is joined by Paul "Peanut" Shelley, who is keen to help, whether Lilibet likes it or not. It turns out, sometimes the best of friends come from unexpected places. Celebrated author Kersten Hamilton writes from her own experience on the autism spectrum, creating a one-of-a-kind neurodivergent protagonist in a story brimming charm and humor.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781368104197

Publisher: Hyperion

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 April 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Hyperion

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Shanda McCloskey

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 9.0mm

Width: 237.0mm

Height: 287.0mm

Weight: 414g

Pages: 40

About the Author

Kersten Hamilton is the critically acclaimed author of books for toddlers, teens, and all people in between. Her fast-paced stories are loved by readers around the world. RED TRUCK (illustrated by Valeria Petrone), which was called "well-crafted" and "appealing" in a starred review from Booklist, has sold almost a quarter of a million copies and given rise to a series nitty-gritty machine books for itty-bitty readers that now includes YELLOW COPTER, BLUE BOAT, GREEN TRACTOR, ORANGE EXCAVATOR, and MERRY CHRISTMAS, RED TRUCK! Her picture book about the evolution of dogs from wild wolves to humans' best friend, FIRST FRIEND (illustrated by Jaime Kim), was called "lyrical" and "delightful" by Kirkus and received a starred review from SLJ, and her YA novel IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT (second in the Goblin Wars trilogy) led Kirkus to call her "a wizard at creating tension." She is eagerly awaiting her invitation to wizarding school. Kersten has worked as a ranch hand, a wood cutter, a lumberjack, a census taker, a wrangler for wilderness guides, and an archeological surveyor. She currently lives in New Mexico, where, when not writing, she hunts dinosaurs in the Ojito Wilderness. Shanda McCloskey is an author and illustrator of children's picture books and graphic novels, including Smash, Crash, Topple, Roll! (written by Catherin Thimmesh), which was called "Funny, chock-full of science, and wonderfully complicated" by Kirkus in a starred review. She lives with her husband, daughters, and dog in Georgia. Learn more at www.ShandaMc.com.

Also by Kersten Hamilton

View all

More from Children's Books

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.