Abstract
The thesis project is a picture book, An Unlikely Friendship, for ages six and older. In the story, River the raccoon will teach children the process of writing a play. River will work with a bully, Bobby the bear, to write a play. River discovers Bobby bullies because he has two fathers and was a victim of bullying at his previous school. With help from his mother, River accepts Bobby, his family, and defends Bobby against his own bullies. The two animals discover all they can accomplish when working together. The picture book demonstrates the value of new friendships, tolerance of non-traditional families while teaching the process of playwriting.
