Alaina Joy Bannington and Her Pretend Friend Stan is a story to help children who are feeling shy and/or alienated to understand they are not alone in their feelings. It also provides an idea for a first step they can use to begin talking about and practicing social interactions with other children.

The story is about a young girl who felt very sad and alienated because no other kids would sit with her at lunch or talk with her other times at school. Alaina felt unimportant and believed that other students just did not like her. Then one day she decided to create a pretend friend with her empty lunch bag and named him Stan. She confided in Stan about her fears of talking to others. Then Alaina introduced Stan to her mom who encouraged her to think of how practicing with Stan might help her make some new friends.

Soon Alaina overcame her shyness and discovered several other students who felt the same way as her. She and her new friends then decided to start a friendship club in their school.