Friendship is a common theme in children’s literature, and reading books about friendship is a great way to teach kids about how to make friends and what it means to be one.
Books about friendship
Laura Malone Elliott
This is the perfect book to read a child who has a friend that seeks trouble. Hunter’s friend Stripe is always being naughty at school and encouraging Hunter to join right in. Eventually Hunter learns that he can do the right thing and still be Stripe’s friend — Stripe might even follows his example!
Russell Hoban
This classic story (1969) about friendship may get a little long for young listeners – but the plot of fickle friendships is timeless. I admit that Frances books bored me when I was a kid, but I enjoy them now. My daughter (6) likes to read these herself, but my preschool boys don’t reach for Frances books.
Robert Bruel
At first I thought this book was a rehash of the same old story of caterpillars who turn into butterflies. But it turned into a lovely lesson for Bob’s friend Otto the worm, who doesn’t change at all but spends all his time digging tunnels. When Otto is discouraged because he’s “still just a big fat worm,” Bob reminds him that all his digging helps trees grow strong and produce leaves – to feed caterpillars – so they can become butterflies. “You’re not just a worm. You’re my best friend.”
Mo Willems
You won’t want to miss the Elephant and Piggie books, an easy reader series that’s both funny and accessible for beginning readers. In this story Gerald and Piggie each decide to hide and surprise their friend – but with both of them hiding, each starts to wonder about the other. Gerald is concerned that something has happened to Piggie. Piggie thinks that Gerald is having lunch without her. We always share some giggles when reading this series.
P. D. Eastman
This book (1973) has been around for a long time, but kids still enjoy the story of Ted and Fred, two dogs who are best friends despite having completely different interests.
James Marshall
George and Martha are two lovable hippos who do everything together and learn lessons about friendship along the way. The subtle humor in these books will amuse both parents and kids. Any book in this series will teach your child a lesson or two about friendship.
Arnold Lobel
The warm, funny stories about Frog and Toad are delighting another generation. Kids will laugh at the silly stories and be comforted by the steadfast friendship between these two characters.
Dori Chaconas
Have you seen this higher level easy reader series yet? We love these books about a muskrat and possum. The ups and downs of their friendship mirror what we find in children — and you’ll love the humor and originality in these fun stories.
Holly Keller
A caterpillar named Farfellina and a gosling named Marcel become best friends – until the day that Farfellina flies away and spins “a blanket of glossy silk.” Meanwhile, Marcel grows into a handsome goose. When the two meet again, neither recognizes the other. But the two friends find that growing up and apart brings them closer together.
Deborah Freedman
This is a wonderfully creative story about a fish and snail who live together in a book. The daring Fish loves to jump into other books and new adventures — but Snail wants to stay just where he is. Children will be happy to see that the ensuing fight ends happily. We especially loved the outstanding illustrations!
Mike Twohy
Poindexter is a quiet pig who prefers to spend all his time helping out at the library. When a shy turtle named Shelby requests a book about how to make friends, Poindexter finds it – they read it together and become friends in the process. A treasure of a book!
Alexis O-Neill
Mean Jean owns the playground, and no one is brave enough to stand up to her — until a teeny kid named Katie Sue comes to school. She finds that making friends with Mean Jean is as simple as asking her to play.
Chris Raschka
This story has just a few words, but its message about making new friends is abundantly clear.
Derek Munson
This is a friendship book well-suited to older kids (first grade and up), but younger kids will enjoy it too. The narrator puts mean Jeremy, his new neighbor, on his Enemy List. When asking his dad for advice on how to get rid of enemies, his dad promises to make Enemy Pie. But first he has to spend one day being kind to his enemy. Of course after the day spent together the boys are no longer enemies. Good story!
Adam Relf
A little fox thinks that to make a friend he has to create one himself. A little rabbit and squirrel work alongside him to create a friend out of sticks, vegetables, and fruit. The friends are discouraged until they realize they’ve been making friends with each other all along.
Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel is so paranoid about germs and injury that he leads a solitary life. But when an exuberant dog wants to be his friend, Scaredy Squirrel learns to modify his definition of a good friend. You’ll love the humor in this book! A must-see.
Rob Lewis
Oscar has moved to a new neighborhood and is having difficulty making friends. No wonder – he thinks the other rabbits are “too smelly, too noisy, too wild, too dreamy, too smart” or “too shy.” Oscar learns that to make friends, you sometimes have to join in with what they like doing.
Amanda Doering Tourville
This is a simple story perfect for teaching kids about how their friends with autism are different than they are – and that it’s okay. Whether or not your child knows someone with autism, I highly recommend this book. Be sure to check out the rest of the books in the Friends with Disabilities series.
Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
The “How Do Dinosaurs…” series is such a treasure! This book is perfect for teaching preschoolers that friends are kind, sharing, thoughtful, and generous.
Loren Long
My kids and I love this story about the friendly tractor named Otis who braves a tornado to rescue the grumpy, unfriendly bull. A beautiful story about being kind to those who aren’t kind to us.
Helme Heine
This story about three dissimilar friends – a rooster, mouse, and pig – tells of their daily adventures while weaving in lessons about friendship — like “Good friends decide things together,” and “Good friends are always fair.” Sweet story!
Holly Hobbie
If you’re never read a Toot & Puddle book, you’re missing a lovely series by the author/illustrator Holly Hobbie. In this story, Puddle shows love and patience to his friend, even when Toot is so discouraged that nothing cheers him up.
Beverly Lewis
This book is narrated by a girl whose older brother was born with special needs. She’s embarrassed by him and sometimes wishes her parents would send him far away. But she learns to love her brother just as God does, and by the end of the book she appreciates him for who he is. A lovely story.
Cynthia Rylant
I love the Henry & Mudge easy reader series! In this book, Henry’s cousin Annie comes to visit. But Annie isn’t any fun! She’s uncomfortable in his messy room, doesn’t welcome his dog’s sloppy kisses, and seems afraid of everything. Yet Henry is persistent at showing kindness to his cousin, and Annie comes out of her shell.
Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
This detailed book presents real-life situations and how to handle them. How do you ask a new friend to play? How can you protect a friend if someone is bothering him? How can you help a friend who needs it? This book covers it all and works best as a cozy read-aloud on the couch because of the many small pictures and speech bubbles.
David Bruins and Hilary Leung
I’m a little confused by this book – is the Ninja a little boy dressed up as a Ninja, a boy imagining he’s a Ninja, or a character that’s actually meant to be one? His friends are a cowboy and bear – about whom I have the same questions. Regardless, the story teaches that friendship means thinking of your friends before yourself.
Karen Katz
This simple book is just right for teaching toddlers and young preschoolers how to get along.
Sherri J. Meiners
I love this book and the others in the Learning to Get Along series. They teach simple lessons about what it means to get along with others. In this book kids learn that sharing can take many forms — trading, taking turns, or doing something together. I highly recommend these for classroom teachers, but they’re also great for teaching kids at home.
Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy
This book teaches kids about how to work together to stand up against bullies and support each other. I’d save this book for kids older than preschool, as it has some name calling I’d rather my kids not hear. The book would be an excellent one to use in a classroom at the start of the year.
Mercer Mayer
The Little Critter books have stayed popular since their creation in the late 1970’s. Kids will relate to the ups and downs of friendship in Little Critter’s day with his friend.
Patrick McDonnell
Do you read the comics? Ever since I had a paper route when I was ten, I have to start my day with the comics page. The comic strip Mutts is so simple and poignant – just like this book by its creator. Mooch tries to find the perfect gift for his friend Earl, who already has everything. He discovers that having each other can be enough.
Andrew Clements
Big Al is a big, ugly, scary fish – with a good heart underneath. But how can he make the other fish see it? After Big Al rescues them from a fisherman’s net, the fish learn that it’s what’s beneath the surface that counts.
Cynthia Rylant
I am just in love with this pudgy, good-natured pig and his simple life. If you’ve never read a Poppleton book, you are missing out! Every Poppleton book shares the theme of friendship, so you can’t go wrong no matter which one you choose. They’re also great easy readers at a mid-to-late first grade level.
Paul Schmid
Pearl is a sweet little girl who loves to hug — and her friends love her so much they accept them (her teacher keeps lots of band-aids handy). But Pearl becomes discouraged when her friends all say “Ouch!” when receiving her prickly affection. After many attempts to solve the problem, she comes up with the perfect solution.
Natalie Russell
Two rabbits learn that good friends can enjoy spending time together, but it’s okay not to be together every moment.
Eric Rohmann
In this simple story, a mouse loves his well-meaning friend, even if trouble follows Rabbit wherever he goes.
Valeri Gorbachev
When Goat sees his friend Pig crying, he dreams up all kinds of reasons for it – and just how he’ll come to the rescue. It has a predictable ending, but it’s a cute story.
Elizabeth Schoonmaker
This is such a goofy, fun story about a square cat who is always tipping over (and gets stuck, of course). Eula’s friends Patsy and Maude do whatever they can to cheer up their friend, including putting themselves in cardboard boxes so they can be square cats too.
Philip C. Stead
Amos McGee is a thoughtful zookeeper who, though busy, makes time for each of the animals at the zoo. He is so beloved that when he stays home sick, they come to him. The award-winning illustrations will steal your heart!
Ame Dyckman
This is a fun, simple story about a boy and a robot who become friends. When the robot’s power switch is turned off, the boy tries to feed him, read to him, and tuck him into bed. When the boy falls asleep, the robot gives him oil, reads him an instruction manual, and brings him a spare battery. I love Dan Yaccarino’s illustrations.
Faustin Charles and Michael Terry
The selfish crocodile won’t let any of the other animals into the river, and they steer clear of him – until the day he moans and groans because of a mysterious pain. A little mouse is brave enough to climb up the crocodile’s belly and pull a troublesome tooth, and the two become good friends from that day forward.
Mem Fox
Don’t miss this treasure of a book about a boy whose best friends are residents of a nursing home. When his dearest friend, Miss Nancy, starts losing her memory, Wilfrid does what he can to help her find it. A gem!
Eleanor Taylor
This is an adorable story about a little boy fox who makes friends with the timid monster under his bed.
Helen Lester
A porcupine named Fluffy? Fluffy definitely isn’t. As he tries to change himself to fit his name, he runs into a rhinoceros named Hippo. After the two laugh at each others’ names, they become good friends.
Shel Silverstein
Some people would say that this book teaches how not to be a friend – the tree gives and gives, and the boy takes and takes. As a kid I loved this story because it begins with the boy’s childhood and ends when he’s an old man. Finally, when he can do nothing but rest on the stump, the boy appreciates his friend the giving tree.
William Steig
This book actually makes me tear up. It is such a lovely story, and so beautifully written! Amos the mouse and Boris the whale become friends when Amos nearly drowns in the ocean. As they part at the seaside, the new friends know they might never meet again. But years later, when Boris gets stuck on the sandy shore, it’s Amos who comes to the rescue.
Mo Willems
Leonardo is a terrible monster who can’t scare anyone. So he finds the perfect timid little boy to scare — Sam. When Sam bursts into tears, Leonardo congratulates himself – only to learn that Sam isn’t crying because he was scared, but because he has no friends. Leonardo decides that it’s better to be a wonderful friend than a terrible monster.
Oliver Jeffers
One day a boy finds a very sad penguin standing at his door. The boy decides that the penguin must be lost, so he sails with the penguin all the way to the South Pole. Along the way the two become good friends. After dropping off the penguin at the South Pole, the boy is discouraged to see that the penguin is not cheered up after all. Finally he realizes that the penguin was sad not because he was lost, but because he was lonely. The two are reunited at the end of this cozy story.
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Megan
This is an awesome list and I’m so thankful you put descriptions under each book – it really helps me figure out which books are appropriate for the 2 year olds in my preschool class. Now we have some great books for our “friendship” theme week. Thank you!
Anna G
Yay! I’m so glad this was helpful, Megan!
Nancy King
Hello, I am an author of a series of children’s book illustrated with color photographs using 18″ dolls. “Beach Friends Forever” was produced in collaboration with my twenty-one year old granddaughter who was the photographer for the sets filmed in and around Masonboro Island in Wilmington, NC. We even took the dolls to the island by kayak for their beach photos! The main theme of the story is that people, like sea shells are unique and beautiful, each in their own way and true friendship is as enduring as the sea. The book comes with a sea shell on a cord (explained in the story). “Mrs. Melton’s Flower Garden” tells the story of a young girl, Sarah, who befriends her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Melton and finds a special way to bring joy into the lonely woman
‘s life proving that friendship knows no bounds of generational distance.
I am a graduate of Harvard University and a member of the Harvard Club of the Research Triangle Writer’s Group and a member of the Fuquay-Varina Writer’s Guild and Chamber of Commerce here in F-V where I reside. Katherine is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill studying film. She works part-time at the Wilson Library in the Special Collections Section on campus.We have been writing stories together since she was an infant and share a special bond and love of the written word.
May I send you a pdf version or a hard copy of the books for your review?
Thank you very much.
Nancy L. King
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
(919) 706-5674
Kate Dowling
Hello, Nancy! This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. Anna is not currently doing book reviews. Thank you for your interest. We wish you all the best in your endeavour!
Gaurav
Great list of books based on friendship. I wish you could also review my picture book “Forever Friends Club” based on friendship, emotions and social skills. A story about a sad little bunny and making of a friendship club.
My book is available at Amazon and I can send you a copy to review.
Here is the link: https://goo.gl/X4D3v2
Lorna
Thank you for the list of books. I pick up library books for my grandchildren every 2 to 3 weeks. I have seen some of the books on your list that I have picked up at the library and now I can see what kind of stories they are in the books they will be easier for me to pick them out. I have no list when I pick them up and I appreciate your list of books. Thank you so much.
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Lorna!
Lavinia Conley
Would you take a look at my book, Nancy the Dragonfly? I am hoping it will show young children what REAL friendship is and help when things don’t go quite like they expect.
Thanks so much.
Lavinia Conley
Jennifer
Do you know of any space themed books about friendship?
Anna G
No, I’m sorry! I don’t.
Fiona Smith
Hello I am wondering if someone can help me out here.
I am looking for a children’s book that I read years ago.
I can’t remember the author or title of it but the plot was this.
It was about four young girls who are in their early teens and they befriend a poor girl after seeing the girl in her home doing a lot of the housework (like Cinderella) and working very hard to help her father out as her mum passed away.
The four young girls are relatively well off who go on a lot of social gatherings together. It mentions in the book that some of these are picnics in the summer, sleepovers and ice skating parties in the winter.
The girls are a little jealous of this poor girl because she is very pretty and gets attention from some of the other pupils.
When the girls are having a sleepover, the girls Mum whose house it is suggests that the four girls invite this other girl into their friendship circle as she will be feeling a bit lonely being on her own.
Eventually, the four girls invite this new girl into the group and they all start doing the fun stuff together they were doing before.
All I remember about the characters is one of the girls has red hair and is called Amy who is a fan of the Union Jack flag and one of the others is called Grace who is mixed race.
This book may have been published anywhere between the 1990’s and early 2000’s.
If anyone could help it would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Anna G
Maybe someone else will chime in Fiona, but I’m sorry that it doesn’t ring a bell for me!
Sunny
Thank you for sharing these lovely books!
Anna Geiger
You’re welcome, Sunny! So many of our favorites are in this list.
Catherine
So many of our favourites are on this list – Lost and Found, Friends, The Giving Tree, A Sick Day for Amos McGee. One of our recent favourite books about friendship is The Storm Whale by Benji Davies.
Anna Geiger
Thanks so much for that recommendation, Catherine! Our library doesn’t have it yet, but maybe they’ll get it sometime soon.
Juanita
How did you make the title picture with the books in it?
Anna Geiger
Hi Juanita, I use picmonkey. It’s free online. I pay a little for the royale features, but you don’t need to. So much fun to use!
Jill
Wow! What a great list of friendship books. I would choose a favorite, but there are too many good ones on that list. Thank you for sharing and for linking up this week to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop.
Anna Geiger
I never know how to answer that question, “What’s your favorite children’s book?” WAAAY too many to choose from! Thanks for visiting, Jill!
Erica @What Do We Do All Day?
What a great list, Anna. There are a few here I haven’t read and am eager to get them from the library.
Anna Geiger
I will count that as a huge success if I’ve shared books that YOU have not seen yet 🙂 Thank you for checking out the list, Erica!
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book
What a huge list of great titles on friendship!
Anna Geiger
Thank you for checking it out, Jodie!
Natalie
This is a wonderful list of books, and it brought back pleasant memories since it includes so many of our favorites. I love that you included Lost and Found – this is such a precious and inventive book! Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!
Anna Geiger
Yes, that’s such a peaceful, sweet story! It was new to us, as were many of the books we found. It’s great discovering new books to treasure.
Ann
Great list! My son loves Elephant and Piggie and my daughter loves George and Martha. We also really enjoyed Yo, Yes – fun!
Anna Geiger
The George and Martha books are some of my all-time favorites 🙂 Thanks for checking out the list, Ann!
Kelly at Littlest Sweet Pea
There’s quite a few that we’ve read but even more that I hadn’t heard of. Thank you so much for sharing this list!
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Kelly!
Caroline
As soon as I saw the title of your post, I was hoping you’d include BOY + BOT by Ame Dyckman. We LOVE that story. So far, she always puts a little twist on friendship in her stories in clever ways. We love it!
Great list! I love how you organized this list, too.
Anna Geiger
Thanks, Caroline! It was fun to put together.