Children’s Books about Being a Good Friend

Making friends is a skill children need to learn. Read these books about being a good friend to remind your kids the values of friendship.

Books about Being a Good FriendNavigating friendship can be difficult for kids. They’re quick to change best friends, exclude the new boy in the classroom, and deal with emotions they may not understand at this age.

They blurt frank words, can be mean to others who are different, or don’t understand how a strong friendship could end so suddenly. Fast friends at play dates can end in bullying and fights. Or maybe they see other kids who could use a friend but don’t know how to help them.

But kids can also be some of the best people to show us what true friendship and loyalty look like.

I saw small acts of kindness and empathy in the way a child reached out to my son and invited him to his house after school. When kids in their classes would give one another hugs, or when another offered comfort to my son with, “It’ll be all right” when he got hurt on the playground.

No doubt, kids will grow up with the whole spectrum of friendship. While I’d love for mine to only experience genuine friendships, I know they’ll still have challenging ones as well.

Learning to be a good friend is a skill kids need to practice, just like any skill. And childhood is the perfect stage to do just that, when the stakes aren’t so high.

One of the themes in my son’s class was all about being a good friend. His teacher talked about filling others’ “buckets” by being kind, and dipping into buckets when you’re not.

Playground Rules

Children’s books about being a good friend

Bringing this valuable lesson home, I gathered a list of picture books about being a good friend. These are good books (with fantastic illustrations!) that encourage children to treat others kindly and manage the challenges of childhood friendships. To remind kids the value of being a good friend to others.

We’ll meet Paula and Maggie, a pair of friends who show us how to stick up for each other. Unhei, a new girl from Korea, learns that she doesn’t have to be ashamed of her name among friends. And a young boy teaches us the importance of inclusion when his pet elephant isn’t accepted in the local pet club.

I hope you’ll check out these children’s books about being a good friend. They can teach kids—and ourselves—how important it is to treat others with kindness and respect.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara Calahan King

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara Calahan King

Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina

Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina

How to Make a Friend by Stephen W. Martin and Olivia Aserr

How to Make a Friend by Stephen W. Martin and Olivia Aserr

My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison

My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López

Best Friend in the Whole World by Sandra Salsbury

Best Friend in the Whole World by Sandra Salsbury

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Out of Nowhere by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

Out of Nowhere by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood

Every Little Letter by Deborah Underwood

Every Little Letter by Deborah Underwood and Joy Hwang Ruiz

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc

Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell and David Catrow

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and Patrice Barton

Those Pesky Rabbits by Ciara Flood

Those Pesky Rabbits by Ciara Flood

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister and J Alison James

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister and J. Alison James

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

Ribbit by Rodrigo Folgueira

Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira and Poly Bernatene

Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton

Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth

Horrible Bear by Ame Dyckman

Horrible Bear! by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman

Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel

Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel and Nick Bruel

This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis

This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso

My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems

My New Friend Is So Fun! An Elephant & Piggie Book by Mo Willems

How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

The Hole in the Middle by Paul Budnitz

The Hole in the Middle by Paul Budnitz and Aya Kakeda

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4 Comments

  1. Our favorite friendship book is Stick and Stone. Very simple and beautiful.,

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      Melanie, I LOVE Stick and Stone! Exactly like you said—simple and beautiful. ~Nina

  2. One of my favorite friendship books for young children is You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown.

    It’s funny with a lot of meaning. Teaches kids the right and wrong way to make a friend.

    1. Nina Garcia says:

      I LOVE that book too, Ines! I have it on the blog in a book roundup, but I agree it applies to this post as well! I’ll be updating it with your suggestion 🙂