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.
Navigating 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.
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.
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Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara Calahan King
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina
How to Make a Friend by Stephen W. Martin and Olivia Aserr
My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López
Best Friend in the Whole World by Sandra Salsbury
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Out of Nowhere by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood
Every Little Letter by Deborah Underwood and Joy Hwang Ruiz
The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc
Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell and David Catrow
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and Patrice Barton
Those Pesky Rabbits by Ciara Flood
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister and J. Alison James
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo
Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira and Poly Bernatene
Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton
City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth
Horrible Bear! by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman
Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel and Nick Bruel
This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
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
The Hole in the Middle by Paul Budnitz and Aya Kakeda
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