Picture Books For Children About Making Friends
Does your child need help making friends? These adorable picture books for children will help your child navigate the challenges and joys of developing healthy friendships with others.
The Bible has a lot to say about friendship. Proverbs tells us that “A man who has friends must himself be friendly” and also, ” A friend loves at all times”. Ecclesiastes 4 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up”.
Making friends with others can be hard for young children. Learning to share, initiating conversations, and letting others go first are not easy lessons for kids.
One way I like to help our kids learn to get along with others is to read stories about characters who struggle and ultimately succeed at forging strong friendships. These picture books about making friends will help your kids see the idea of friendship with new eyes.
Picture Books for Kids About Making Friends
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May I Bring My Friend? by Beatrice Shenk de Regniers
When a little boy receives a royal invitation to have tea with the king and queen, he politely asks if he can bring his friends. But what will happen when they discover that his best friends are giraffes, elephants, lions, monkeys, and seals? “May I Bring My Friend” is a fun and imaginative rhyming picture book, with lovely illustrations that tell the funny story themselves.
- May I Bring a Friend By De Regniers Beatrice Schenk Montresor Beni ILT
- de Regniers, Beatrice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages – 09/30/1989 (Publication Date) – Aladdin (Publisher)
A Bargain for Frances by Russel Hoban
Frances enjoys playing with her friend Thelma, despite her mother’s practical advice about her deceptive nature. But when Thelma plays a nasty trick on her, their friendship is put to the test. Jump into the story as Frances and Thelma learn the necessities of friendship and the unkindness of playing tricks. This children’s book portrays a perfect picture of what friendship should look like and is a great reminder to young children that “Being careful isn’t nice, being friends is better.”
- Hoban, Russell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages – 02/18/2003 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)
Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes
Chester does everything the same way. He gets out of bed on the same side, always cuts his sandwiches diagonally–toast with jam and peanut butter every time–, and refuses to leave the house without first double-knotting his shoes. Chester has one best friend, Wilson, who is exactly like him. They never do anything without each other. Even their parents get them confused. But when Lilly moves into the neighborhood, Chester and Wilson both agree that she is quite something else. Although she is brave, sneaky, smart, and kind, she longs to become a part of the friendship duo. In this hilarious book, Chester and Wilson will learn that becoming friends with new people is helpful and especially kind.
- chester
- Henkes, Kevin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/22/1997 (Publication Date) – Greenwillow Books (Publisher)
Christina Katerina and the Box by Patricia Lee Gauch
Join Christina in her love for boxes of every kind. The size of the box doesn’t matter, as long as it can be created into something new and interesting. When her mother buys a new refrigerator, Christina places the box right underneath the apple trees. She turns it into a beautiful castle. Everything goes along perfectly, until Fats Watson comes home from town and wants to join in on the fun. Christina learns it is hard to include friends, especially when they knock down your castle, sit on your clubhouse, or saw off the motor of a perfectly fine racecar.
- Patricia Lee Gauch (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages – 04/01/2012 (Publication Date) – Astra Young Readers (Publisher)
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
The friendliest little truck around has rolled into the country, beeping at all the little farm animals that come to greet him. But all the excitement slides away when a rude dump truck interrupts the fun. When the dump truck gets stuck in mud, he realizes the importance of friendships when there is no one to help him out. With lively illustrations and catchy rhymes, kids will beg to have this picture book read to them over and over.
- Schertle, Alice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 30 Pages – 07/07/2020 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
From cleaning the house to having picnics, Frog and Toad have always been best friends. When Toad loses a button, or when Frog wants some alone time, they both learn that being a good friend is very helpful when someone else is in need. In this collection of mini-stories all in one book, kids will learn about springtime, cleaning, and a host of other things as they explore the world of Frog and Toad in this lovely book about old friendships.
- Frog and Toad Are Friends
- Lobel, Arnold (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages – 02/18/2003 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
In this wonderful book, the Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the sea. He likes it when everyone admires his shimmering scales. But one day, a plain, little, blue fish asks him for one sparkly scale. When he refuses, all the other fish refuse to play with him and swim away when he comes by. What is the good of being the most spectacular fish in the sea, when there is no one to admire him? And how can he possibly be happy when he is all by himself?
- Northsouth (ny)
- Language: english
- Book – the rainbow fish
- Pfister, Marcus (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson
Bear is inclined to go out of his cave and into the sun to look for his friends. Who was that hiding in the trees? Who zoomed past? And who dug that deep hole in the middle of the forest?
In this rhyming, friendship book, Bear learns that making meaningful friendships can be hard work. How can Bear become friends with someone who is too shy to be seen? Karma Wilson shows kids the value of welcoming new people and developing social skills.
- Hardcover Book
- Wilson, Karma (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 04/01/2006 (Publication Date) – Margaret K. McElderry Books (Publisher)
Best Friends by Richard Scarry (Story in the book The Best Mistake Ever)
As two of the best friends in school, Huckle and Lowly always do everything together. They walk to school, sit, play, and even serve snacks together. To Huckle’s surprise, Lowly is sitting with Willy Rabbit instead of him…and on Huckle’s birthday!. He whispers with Willy, and he even goes out to bring a snack with Willy! What are they plotting? And how can Huckle’s deepest wish come true when his best friend abandons him?
- Scarry, Richard (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages – 09/11/1984 (Publication Date) – Random House (Publisher)
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Swimmy lives in a colony of red fish. But he is different from the others; he is faster and is all black. One day, his colony is eaten up by a big tuna fish. Only Swimmy survived. When he finds another colony of little red fish, he creates a way for them to work together to chase the big fish away.
- Lionni, Leo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 01/17/2017 (Publication Date) – Dragonfly Books (Publisher)
Comment with Your Favorite Friendship Book!
I hope these read alouds help your child through the difficulties of making friends. What books would you add to this list?
