Books To Read When... You Want To Make Friends

Sometimes it's hard for kids to make friends. It really is a learned skill that we can help our children develop. Here are a few good picture books that teach how to make and keep friends.

I Am a Great Friend!
By Lauren Stohler
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book.

A boisterous and splashy capybara isn't sure some of the birds want to be friends with him. His mother explains that even though he does fun things, he has to do things the birds like too. It's a great lesson on finding things in common with friends.

A New Friend
Written by Lucy Menzies
Illustrated by Maddy Vian
London: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2022. Picture Book.

This book follows Joe, who is a new kid that is nervous to make friends and Mae, who has made it her mission to befriend the new kid. The book follows both kids at the same time and would be a great tool for thinking about how other friends feel.

A Friend for Ghost
By Suzanne Kaufman
New York City: Holiday House, 2022. Picture Book.

Ghost is very lonely and is looking for a friend. Not many people see ghost, so it's hard to make friends. He finds a red balloon to be a friend, but soon discovers a friend that is a little more like him. This sweet book reminds us that sometimes friends find us before we can find them.

How to Help a Friend
Written by Karl New
Illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi
Somerville, Massachusetts: Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2022. Picture Book.

This lovely book talks about how everyone is different and needs different things from friends. All the characters are animals, which sometimes makes it easier for children to understand concepts. I think this would be a great tool to teach children to pay attention to the needs of others.

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Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

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