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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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