Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Umami

  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...