Friendship is an important part of human life and it begins when we are children. These picture books about friendship address all aspects of making friends and being a good friend. You’ll find books about a friend moving, unlikely best friends, unhealthy friendships, and of course bonding with animal friends.
Picture Books About Friendship
Here are 35+ of the best friendship picture books for kids:
You are reading: Picture books about friends
shy willow
Published: February 16, 2021
the willow is shy. very shy.
Your house is in an abandoned mailbox and you prefer to stay where you are. Outside, children scream and soccer balls collide, trees look like monsters, and the rain makes a terrifying noise. it is much more pleasant to stay inside, drawing. But then a boy drops a letter in Willow’s mailbox: it’s a note to the moon asking for a special favor. Willow knows that if he doesn’t face the outside world, the letter will never be delivered and the boy will be heartbroken. should he try? can she?
dozen donuts
Published: July 21, 2020
louann (a bear) is preparing a feast of donuts to prepare for her long winter nap. but just before he takes the first bite, ding dong! Ella’s friend Woodrow (a groundhog) passes by. Louann is happy to share her donuts, but as soon as she and Woodrow sit down to eat, ding ding! clyde (a raccoon) is at the door. One by one, Louann’s friends arrive: Topsy (a possum) and then Moufette (a skunk) and then Chip and Chomp (chipmunks), until it’s one big party. louann welcomes her surprise guests and makes batch after batch of donuts, always dividing them equally among her friends. but she makes a huge miscalculation. soon louann’s kitchen is empty, winter is near and she hasn’t had anything to eat
the sky rock
Published: April 13, 2021
there is a place.it is a good place.it is the perfect place to stand.there is no reason to ever leave.but somewhere up there is also a rock.a rock from the sky.here comes the rock the sky,a hilarious meditation on the workings of friendship, fate, shared futuristic visions, and that weird feeling you get that there’s something fishy somewhere, but you just can’t put your finger on it. Combining sweeping visual suspense with tongue-in-cheek wit, celebrated picture book creator Jon Klassen delivers a totally original comedy for all ages.
the not so friendly friend
Published: September 12, 2021
How can I help my child deal with a bully? What did I teach you about how to handle a not-so-friendly friend who shows up again and again? my advice to “be nice” is not helping. and my son is still suffering.
Christina Furnival, mother and licensed mental health therapist, helps answer these questions in this charming and engaging rhyming story about a young boy successfully dealing with the complexities of an unpleasant relationship with his peers.
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In The Not-So-Friendly Friend, kids will learn an easy, practical lesson in how to stand up for yourself firmly and assertively, yet kindly, against a bully. By teaching kids about the importance and value of setting boundaries for healthy friendships, this book gives kids the tools they need to build their social confidence and emotional well-being.
bear is a bear
Published: September 14, 2021
bear is . . . a new friend, a mischievous companion, a protector and a dreamer.
Through all the ups and downs of a girl’s childhood, the bear is there to give her love and support. until it’s time to say goodbye. . . and hello again.
bear is a bear is a sweet and surprising tribute to the beloved companions of our childhood.
chez bob
Published: September 28, 2021
welcome to chez bob, which looks like a real restaurant…until you realize…it’s on an alligator’s nose! Bob has a secret plan for his clients: “The birds will come to eat, but I will eat the birds!” As they fly in from all over the world to dine on Bob’s face, something starts to happen that takes the lazy, hungry reptile by surprise: the birds stay. “more delicious birds!” he rejoices, he will lack nothing! But when the time is right, will Bob make the right choice?
evelyn del rey moves in
Published: September 8, 2020
a big open-mouthed truck is parked on the curb, ready to gobble up evelyn’s mirror with the stickers around the rim. . . and the couch we jumped on to get to the moon. evelyn del rey is daniela’s best friend. they do everything together and even live in twin apartments across from each other: daniela with her mommy and her hamster, and evelyn with her mommy, her daddy and her cat. But not after today, not after Evelyn moves out. Until then, the girls play among the moving boxes until it’s time to say goodbye, making promises to keep in touch, because they know their friendship will always be special. The tenderness of Meg Medina’s beautifully written story of friendship and change is balanced by Sonia Sanchez’s colorful and vibrant portrayals of the girls’ urban neighborhood.
crossing snails
Published: February 4, 2020
When the snail sees a plump, crunchy cabbage across the road, nothing will stop it, not a speeding car or even a hungry crow.
But then the good-natured snail stops to help a group of restless ants in a storm, and gets lost. It looks like he’ll never get the gift from him, until Snail’s new friends come up with a clever idea. . . .
something is wrong: a bear, a hare and some underwear
Published: March 23, 2021
jeff the bear has definitely forgotten something. she ate breakfast, watered her plant, combed her fur…what could it be? why does it feel so strange? so he asks his friend anders the rabbit what could be wrong. it couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that he’s wearing underwear… over his fur… could it? Something’s wrong! is another read-aloud, laugh-out-loud picture book from beloved best-selling author jory john, about that awful nagging feeling that it might not be your day, but you know you have a friend who’s got your back no matter what. pass .
the book of friendship
Published: July 11, 2020
Friendships are like flowers. if you take care of them, they grow and bloom until you have a beautiful garden! the little book of friendship helps boys and girls, preschoolers, and toddlers of all ages learn what they need to know about making friends and being friends. a good friend to others.
The ability to make friends easily is a valuable social skill that everyone should learn early in life. This book focuses on teaching young readers the importance of friendship and helps them use the lessons learned in real-life situations at school, the park, the playground, and at play dates.
the adventures of beekle: the unimaginable friend
Published: April 8, 2014
This magical story begins on a distant island where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real boy, but when he gets overlooked time and time again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally finds his perfect match and, at last, is given his special name. : beekle. New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Dan Santat, creator of After the Fall and Are We There Yet?, blends classic storytelling with stunning art in an unforgettable tale of friendship, imagination, and courage. to find your place in the world.
e-doll 1.0
Published: May 1, 2018
charlotte’s world is fully loaded! with her dog by her side, she is always playing, coding, clicking and downloading. she has a knack for anything tech, especially devices her parents don’t know how to fix! then she gets a new toy that is quite the puzzle: a doll! What is she supposed to do with it? Once she discovers the doll’s hidden battery pack, things start to get interesting…as her trusty canine companion wonders if she’ll be outshone by the new and improved Doll-e 1.0! With a little ingenuity and an open mind, everyone can be friends in this modern and endearing tribute to the creative spirit of gaming.
rescue & jessica: a life-changing friendship
Published: April 3, 2018
rescue thought he would grow up to be a guide dog; after all, it is the family business. when he gets word that he’s better suited to be a service dog, he worries that he’s not up to the task. he then he meets jessica, a girl whose life is turning out differently than she too had imagined. now jessica needs to be rescued by her side to help her perform daily tasks. And it turns out that the rescue may help Jessica see after all: a way forward, together, one step at a time. a final note from the authors provides more information on the training and extraordinary abilities of service dogs, in particular, their real-life best friend and the black lab, rescue.
city dog, country dog
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Published: June 8, 2010
In spring, when the city dog runs free in the field for the first time, he sees the country frog sitting on a rock, waiting for a friend. “You will,” says the frog, and together they play country frog games. in summer, they meet again and play city dog games. Through the seasons, whenever the city dog visits the countryside, he runs straight to the country frog rock. in winter, things change for the city dog and the country frog. spring comes, friendship blooms again, a little different this time.
the sober and moving text by mo willems and jon j. Muth’s expressive watercolors come together to tell a story that will resonate with readers of all ages.
the epic adventure of huggie and stick
Published: October 23, 2018
When the super jolly stick and the grumpy plush bunny are tossed out of a backpack, the adventure begins! Together, this unlikely pair survive encounters with sea pirates, raging rhinos in Africa, sword-wielding royalty in Europe, stick-eating pandas in Asia, sharks in Australia, hungry penguins in Antarctica, and piranhas in South America, all before finally making it home to north america. a fantastically funny read aloud about two unlikely friends and their epic journey around the world.
big cat, little cat
Published: March 14, 2017
there was a cat that lived alone. until the day a new cat arrived. . .
And so begins a story of friendship, following the two cats through their days, months, and years until one day, the older cat has to go. and he does not return.
shepherd dog and sheep sheep
Published: February 12, 2019
sheep is an expert at protecting sheep, or so she thinks until one happy afternoon she runs into someone very hairy on the farm.
“who are you?” she asks.
“I am the sheepdog!” someone says. “I take care of the sheep.”
holy begonia! the sheep knows that this cannot be right. after all, she’s the pro! so the sheep goes off to get everything the sheepdog needs to get the job done, but every time she goes, something almost happens to the sheep…
And it’s the sheepdog who saves the day!
when the pencil met the eraser
Published: May 28, 2019
as the pencil draws on the pages of this book, the eraser erases parts of the pencil’s work, and the book itself becomes a canvas for their differing views on creativity, until the two discover that their work art is even better when they work together.
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the fox on the swing
Published: June 19, 2018
Learn about family, happiness, and friendship in this hopeful children’s book. Our story begins with a boy named Paul, who lives in a cozy treehouse in a big city with his family. And then something unexpected happens: Paul befriends a wise and friendly fox on the way home from the bakery. The fox gives Paul space to think about what makes him happy and what friendship means, all in the pages of a bright and quirky storybook. Join Paul and Fox as you help young readers decide what makes them happy. Illustrated in full color
how to be a lion
Published: June 26, 2018
In this timely and charming story about the importance of being true to yourself, mindfulness, and supporting friends, we meet Leonard, a lion, and his best friend, Marianne, a . . . duck. Leonard and Marianne have a happy life together: they talk, play games, write poems and make wishes, until one day a pack of thugs wonder if it’s right for a lion and a duck to be friends. Leonard soon learns that there are many ways to be a lion and many ways to be a friend, and that sometimes finding the right words can change the world. . .
the bear has arrived
Published: June 4, 2019
Once upon a time there was a river that flowed through a forest. the river did not know that it was capable of adventure until a great bear appeared. but the adventures are not fun at all by yourself, and so enter little frogs, turtles, beavers, raccoons and ducks. these very different animals go down the river, but they didn’t know they needed each other until, luckily, the river came along.
swashby and the sea
Published: May 5, 2020
Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. and he loves his life by the sea just the way it is: salty, sandy and serene.
one day, much to swashby’s annoyance, a girl and her grandmother take over the empty house next door. all swashby wants is for her new neighbors to go away and take their rampage with them.
when swashby starts leaving notes in the sand for his noisy neighbors, however, the beach interferes with the messages being conveyed. Could it be that the captain’s oldest friend, the sea, knows what swashby needs even better than he does?
lottie & walter
Published: May 7, 2019
lottie goes to swimming lessons every Saturday, but she never gets in the water. that is because she is convinced that there is a shark in the pool, a shark that wants to devour her and only her. but then walter shows up. Walter likes to sing and read books and take bubble baths, and his favorite food is fish sticks, just like Lottie. When she arrives on Saturday again, Lottie is no more ready to jump in the pool than she was before. or is it her? sometimes it just takes a special friend to find the courage that was inside you all along.
the house for a day
Published: August 15, 2017
wilson dreams of all the ways he can help improve his friend gigi’s house so she’s warm, comfortable and happy.
One day, friends and neighbors from far and wide come to help Wilson’s plans come to fruition. everyone volunteers to help keep gigi’s house safe, clean, and beautiful.
leo: a ghost story
Published: August 25, 2015
would you like to be friends with leo. he likes to draw, he makes delicious sandwiches and most people can’t even see him. because leo is also a ghost. When a new family moves into their home and Leo’s efforts to welcome them back are misunderstood, Leo decides it’s time to go and see the world. That’s how he meets Jane, a girl with a tremendous imagination and a vacant position for a worthy knight. that’s how leo and jane become friends. And that’s when their adventures begin. This charming tale of friendship, from two of the best young minds in picture books: the Caldecott honor-winning author of Extra Yarn and the Bologna Ragazzi award-winning illustrator of Josephine, is destined to become a modern classic that will delight. of the readers. for the next few years.
the ship with antlers
Published: September 12, 2017
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marco the fox has many questions, like: how far does the sun go when it sinks into the sea? And why do birds have lizard legs? but none of the other foxes share his curiosity. So when a magnificent antler-adorned ship with a deer for a captain arrives at the dock looking for a crew, Marco volunteers, hoping to find foxes just as curious as himself who can answer his questions. the crew finds adventure and intrigue on their journey. And finally, Marco finds the answer to Marco’s most important question: what’s the best way to find a friend you can talk to?
a sick day for amos mcgee
Published: November 5, 2019
Friends come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. in the case of amos mcgee, all kinds of species too! Every day she spends a little time with each of her friends at the zoo, racing the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time to return the favor.
wolf in the snow
Published: January 3, 2017
A girl is lost in a snow storm. a wolf cub is also lost. How will they find their way home?Sentimental paintings tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Wolf in the Snow is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, by Matthew Cordell, author of Problem Gum and another brother.
waiting
Published: September 1, 2015
Five friends sit happily on a window sill, waiting for something amazing to happen. the owl is waiting for the moon. the pig is waiting for the rain. the bear is waiting for the wind. the puppy is waiting for the snow. and the rabbit is just looking out the window because he likes to wait! what will happen? Will patience win in the end? or someday friends will stop waiting and do something unexpected?
Waiting is a big part of childhood: waiting in line, waiting to grow up, waiting for something special to happen, but in this book, a boy sets the stage and pulls the strings. Timeless, beautiful, and deeply sincere, this picture book about imaginative play, seasons, friendship, and surprises is a Caldecott and Geisel honor book.
the lion and the bird
Published: May 6, 2014
One autumn day, a lion finds an injured bird in his garden. with the flock of birds gone, the lion decides that it is up to him to take care of the bird. he does and the two become fast friends. however, the bird leaves with his flock the following fall. What will become of the lion and what will become of his friendship?
the girl and the bike
Published: April 29, 2014
A little girl sees a shiny new bike in the window. she hurries home to see if she has enough money in her piggy bank, but when she falls short, she knocks on her neighbors’ doors, hoping to do her yard work. everyone rejects her except a kind old lady.
The woman and the girl work through the seasons, side by side. they form a tender friendship. when the weather warms up, the girl finally has enough money for the bike. she runs back to the store, but the bike is missing! what happens next shows the rewards of hard work and the true meaning of generosity.
little elliot, big city(little elliot, #1)
Published: August 26, 2014
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the big city, the biggest crowds and the biggest buildings, little Elliot leads a quiet life. Despite the challenges he faces, Elliot finds many wonderful things to enjoy, like cupcakes! And when his problems seem insurmountable, Elliot discovers something even sweeter: a friend.
elephants strictly prohibited
Published: October 27, 2015
Today is pet club day. there will be cats, dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it’s time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.
the invisible child
Published: October 8, 2013
A simple act of kindness can turn an invisible child into a friend…
meet brian, the invisible boy. no one in the class seems to notice him or think of including him in their group, game, or birthday party. . . until, yes, a new boy comes to class.
when new guy justin arrives, brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.
peanut butter & cupcake
Published: July 29, 2014
What does a little piece of bread do when it feels lonely? find a friend, of course!
And that’s exactly what peanut butter is trying to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Burger has to take his hotdogs out for a walk, Cupcake is too busy building castles in his treat box, and Egg is laughing so hard he starts laughing out loud! does peanut butter have a soul mate? young readers will know the answer long before peanut butter and will laugh at each mismatched pairing.
same, same but different
Published: September 13, 2011
elliot lives in the united states and kailash lives in india. They are pen pals. exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love climbing trees, having pets, and going to school. their worlds may look different, but they are actually similar. same same. but different!
every kindness
Published: October 2, 2012
chloe and her friends won’t be playing with the new girl, maya. every time maya tries to join chloe and her friends, they reject her. eventually maya stops coming to school. When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson on how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is hurt by the missed opportunity for friendship and thinks about how much better it could have been if she had shown Maya a little kindness. .
flora and the flamingo
Published: February 5, 2013
In this innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps, Flora and her dashing Flemish friend explore the trials and joys of friendship through an elaborate synchronized dance. With a twist, a turn, and even a flop, these unlikely friends finally learn to dance together in perfect harmony. Full of humor and heart, this impressive performance (and a striking ending!) will have readers clapping for more of this hilarious flamingo story.
little blue truck
Published: May 1, 2008
A muddy country road is no match for this little truck, that is, until it gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the mud.
Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get her friend back on the road.
there they are: over 35 of the best picture books on friendship! which ones have you read and loved? what did i miss?
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