Books About Friendship

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Friendship books are a great way to teach young kids about being good friends in a fun way. Sharing, compassion, and kindness are important skills that constantly need to be modeled and reinforced. Today, Kindergarten Planet and I are excited to share our favorite books about friendship that your students are sure to love!

*Pair this with our Social-Emotional Pocket Chart Activities!

Books About Friendship

You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown

My students love another Peter Brown book, Children Make Terrible Pets, which is so hilarious and always a class favorite! Children love to see this author back with a fun story of friendship. Lucy is trying so hard to find a friend but is having quite a few mishaps along the way. Yet, she finds a friend who loves her just the way she is!

Owen & Mzee by Isabella Hatkoff

This is a true story of an orphaned baby hippo and a 130 year old giant tortoise who form a remarkable friendship. Owen (the hippo) was stranded after a tsunami, and villagers in Kenya rescued him. It amazed everyone when this hippo and an elderly tortoise began to be friends. They are inseparable and even eat, swim, and play together! This is one I read every year to my students. It is a bit longer due to the information, but you can edit as needed – the pictures themselves are so captivating to the students!

Gilbert the Great by Jane Clarke

This is a great story to read to students who have perhaps moved away from old friends and had to make adjustments to new places. Gilbert the Great White Shark and Raymond the Remora were best friends and inseparable. But one day, Raymond has to move away. Gilbert has to come to terms with this loss, and on the way, meets a new acquaintance who can help him!

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

Mr. Rabbit has new neighbors. They are otters! He doesn’t know anything about otters – will they get along? Mr. Owl advises Mr. Rabbit to treat otters the same way he would like to be treated! This fun story tells many situations in which you can demonstrate good manners and is highly engaging and funny for young readers.

My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems

Everyone loves Elephant and Piggie! They are back in this story where Elephant is feeling sad, and his good friend Piggie tries to cheer him up. This is a fun tale of friendship in true Elephant and Piggie style, and is quickly a classroom favorite!

You Are Friendly by Todd Snow

This story has colorful pictures showing children in everyday situations – at home, school, playing, and with family. Children in the books are from various cultures and ethnicities. This book teaches children that they have qualities to be a good friend to others – like sharing, inviting others to play, taking turns, and more.

How Do Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends? by Jane Yolen

The dinosaurs are back in a fun book that is a guide to friendship and playing nicely with others. Children are told to “play nice” but what does that mean? This book teaches how friends can play together in the style of fun rhymes and engaging illustrations.

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Summer was going well until Jeremy Ross moved down the street and became the enemy. Fortunately, Dad seems to know how to get rid of enemies! You feed your enemy “Enemy Pie” but first – you have to spend the whole day with them! This fun story teaches the lesson that sometimes people aren’t what they seem, and that even an enemy can turn into a friend.

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Alex

Founder at The Kindergarten Connection

Alex is a Transitional Kindergarten teacher with a passion for making learning fun and engaging. She's earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and Masters Degrees in Special Education and Curriculum Design. Alex is a former night owl turned early bird and playful learning enthusiast. Alex lives with her husband and their beloved and high-energy cat, Fitz.

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