Friendship is one of the first big relationships that children learn to navigate. Making friends, breaking friends, being a good friend... these are all issues that effect every child - and adults! Through books and stories, kids can see what kindness, loyalty, and empathy look like in action. Stories about friendships matter because the help children to understand empathy and kindness, learn how to resolve conflicts, recognise the value of loyalty and trust, and feel reassured that challenges in friendships are normal. Here are just a few of our favourite children’s books beautifully capture the joy—and sometimes the challenges—of making and keeping friends.
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (3+): The touching story of a sad, lonely penguin who appears at the door of a young boy. The boy decided the penguin must be lost, so he set off to find his home.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (7+): The classic tale of how a little girl named Fern – with the help of a friendly talking spider called Charlotte – saves her pig, Wilbur, from the usual fate of nice fat little pigs.
Pigs Make Me Sneeze by Mo Willems (3+): Gerald the elephant thinks that pigs make him sneeze, but his best friend is a pig! What is he to do? A very funny simple story, perfect for beginner readers.
Bear And Bird by Jarvis (5+): Bear and Bird are best friends, but sometimes one or the other of them makes a mistake or gets cross or jealous. Luckily, they’re good enough friends to get past any hiccups or mishaps, and get on with the important stuff: enjoying each other’s company and being a bit silly, now and again.
Out Of Nowhere by Chris-Naylor Ballesteros (3+): A touching tale of how true friendship adapts and grows. Best friends beetle and the caterpillar eat together, watch the moon rise and share time together until one morning beetle awakes and there is no sign of the caterpillar. What might have happened?
Wonder by R.J. Palacio (9+): The frank, powerful, warm and often heart-breaking story of Auggie and his fight to be accepted as a normal boy as become a modern classic - an uplifting, hopeful and very important book.
Two Sides by Polly Ho-Yen (6+): In this important story about friendship and its complications, Lula and Lenka enjoy and acknowledge their many differences while also remaining steadfastly good friends. But then they have an argument and words are said which hurt. How can the two girls make things better?
Troofriend by Kirsty Applebaum (9+): Narrated by Ivy, the Troofriend 560 Mark IV robot purchased to be Sarah's friend by her busy parents, this book raises moral and ethical issues with a skilful light touch, and themes of self-esteem, empathy and friendship will resonate with readers.
Where The River Takes Us by Lesley Parr (9+): Can Jason and his friends find the big cat roaming the Valleys and win the reward for a photo of it? A page-turning story of friendship, adventure and sibling bonds set in 1974 Wales.
