Books To Show Kids How To Be a Friend

One of the most exciting and nerve-wracking parts of a new school year is friendship. Which friends will be in your class? Will you make new friends? Who do you sit by?

These books are a perfect way to bring up the topic of friendship with your children as you prepare for that big first day and the various issues that can come up, from friends that look different, to adding new friends to old friendships, to solving conflict together.

by Cori Doerrfeld

This sweet book on emotional responses to grief is helpful both for children experiencing grief, and children who have a friend going through something difficult and aren’t quite sure what to say. When Taylor is sad, all of the animals tell her how to act — but the rabbit just listens, which is the best gift of all.



by Oliver Jeffers

When a penguin shows up on a boy’s doorstep, he goes to great lengths to return the animal to its home. However, when he deposits the penguin at the South Pole and sails away, he quickly realizes his mistake. The boy returns and reunites with his new friend. This heartfelt picture book is a beautiful story about recognizing true friendship.



by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Naoko Stoop

There are some things, like friendship and love, that are universal no matter where you’re from or what language you speak. In this book, a Japanese girl moves to America and is excited when she sees a girl playing outside in the snow. The only problem is that the Japanese girl and the American girl don’t speak the same language. This clever and adorable book illustrates that you don’t need to speak the same language to understand one another.



by Ryan T. Higgins

Norman’s best friend is a tree. But when a new sapling springs up and befriends his tree, Norman feels threatened. In a moment of desperation, Norman does something terrible. However, he soon realizes the error of his ways and sets out to right his wrongs. Told with plenty of humor and expressive illustrations, this chuckle-worthy picture book shows readers that friendship can overcome an occasional lapse in judgment.



by Kit Chase

This sweet book about a trio of friends is one of my favorites. Oliver, an elephant, can’t find a tree to hide in for hide-and-seek, so his friends help him find the perfect tree for an elephant!



by Ashley Iman, illustrated by Gladys Jose

Ruby loves hosting her school’s morning announcements. But when she gets a co-host, Ruby must learn to share the spotlight, lend a listening ear, and treat her new friend with respect. Readers will learn the importance of being considerate in conversations and treating others as they want to be treated.



by Anna Dewdney

One of the hardest things about going to school can be learning to share — you’re introduced to a whole bunch of fun new toys, games, and books, and then you’re expected to share them with kids you’ve never met before. I love that this book acknowledges that difficulty and then demonstrates how to deal with it.



by Jon Agee

George and Lenny are best friends who spend every minute together. However, when one of them wants some alone time, it throws a wrench into their friendship. These besties learn to navigate the need for alone time with humor and heart. This book beautifully portrays how different people show up in friendship and how they support each other.



by Samantha Cotterill

Kids are taught from a young age to share their toys, but what about sharing their ideas? In this story, two young kids are building a train set, when one of the children insists on doing things his way. Can I Play Too? tackles big ideas like compromising and paying attention to other people’s feelings. With gentle guidance, and charming illustrations, this book will help little ones stay on track in their friendships.



by Dianne White, illustrated by Simone Shin

Two best friends head out on a camping trip with their families. They share meals, adventures, and memories together. This beautiful picture book celebrates the connections we make when we focus on sharing everything from sunsets to stories.



by Hannah E. Harrison

It’s never easy to know how to deal with a mean girl, especially when that mean girl starts picking on your best friend. Do you stick up for your friend or join the mean girl team? Most kids know what they should do, but actually doing it is a lot more difficult and this book deftly demonstrates how that plays out. This book is a great conversation starter for parents and children.



by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

People make mistakes sometimes. Whether it was intentional or an accident, a mistake deserves an apology. This humorous picture book shows young readers how to apologize when they’ve hurt someone else.



by Sara Gillingham

Perfect for the littlest of readers, How to Grow a Friend is a cheerful and accessible metaphor about seeding, growing, and maintaining friendships. I love its gentle reminder that relationships, like gardening, require nurturing and tender care.



by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illustrated by Duncan Beedie

When his cousin, Frank, pulls a prank, everyone blames Hank for it. Unwilling to let it go, Hank sets out to prove that Frank isn’t as sweet and innocent as everyone thinks. As the cousins one-up each other, things quickly spiral out of control. This hilarious picture book is a cautionary tale about seeking revenge in our closest relationships.



by Jacky Davis, illustrated by David Soman

We’ve all experienced going to someone’s house to play (or having them to ours) and being completely captivated by a new toy and wanting to play with that way more than the friend we actually came to play with. In this one, the toy in question is the Rolly-Roo and it starts to come between Finny and Lulu. Until the Rolly-Roo gets broken.



by Yangsook Choi

It’s hard to be the new kid, especially when no one can pronounce your name. Unhei is from Korea and, anxious to make new friends, she announces that she will choose a new American name. Fortunately, by the time the week is up, she’s decided to stick with her own unfamiliar name and help her new friends learn to say it correctly.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2025.