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Do friends always agree? Can a friend make you mad? How long does friendship last? Can you have more than one best friend? Can your dog be your friend? What about somebody who isn’t real? The books below capture the wonder, the closeness, the anger, and the jealousy of friendship. Their child characters (and animal surrogates) star in stories that can spur little listeners to think about what friendship means to them.
Alex and Lulu: Two of a Kind
By Lorena Siminovich. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2009. Ages 4–6.
Alex and Lulu like to run, jump, and swing on the swings. That’s part of what makes them friends. But they do have differences, the most obvious being that Alex is a dog and Lulu is a cat. Alex likes soccer; Lulu would rather paint pictures. Given their dissimilar interests, Alex begins to wonder if they really are friends after all. Lulu convinces him other-wise—after all, they both like pillow fights, and they very much like spending time together. Built into the honest friendship story is a clever mini-lesson in true opposites, such as big/small, wet/dry.
The Bear Who Shared
By Catherine Rayner. Illustrated by the author. Dial, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Norris the bear is camped out beneath a tree, waiting impatiently for its luscious fruit to drop: “It smelled of honey and sunny days.” Meanwhile Tulip and Violet (a raccoon and a mouse) are just as eager to get at the fruit. When the fruit finally falls, plopping right on Norris’s head, he recognizes there’s plenty for all and shares it, making two fast friends.
Best Best Friends
By Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Illustrated by the author. Harcourt, 2006. Ages 4–6.
Friends one day, but not the next? Preschoolers Clare and Mary do everything together; they even hold hands on the playground. Then Mary’s birthday rolls around, with cupcakes and a crown to mark the occasion. Jealous and angry at Mary for getting so much attention, Clare starts an argument, which culminates in both girls furiously declaring, “YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND!” Later, when time apart has worked a bit of magic, Clare feels ashamed of herself. She draws Mary a birthday picture, which her friend gracefully accepts as an apology. The author gets the give-and-take of true friendship exactly right.
City Dog, Country Frog
By Mo Willems. Illustrated by Jon J. Muth. Hyperion, 2010. Ages 4–6.
It’s spring vacation for City Dog, who is delighted to have a chance to investigate new territory. While exploring, he comes upon a green frog, who tells Dog that he’s waiting for a friend: “But you’ll do.” During the spring and throughout the summer, the pair finds myriad things to do. When Dog returns in the fall, Frog is too tired to play, so he and Dog reminisce about the good times they had in the past. In winter, Frog is nowhere to be found; nor is he around when Dog comes back the following spring. One day when Dog is missing his old friend, a chipmunk comes by. “What are you doing?” she asks. Reminded of Frog, Dog tells her he’s waiting for a friend: “But you’ll do.” The march of the seasons is a reassuring backdrop to this simply written but layered story about friendship and loss.
Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Illustrated by the author. Neal Porter, 2012. Ages 4–5.
Bear is a stuffed toy, and Dog is an energetic dachshund. It’s a pretty odd friendship, but it survives quite well despite the ups and downs depicted in the three short episodes gathered together in this tidy volume. In the first story Dog helps his fearful friend down from a chair so the two can go outdoors. In the second, Bear gently explains to his pal that he would rather finish his book than play. And in the third, Bear counsels Dog about a name change. The endearing partnership is extended in two more books—Dog and Bear: Two’s Company and Dog and Bear: Three to Get Ready. All three make good read-alouds, but their short story format also makes them ideal for children just stepping into chapter books.
The Dog Who Belonged to No One
By Amy Hest. Illustrated by Amy Bates. Abrams, 2008. Ages 4–6.
Children and cute dogs are partnered in many picture books. The pairing in this old-fashioned story is particularly endearing. A vagabond brown-and-white pup travels through a town in search of a friend and a home. Meanwhile, a little girl on a bike delivers food to her parents’ customers, making up stories to offset the loneliness of her ride. One stormy day the two meet. The dog dashes through the rain alongside the little girl, who pedals furiously to her house, where a warm welcome awaits them both. Before You Were Mine, by Maribeth Boelts, is another winning child-dog story. In this tale, a little boy speculates about what life might have been like for the shelter dog that has come to live with his family.
A Friend
By Anette Bley. Illustrated by the author. Kane/Miller, 2009. Ages 4–5.
Although this book was first published in Germany, the feelings and friendships it depicts are universal. There’s no story in the traditional sense. Rather, the content comprises a series of pictures about many different people in many different situations, each of which contributes in some way to a young child’s understanding of what friendship is. Could it be a little boy taking comfort from a grown-up? Or is it a child whispering secrets into a playmate’s ear? Children can imagine their own stories to fit the art and then share them with the person sitting beside them.
Half a World Away
By Libby Gleeson. Illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Scholastic, 2007. Ages 4–7.
When Amy’s family moves to a big city across the ocean, Louie misses her terribly. He knows when he’s awake, she will be sleeping, and he wonders what her new home is like. Will she still build towers and play adventure games? Does she miss him as much as he misses her? Most of all he wonders if she will hear him if he yells their special word, “Cooo-ee! Cooo-ee!” Grandma tells him anything is possible, so Louie gives it a try. When Amy wakes the next day, she has dreamt about her good friend calling “Cooo-ee” from “half a world away.” Tender, honest, and sweetly magical, this is one of the few stories about friends of different genders.
Horace and Morris Say Cheese (Which Makes Dolores Sneeze!)
By James Howe. Illustrated by Amy Walrod. Atheneum, 2009. Ages 4–6.
Dolores the mouse is allergic to cheese, and because she can’t eat it, she can think of nothing else. Swiss cheese, cheese and crackers, cheese curls, cheese fondue—visions of cheese float around her head. To make things worse, Muenster Movie Madness is at the local theater, which is right next door to the Fromage Garage. For someone less determined, “The Everything Cheese Festival” might have been the last straw, but clever Dolores finds a way to have a cheese-free great time with her two best friends. Food allergies are tough for many kids to handle; the “cheesy” humor of Dolores’s dilemma provides a bit of fun while acknowledging a real problem.
Hurry Up and Slow Down
By Layn Marlow. Illustrated by the author. Holiday, 2009. Ages 4–6.
Marlow turns a classic tale of rivalry into a friendship story. “Hare is always in a hurry”; his pal tortoise, shown much smaller and farther away in the pictures, is not. That’s old news. But when Tortoise reads Hare a bedtime story, the impatient rabbit begs his friend to slow down! He wants to have more time to look at the pictures. The contrast between the buddies comes through not only in the pictures but also in the way the words appear on the page. Energetic Hare’s comments to his slow companion appear in a large, playful font, while descriptions of Tortoise plugging along are set down in a slow, steady rhythm. The resulting “dialogue” between the two pals will enrich the read-aloud experience.
I Repeat, Don’t Cheat!
By Margery Cuyler. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. Simon & Schuster, 2010. Ages 4–6.
Jessica’s friend Lizzie has a problem. She cheats. She copies Jessica’s work in school; she cheats at games; she even tells outright lies. It makes Jessica angry, especially when Lizzie takes credit for something Jessica really did. Jessica’s not sure what to do. Isn’t she abetting her friend’s dishonesty by keeping quiet? Then again, the girls do everything together. Shouldn’t loyalty to her friend come first? Jessica finally does the right thing—and Lizzie does, too. The happy ending is pretty simplistic, but the book offers a terrific opportunity to begin a conversation about a situation children frequently encounter among friends and even within families.
By Kate Klise. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Harcourt, 2007. Ages 4–6.
Little Rabbit has an invisible friend called Harry. They play together, and Mother Rabbit makes sure that Harry is included when she passes out snacks. Things change, though, when Little Rabbit starts school. One day while Little Rabbit is enjoying an activity, Harry goes off to take a nap. After school, when Mother politely asks after Harry, Little Rabbit surprises them both by telling her that Harry has moved away. A gentle story about the importance and transience of imaginary friends.
Moon Rabbit
By Natalie Russell. Illustrated by the author. Viking, 2009. Ages 4–6.
One evening, as a patchwork moon shines bright, pensive Little Rabbit hears lovely music coming from deep in the forest. Leaving the city behind, she follows the sound and comes upon Brown Rabbit playing his guitar. The music lightens Little Rabbit’s heart, and she begins to dance. Later the rabbits trade stories and become friends. But Little Rabbit misses the hustle and bustle of home. She knows Brown Rabbit’s life is not for her, and the two friends part with promises to meet again. The story continues in Brown Rabbit in the City. Follow up with Jan Brett’s Town Mouse, Country Mouse.
Mr. Duck Means Business
By Tammi Sauer. Illustrated by Jeff Mack. Paula Wiseman, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Mr. Duck arrives at the pond for his morning swim at precisely 8:01. He glides along, confident that his carefully painted “No Visitors Welcome” sign will keep intruders away. No such luck. One very hot day, his peace is shattered by a bevy of barnyard animals jumping joyously into the cool water. Mr. Duck is enraged. How could they disturb his peace? Quacking and flapping for all he’s worth, he chases the noisy interlopers away, only to decide that it’s now much too quiet for his liking. He picks up his paintbrush and amends his sign. Leaving himself space for quiet contemplation, he invites others to join him every day at 2:00.
My Friend Jamal
By Anna McQuinn. Photography by the author. Artwork by Ben Frey. Annick, 2008. Ages 4–6.
Joseph and Jamal, both born in Canada, are classmates and friends, but their family stories are quite different. Jamal’s Muslim parents fled war-torn Somalia, leaving behind relatives whom Jamal has never met. Joseph’s family emigrated from Poland: his grandmother came, too. Jamal’s mother, who already knows several languages, is learning English and how to use the computer. Joseph’s mother helps him do homework. Other differences between the families appear in the artwork, a combination of photos and painted details, which also show what the boys have most in common—a friendship that respects difference.
My Friend Rabbit
By Eric Rohmann. Illustrated by the author. Roaring Brook, 2002. Ages 4–6.
Mouse’s friend Rabbit has good intentions, but he’s always causing trouble. How much trouble? Mouse gives an example. Take the time Rabbit hurled Mouse’s biplane into the branches of a tree. Realizing his mistake, Rabbit promises a solution. Beginning with an elephant, Rabbit drags a motley crew of animals into view. One atop the other, they form an animal pyramid, with Mouse at the top. Just as Mouse retrieves his beloved plane the pyramid tumbles, releasing a perturbed bunch of beasts, all anxious to lay their claws, paws, and webbed feet on Rabbit. Mouse, now safely in his plane, comes to the rescue of his well-meaning friend. The slapstick humor is terrific, as is the glorious animal pyramid, which readers can see in full by turning the book vertically. This also available as a board book.
Neville
By Norton Juster. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Schwartz & Wade, 2011. Ages 4–7.
After a long car trip, a boy and his family arrive at their new home. The child realizes everything will be different, but he worries most about being lonely. Will he be able to find new friends? The test comes when his mother sends him outdoors. As he takes a tour of his new block, he calls out, “NEVILLE, NEVILLE.” It isn’t long before kids turn out to help him find the mysterious Neville, whom the boy describes in some detail. The neighborhood kids can’t wait to make friends with the mystery boy, whose identity is finally revealed at the end of the story. Some listeners are sure to guess; many will be delightfully surprised.
Poindexter Makes a Friend
By Mike Twohy. Illustrated by the author. Paula Wiseman, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Poindexter, a bashful young pig who works at the library, helps an equally shy turtle, Shelby, find a book on how to make friends. The two read it together and discuss the advice. When they have finished, they select a new book and, now fast friends, go to Pointdexter’s house to do some more reading. Other books that touch on shyness and friendship include Daniel Kirk’s Library Mouse: A Friend’s Tale, in which a boy coaxes a timid mouse out of hiding to write a book, and Jacqui Robbins’s The New Girl… and Me, about a shy child who takes a new classmate under her wing.
Pouch!
By David Ezra Stein. Illustrated by the author. Putnam, 2009. Ages 4–6.
Joey the kangaroo is anxious to get out of his mother’s pouch and see the world. But he’s not quite ready to handle what’s out there. His first peek outside puts him face to face with a bee. “Pouch,” he cries to Mama as he hurries back to safety. On his next outing he encounters a rabbit. Back inside the pouch he goes. When he spots another baby kangaroo, he’s ready to run again—until he realizes the other baby is as uncertain about the world “outside” as he is; perhaps, as friends, they can face it together. Twin themes—little one’s tentative steps toward independence and the value of friendship—make this doubly appealing.
Rabbit’s Gift
By George Shannon. Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. Harcourt, 2007. Ages 4–6.
A rabbit finds two turnips. Because he needs only one for himself, he leaves the other on his friend Donkey’s doorstep. Donkey, who has a potato, leaves the turnip for Goat, who leaves it for Deer. Deer, who is happy with her carrot, leaves the turnip for Rabbit. And Rabbit, finding himself in possession of the turnip once again, decides the best thing to do is share it with his three best friends.
Roasted Peanuts
By Tim Egan. Illustrated by the author. Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Ages 4–6.
Sam and Jackson love baseball, and both hope to make the team. Sam, a horse, is agile and strong; he can catch and field and throw. Jackson, a cat, can throw, but he’s all thumbs when it comes to catching. It’s no surprise when Sam makes the team but Jackson doesn’t. Jackson’s disappointment doesn’t get him down, though. He stays near his good friend and true to baseball and his talent by becoming a peanut vendor, known all over the park for his accurate long-distance tosses.
Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
By Mélanie Watt. Illustrated by the author. Kids Can, 2007. Ages 4–6.
Worrywart Scaredy Squirrel is lonely, but he’s too afraid of what can go wrong if he leaves the safety of his tree to look for a friend. After all, bunnies are hopping about on the ground, and maybe they bite. In the pond across the park he spots a goldfish. Perfect. He maps out a careful plan, puts on his name tag, grabs his Scaredy Risk Test, and sets off. What he doesn’t count on is a rowdy dog, who, despite first impressions (and teeth), turns out to be a great companion. Like Scaredy’s other adventures into the wider world, this one is laugh-out-loud funny. Look for him testing the water in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and venturing out after dark in Scaredy Squirrel at Night.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
By Philip C. Stead. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. Neal Porter, 2010. Ages 4–6.
Amos McGee loves his job as zookeeper at a city zoo. He’s especially fond of the elephant, the tortoise, the owl, the rhino, and the penguin. He does his best to visit each one every day. One day, he wakes up with a cold and stays home. No chess games with the elephant; no stories for the owl; and no visits to his other animal friends. Imagine his surprise when Elephant, Tortoise, Owl, Rhino, and Penguin show up at his doorstep, ready to cheer him up and care for him in the same way he always cares for them.
A Splendid Friend, Indeed
By Suzanne Bloom. Illustrated by the author. Boyds Mills, 2005. Ages 4–6.
Polar Bear is reading when Goose comes in, takes away his book, and begins reading himself. Later Goose interrupts Bear’s writing, then pens his own note. Goose even interrupts Bear’s thinking by peppering him with questions. Polar Bear is fed up. But when he sees the note Goose has written, which calls him “splendid friend,” he realizes that Goose may be a pest at times, but he’s pretty special, too. Goose and Bear return in Bloom’s equally charming Treasure, and in What about Bear, in which Bear suddenly finds himself the odd bear out when Little Fox shows up.
Three by the Sea
By Mini Grey. Illustrated by the author. Knopf, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Dog, Cat, and Mouse live a perfectly happy life in a house by the sea. Dog tends the garden, Mouse cooks, and Cat cleans the place. Enter Fox, representing the Winds of Change Trading Company. He sows the seeds of discontent among the trio, causing them to scrutinize their relationship. Why does Mouse insist on preparing fondue? Why is the garden full of bones? Why does Cat take so many naps? If sly Mr. Fox has a reprehensible outcome in mind, he goes away disappointed. After a near calamity, the three friends work through their discontent, which ultimately strengthens their relationship.
Waddles by David McPhail
Tiny and Hercules
By Amy Schwartz. Illustrated by the author. Neal Porter, 2009. Ages 4–6.
Best buddies Tiny the elephant and Hercules the mouse star in five stories that explore how two very different friends help each other. In one story Hercules helps slipping, sliding Tiny at the ice rink; in another Tiny helps Hercules’ elderly uncle blow out his birthday candles. Pictures add to the gentle humor of the odd couple as they cope with whatever comes their way.
Waddles
By David McPhail. Illustrated by the author. Abrams, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Four short episodes focus on the ups and downs of two animal friends: Waddles the raccoon and Emily the duck. The two have fun together in summer. In spring when Emily needs a break from sitting on her eggs, Waddles volunteers. He scares off a fox just in time to see the ducklings hatch. Emily and her ducklings fly south in the fall, leaving Waddles to spend winter on his own. In spring, when the flock returns to the pond, there’s a joyful reunion. A tender story about a friendship that lasts over time.
When Randolph Turned Rotten
By Charise Mericle Harper. Illustrated by the author. Knopf, 2007. Ages 4–6.
Randolph, a beaver, and Ivy, a goose, are great friends—until Ivy is invited to a sleepover birthday party…and Randolph isn’t. Ivy is going to have a great time, while Randolph is all alone. Jealous and angry, Randolph tries to sabotage the trip. When Ivy goes anyway, Randolph feels terrible; he has hurt his friend’s feelings. Will she ever forgive him for being rotten?
You’re Mean, Lily Jean!
By Frieda Wishinsky. Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. Albert Whitman, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Carly and her older sister, Sandy, love playing in their backyard. Then Lily Jean moves in next door and things change. No longer is Carly an equal in play. Now there’s a new dynamic, leaving Carly feeling like an outsider. Without being mean she finds a way to gain her sister’s support and teach Lily Jean an important lesson. Like Suzanne Bloom’s What about Bear (recommended above), this story presents a happy resolution to a situation that takes place whenever several children play together.