Childrens Books about Friendship and How to Be a Good Friend (Unit Study)

A Caldecott Honor * ALA Notable Children’s Book. School Library Journal Best Children’s Book * Library of Congress Children’s Book

From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be.

“We’re Going to be Friends” is one of The White Stripes most enduring and loved songs.

With the help of illustrator Elinor Blake, the perennial favorite feels right at home on the page as a children’s book.

Join Suzy Lee as she goes to school with her books and pens, looks for bugs, shows and tells, and finds a friend.

Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week.

Her new classmates decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from.

On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.

This playful picture book explores the meaning of friendship with subtlety and charm. When Oscar moves to a new part of the woods, he wants nothing more than to make some friends and go swimming.

Much to his dismay, all the potential friends have their own interests.

But after returning home alone and disappointed, Oscar realizes that the best friendships require a little give and take.

This book teaches the basics of cooperation, getting along, making friends, and being a friend. Includes ideas for games adults can use with kids to reinforce the skills being taught.

Fun dinosaur characters teach young children all about friendship–the value of friends, how to make friends, and how to be a good friend.

With playful full-color illustrations, this book helps kids cope with everyday social situations and learn: who can be your friend; how to show someone you would like to be friends; how to handle bosses and bullies; best ways to be a friend and ways not to be a friend; and ways to settle an argument with a friend.

George and Martha, Jim Marshall’s dearly beloved, wise, and wickedly funny hippos teach each other the importance of honesty, companionship, discretion, humility, and consolation in this classic.

Time and time again, children are told to “play nice.” This brilliantly illustrated board book is packed with rhymes that will teach children how.

Laugh-aloud illustrations along with playful text will show children that “playing nice” can be easy and fun.

Perfect for parents to read aloud with their children, this book is as humorous as it is instructive.

This title is the first in a Building Relationships series of books focusing on relationship-building skills for children.

Included in the book are tips for parents and teachers on how to help children who feel left out and have trouble making friends.

A perfect way to teach children about being a good friend!

Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter is inviting his best friend over to play in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book.

Whether these buddies are climbing trees, playing basketball, or riding bikes, both parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story. 

With exuberant pictures and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, the author of I Like Me! takes a light-hearted look at bratty behavior that will have children laughing in recognition while learning exactly how not to behave.

This charming book of friendship is full of best friend pairs, and is designed with a mixture of photographs and fun illustrations to engage little ones and make them smile.

With cute rhymes to read and share: This is a great book to celebrate friendship and love in its many forms.

In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipes for turning your best enemy into your best friend.

Accompanied by charming illustrations, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends.