Friendship is a beautiful roller coaster. Sometimes it’s hard and other times it’s beautiful. To help my kids understand the ups and downs that come with the territory, we often read picture books about friendship.
True friendship doesn’t always happen effortlessly. Friendship takes work, dedication, and compromise. But there’s nothing in the world that can replace the joy that comes from having that special connection with another person.
These are some of my family’s favorite picture books about friendship. They capture the good, the bad, and the beautiful aspects of making (and keeping) friends.
Want to save this post for later? Pin this image to your Pinterest board!
Picture Books About Friendship
Rosie and Rasmus by Serena Geddes
When Rosie crosses paths with a dragon named Rasmus, an unlikely friendship is born. The two do everything together until the day that Rasmus must leave. But true friendship changes you for the better, as Rosie quickly finds out. This charming story is a celebration of friendship and the wonderful ways it can change us.
[button url=”https://amzn.to/2WE2tBK”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Rosie-and-Rasmus-Serena-Geddes/9781481498746/?a_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
My Bent Tree by Kathy Brodsky, illustrated by Cameron Bennett
*Sponsored
A little girl goes for a walk in the woods and befriends a crooked pine tree. When the girl learns that the land will be cleared for a new strip mall, she works hard to save the forest and her favorite tree. Available in English and a Spanish bilingual edition, this little book shows kids that friends are worth fighting for.
[button url=”https://amzn.to/2F4ps2M”]Spanish Edition (Amazon)[/button] [button url=”https://www.enfielddistribution.net/MYBENTTREE.aspx”]Buy from Publisher[/button]
Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich
Hank is a grouchy little plant that sits by himself in a windowsill, overlooking the empty desert. He likes being alone and does his best to run off anyone and anything that gets too close. But when Hank starts getting lonely, he decides that maybe a hug wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. But who wants to hug a cactus? Readers will be delighted by this heartwarming story about the transformation of a prickly character.
[button url=”https://amzn.to/2XP1tM8″]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Nobody-Hugs-a-Cactus/9781534400900/?aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Drat that Fat Cat by Julia Patton
Drat that Fat Cat by Julia PattonThis is an adorable book about friendship. When an old man who lives alone finds a cat on his front doorstep, he begrudgingly takes him in. Living with a noisy, messy cat is no easy feat after living alone for so long, and eventually, the old man kicks the cat out. Later, the man realizes how much he misses the cat and goes in search of the new furry friend he didn’t know he couldn’t live without.
This is such a cute story. This theme has been done before, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a good one.
The pictures are funny and I love the lesson that friendship requires compromise from both parties.
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2mf4HJs”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Drat-That-Fat-Cat-/9780807517130/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Bedtime for Yeti by Vin Vogel
Besides being a super cute bedtime book, Bedtime for Yeti is also about friendship. Yeti sleeps with his best friend/toy named Chunk. When Chunk gets lost, Yeti faces a scary night alone. This story is adorable. It’s about facing your fears and defending your friends.
I love the illustrations too. They’re charming and cute.
My kids really like this story and its companion, The Thing About Yetis. My toddler especially loves reading the books over and over again.
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2ix2Jl9″]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Bedtime-for-Yeti-Vin-Vogel/9781101994313/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Uni the Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthall, illustrated by Brigette Barrager
I gave this book to my six-year-old daughter because I knew she’d love it so much. I was right.
Uni believes in little girls, even if the other unicorns laugh at her. Little does she know, but there’s a little girl out there, believing in unicorns and waiting for the day that they’ll meet.
This book is so sweet. The illustrations are gorgeous and I love the theme of believing in something even when everyone else doesn’t.
Recommended for kids with big imaginations and a belief in magic.
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2muupKv”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Uni-the-Unicorn/9780385375559/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Plenty of Love to Go Around by Emma Chichester Clark
Plenty of Love to Go Around by Emma Chichester ClarkI haven’t read the companion book, Love Is My Favorite Thing, but if it’s anything like this one, it’s sure to be a winner.
Plum the dog loves the attention his family heaps on him, but the arrival of a cat threatens to upset his blissful life. This story is based on the author’s real-life dog and his adventures within their family. It’s a super cute story and a lot of fun to read.
The illustrations are bright, colorful, and expressive. It’s no wonder my toddler loves this book so much!
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2isn5Zx”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Plenty-of-Love-to-Go-Round/9781782951483/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly IdleI bought this book for my girls when it first came out because I loved the artwork so much. But this book is so much more than just pretty pictures (and they are pretty!). It’s about the beautiful and sometimes painful dance of friendship.
Friends aren’t always kind, and people make mistakes. I love the way this book expresses mistakes, apology, and forgiveness without a single word of text. It’s beautiful.
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2jjeBby”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Flora-and-the-Flamingo/9781452110066/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
Lost and Found by Oliver JeffersThis book is so sweet! Of course, I’m completely in love with anything that Oliver Jeffers creates, but seriously, this is a charmer.
A boy finds a penguin on his doorstep one day and thinks he’s lost. The problem is, nobody knows where the penguin came from. The boy decides to take the penguin to the South Pole.
It’s a sweet book about building friendship and recognizing it when it falls in your lap. It’s about mistakes and loneliness and forgiveness and perseverance and that special bond that forms between people and animals.
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2mGhWQW”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Lost-and-Found/9780007150359/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Bird and Bear by Ann James
Bird and Bear by Ann JamesIllustrations don’t get more adorable than this. Bird and Bear is a sweet, cheerful story about a pair of friends spending the day together and discovering what true friendship is.
It’s Bear’s birthday, so he and Bird go on a picnic to celebrate. Along the way, another bear and another bird show up, but it isn’t until they try to give some of their picnic to the visitors that they realize it’s only their reflections. While they are sad that their visitors weren’t real, they decide that the best friends are the ones you can see and talk to all the time.
With light humor and sketchy illustrations, Ann James gives children a charming, warm story that they will love reading again and again.
[button url=”http://amzn.to/2lXQ5vD”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Bird-and-Bear/9781499800371/?_aid=batchofbooks”]Book Depository[/button]
Millie Fierce by Jane Manning
Millie is practically invisible until the day she decides she’s tired of being ignored. Then, Millie turns fierce. But being fierce comes with its own set of problems. As it turns out, kids don’t really want to be friends with someone who is mean all the time. Millie must find a balance between being invisible and being too fierce to befriend.
If you like this one, don’t miss the companion book Millie Fierce Sleeps Out.
[button url=”https://amzn.to/2WFJCep”]Amazon[/button] [button url=”https://www.bookdepository.com/Millie-Fierce/9780399256424/?a_aid=batchofbooks.com”]Book Depository[/button]
More Picture Books About Friendship
(Links to Amazon)
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Penny and Jelly: Slumber Under the Stars by Maria Gianferarri
Sign up for my weekly-ish newsletter to stay up to date on new giveaways, author interviews, reviews, and other awesomeness! Sign up now.
2 COMMENTS
Savannah Hendricks
8 years agoI love Flora and the Flamingo. The author spoke at a AZ writer’s conference a few years ago, very neat lady. Books about friendship are timeless, I think that was why I wrote and eventually landed a publisher for my PB. Another great book about friendship is called The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh – came out in December. Lovely read!
Dena at Batch of Books
8 years ago AUTHORI love this author too. She’s remarkable.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll be on the lookout for it at the library. 🙂