Popular Children Friendship Books

While hunting with his father, Little Polar Bear drifts out to sea and ends up in a jungle where a friendly hippopotamus helps him return home.

All three characters from the #l national bestselling If You Give . . . series have brought their books, recipes, songs, and activities to this family treasury, chock-a-block full of fun things to do. Parents, grab your kids! Kids, grab your parents and join Mouse, Moose, and Pig as they read, bake, sing, and play.

Wanting to sail beyond its rock, a tiny snail hitches a ride on a big humpback whale and then is able to help the whale when it gets stuck in the sand.

Mole has not seen his friend Rabbit for days because it has been raining, and when he decides to tunnel to her home, he accidentally meets Squirrel and Hedgehog, who would like to visit her, as well.

Befriended by a whale as he is drowning in the ocean, a mouse gets a chance to reciprocate years later in an equally unlikely situation.

A polar bear rides a whale to a tree rising out of the water. A brown bear joins it as the tree is the perfect place to read their books. When the waters recede, the bears are joined by other animals. The tree house is a place of wonder.

"Amos McGee, a friendly zookeeper, always made time to visit his good friends: the elephant, the tortoise, the penguin, the rhinoceros, and the owl. But one day--'Ah-choo!'--he woke with the sniffles and the sneezes. Though he didn't make it into the zoo that day, he did receive some unexpected guests."--Dust jacket.

Displeased with the intrusion of a new baby bunny into the household, Oliver the cat considers annihilating it.

It's a glorious day in Woodcock Pocket. The sun is shining, the birds are singing . . . and Toot is moping. So, Puddle makes Toot's favorite dessert at dinnertime, takes him out for a little adventure, and even throws a party, but nothing seems to cheer up his friend. Then a big thunderstorm with lots of mud rocks Woodcock Pocket and changes everything. With light-hearted humor and exquisitely detailed watercolor paintings, Holly Hobbie tells the story of two pigs and their enduring friendship.

A courageous mongoose thwarts the evil plans of Nag and Nagaina, two big black cobras who live in the garden.

A Stone Age boy loses an arrowhead that is found by a young girl several centuries later, while the jug she has lost is found centuries later by a young boy, whose own lost sixpence is found by a little girl in the present day.

By the time the Velveteen Rabbit is dirty, worn out, and about to be burned, he has almost given up hope of ever finding the magic called Real.

A New York Times Bestseller! Poppy, the adorable, persistent, dreaming-big pig, has a new adventure in store for her: the World Games ice-skating championship in Paris! Poppy is nervous about meeting so many new people in a new place. But, ever courageous and supported by her family (Emma, too!), Poppy embarks upon this exciting adventure head-on. She meets a snowboarding Panda, a Maltese who skis, and two fellow skaters, a Crane and a Kangaroo. Poppy begins to realize that although these animals look different, act different, and are from different places, they are all the same at heart. They all smile in the same language!

Meet Toot and Puddle--two small, endearing pigs who are friends and as different as different can be. While Toot likes to travel to places unknown, Puddle prefers to stay home and revel in the joys of everyday life. Whimsical postcards capture the excitement of Toot's travels, while scenes of Puddle celebrate mundane moments spent in familiar confines. Full color.

Based on the beloved classic The Borrowers by Mary Norton. The picture book based on the movie! Arrietty isn’t your ordinary fourteen-year-old girl--she's small enough to make her home under the floorboards of a typical house, “borrowing” what she and her family need from the giants in whose shadows they live. A young boy named Shawn befriends Arrietty, but when adults discover the Borrowers, Arrietty and Shawn must work together to save her family. Based on the classic novel series The Borrowers by Mary Norton, The Secret World of Arrietty is a delight for all ages. Arrietty longs for adventures, but the world can be a dangerous place for one so small. She and her family live hidden beneath the floorboards of a house, borrowing the things they need from the humans who live inside. When Arrietty is discovered by a human boy named Shawn, her world is no longer secret and her family is in danger. If Arrietty can trust Shawn to protect her, she might discover a friendship she never imagined possible.

A whimsical story of imagination and friendship, illustrated by one of the most respected illustrators of our time.

In this beautifully written, lyrical text, a little girl named Anna enjoys a day with some unusual playmates, a pair of giants who visit only "when the sun shines just so and the wind blows like this and that on its way to somewhere else." The giants adapt familiar childhood games to suit their size, giving acclaimed illustrator Kevin Hawkes opportunities to play with scale, and the premise is the perfect platform for his quintessential, "larger-than-life" characters.

From Clifford, the Big Red Dog to Danny and the Dinosaur, the idea of a giant friend who helps you do things you couldn't do yourself is a classic, much-loved children's book theme. Humorous and a little wistful, When Giants Come to Play is a celebration of the power of imagination and friendship that could become a classic.

Friends James and Eamon enjoy a wonderful week at the home of Eamon's grandparents during summer vacation.

Lulu, dressed as Ladybug Girl, goes to the playground and makes new friends, including Bumblebee Boy.

Two Little Pigs whose small homes in the woods have been accidentally destroyed by Bear and Moose decide to build a house they can all share, and with the help of Beaver Builders they soon have a fine new home.

A large-format treasury of cartoons featuring the mischievous six-year-old Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes.

A beautifully illustrated novel about a mouse, her friendship with Audubon's apprentice, and her search for home.Beneath the crackled and faded painting of a horse, underneath the worn and dusty floorboards of the dining room, lives Celeste, a mouse who spends her days weaving baskets, until one day she is thrust into the world above. Here Celeste encounters danger—and love—unlike any she's ever imagined. She dodges a hungry cat and witnesses the brutality of hunting for the first time. She makes friends with a singing thrush named Cornelius, a talkative osprey named Lafayette, and Joseph, Audubon's young apprentice. All the while, Celeste is looking for a new home. Is her home in the toe of a worn boot? Nestled in Joseph's pocket? Or in the dollhouse in the attic, complete with mouse-size furniture perfect for Celeste? In the end, Celeste discovers that home is really the place deep inside her heart, where friendships live.

A National Book Award finalist by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger—a real-life, very large tiger—pacing back and forth in a cage. What’s more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things—like memories, and heartache, and tigers—can’t be locked up forever. Featuring a new cover illustration by Stephen Walton.

On Charley's first night, when it was snowing, Henry tells his new puppy, "This is home". Henry shows new puppy Charley around the house, and even though Henry's parents say that the pet will sleep in the kitchen, the rules might change when Charley begins to cry.

"Help! Help! A mouse!" There was a scream. Then a crash. Cups, saucers, and spoons were flying in all directions. Alexander ran for his hole as fast as his little legs would carry him. All Alexander wanted was a few crumbs and yet every time they saw him they would scream for help or chase him with a broom. Unhappy that he is not welcome in the house as is his friend the wind-up mouse, real mouse Alexander sets out to find the Magic Lizard who can remedy the situation.

Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party... until, that is, a new kid comes to class. When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine. From esteemed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton, this gentle story shows how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish. Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource. Includes backmatter with discussion questions and resources for further reading.

From the creator of the all-time classic VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR comes a sweetly resonant story about the power of friendship.

When a best friend moves away, it can be painful for the child who is left behind. But the spunky boy in this upbeat story makes up his mind to find his missing playmate. Young readers will cheer on the boy as he braves currents, climbs mountains, and dashes through rain before, finally, reuniting with his friend. A story alive with love and perseverance, brightened with vibrant art and Eric Carle's trademark fostering of imagination.

This deeply personal story for Eric is dedicated to his longtime wife, Bobbie, and it is their bond that inspired the book. For anyone who has ever scaled mountains to be with the one he loves, or for anyone who has simply known the love and joy of a great friendship, this book will strike a resonant chord.

“This story of love and determination is illustrated with Carle's extraordinary signature artwork. For anyone who would cross rivers and scale mountains for a beloved friend, this warmhearted story will create an emotional response. Young readers will learn the value of friendship and its many challenges.” —School Library Journal
 
“Often dynamic and quite beautiful, these colorful illustrations of the river, the meadow, and so on are abstract in style and show up well from a distance. A picture-book tribute to the strength of childhood friendships.” —Booklist
 
"The images are beautiful and evocative." —Publishers Weekly

When the new fish in class criticizes everything and tries to bully the other students, Sea Monster needs to think of a way that everyone can play together and get along. When the new fish in class criticizes everything and tries to bully the other students, Ernest needs to think of a way that everyone can play together and get along.