I get asked a great deal about friendship issues whether they are between toddlers or kids entering into their teenage years full of angst & hormones!
If you read a story to your kids about friendship issues it often takes the pressure off them & offers you a more natural opportunity to chat with them afterwards.
This booklist includes some of my favourite stories offering children guidance about how to be good friends, make friends and keep friends.
Making friends, losing friends, being a good friend. These are all issues that effect every child at some point and they can be a source of great joy or stressful, challenging and upsetting.
As friends are important.
From their early days in nursery, through playing, children are learning essential social skills and learning about themselves too. Experimenting with friendships is a very normal phase and as social skills are fine tuned and children mature, they are learning about what friendship is, how it works and what it means to be a friend.
Friendship groups change along the way – some children get left out or feel rejected and isolated, some children have many friends and make friends easily. And it isn’t just a feature of primary school; the move to secondary school is fraught with friendship issues as children break free from old friendships to make a new social group.
So, to kick start those big conversations with children books can often start the ball rolling.
Children’s books are often built around the subject of friendship and through relating to the characters in stories and the issues they have, as parents you can help reassure and comfort your children that what they are experiencing, although often very upsetting, is normal and that things will, at some point, get better.
I think learning to be a good friend and what healthy friendships look like can be taught.
Teaching children about the importance of friendship is a valuable lesson, and there are many great books that can help convey these ideas to kids of all ages.
Here are some recommended books about friendship for children of various age groups:
For Preschoolers (Ages 2-5)
“Frog and Toad Are Friends” by Arnold Lobel – This classic series explores the enduring friendship between Frog and Toad through delightful stories.
“The Bear Books” by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman – This series, which includes books like “Bear Feels Sick” and “Bear Says Thanks,” emphasizes the value of friendship and cooperation.
“You Are (Not) Small” by Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant – This book helps children understand that differences among friends can be celebrated and embraced.
For Early Readers (Ages 6-8)
“How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them” by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown – This book offers practical advice and tips on how to be a good friend.
“The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister – This story teaches the importance of sharing and being a good friend, using beautiful illustrations and a memorable narrative.
“Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson – This book explores how friendships can develop even with people you might initially perceive as enemies.
For Middle School (Ages 9-12)
“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio – This novel addresses themes of kindness, empathy, and friendship through the story of Auggie, a boy with a facial deformity, as he navigates school life.
“Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson – This classic novel explores the deep and transformative friendship between two young protagonists, Jesse and Leslie.
“Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White – This book showcases the special bond between a spider named Charlotte and a pig named Wilbur and the power of true friendship.
For Teens (Ages 13 and Up)
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green – This novel tells the story of two teenagers, Hazel and Gus, who meet at a cancer support group and form a deep, poignant friendship.
“Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell – This book explores the complexities of teenage friendship and first love.
“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Ann Brashares – This series follows the adventures and friendships of four teenage girls as they share a pair of magical pants during their summer vacations.
These books cover a wide range of age groups and offer different perspectives on friendship, making them valuable resources for teaching children of all ages about the importance of building and maintaining meaningful connections with others.
Teaching children about the importance of friendship is a valuable lesson, and there are many great books that can help convey these ideas to kids of all ages. Here are some recommended books about friendship for children of various age groups:
