Books about Friendship for Kindergarten-Second Graders

A couple of years ago a teacher asked me for a list of books about friendship that would work as read alouds during those first few weeks of school. These are not "starting school" books, but rather picture books about children navigating the often rewarding, sometimes treacherous shoals of friendship. Hopefully you can find something that you enjoy here.

A BARGAIN FOR FRANCES Russell Hoban

A WEEKEND WITH WENDALL Kevin Henkes

ADDIE MEETS MAX Joan Robins

ALEX IS MY FRIEND Marisabina Russo

AMANDA PIG AND HER BEST FRIEND LOLLIPOP Jean VanLeeuwen

BEEZY AT BAT Megan McDonald

BEST FRIENDS FOR FRANCES Russell Hoban

CHESTER’S WAY Kevin Henkes

CHRYSANTHEMUM Kevin Henkes

DIGBY AND KATE Barbara Baker

EARL’S TOO COOL FOR ME Leah Komaiko

EMILY AND ALICE Joyce Champion

EMMA’S MAGIC WINTER Jean Little

ENEMY PIE Derek Munson

FRIENDS Helme Heine

FROG AND TOAD ARE FRIENDS Arnold Lobel

GEORGE AND MARTHA James Marshall

HENRY AND MUDGE Cynthia Rylant

HORACE AND MORRIS BUT MOSTLY DOLORES James Howe

IRA SLEEPS OVER Bernard Waber

JAMAICA AND BRIANNA Jaunita Havill

LEO AND EMILY Franz Brandenberg

LEO, ZACK, and EMMIE Amy Ehrlich

LITTLE BEAR’S FRIEND Else Homlund Minarik

LOTTIE’S NEW FRIEND Petra Mathers

LUNCH BUNNIES Katherine Lasky

MAKING FRIENDS Margaret Mahy

METROPOLITAN COW Tim Egan

MY OUTRAGEOUS FRIEND CHARLIE Martha Alexander

OWEN FOOTE. SECOND GRADE STRONGMAN Stephanie Greene

PINKY AND REX James Howe

ROSIE AND MICHAEL Judith Viorst

SOPHIE AND LOU Petra Mathers

STEVIE John Steptoe

SURVIVING BRICK JOHNSON Laurie Myers

THE UNFRIENDLY BOOK Charlotte Zolotow

THY FRIEND OBADIAH Brinton Turkle

TOGETHER George Ella Lyon

TOOT AND PUDDLE Holly Hobbie

WANTED: WARM, FURRY FRIEND Stephanie Calmenson

WE ARE BEST FRIENDS Aliki

WEMBERLY WORRIED Kevin Henkes

YO! YES? Chris Raschka

YOKO Rosemary Wells

ZELDA AND IVY AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR Laura Kvasnosky