Book List: Friendship!

Hi All!

Welcome back to school! As we start the year and work to bring our students together in a cohesive classroom community (while also teaching curriculum, setting norms, establishing routines, tying shoelaces and sanitizing ev-ery-thing), I've made a list of some of my favorite books that help promote the idea of friendship. Let me know what you think of these titles in the comments below, and if you have any great books about friendship that I haven't listed, please add your suggestions!

Click on the book image for a link to the Amazon listing!

“Spoon”, Amy Rosenthal

While Spoon compares themselves to all the cool things their friends can do, Knife, Fork and Chopsticks pine after all the special jobs that Spoon has. Touching on ideas of self esteem, identity, and comparing ourselves to others, this story is a go-to in my classroom to talk about the gifts each individual student brings to the group.

“Chopsticks”, Amy Rosenthal

In the sequel to “Spoon”, Rosenthal’s character’s Chopsticks face the unimaginable- separation from each other! But they are pleasantly surprised to find that they can indeed function apart. When the social dynamics get too cliche-y in class, I find that this book allows us to talk about the benefit in having both a few close friends, as well as the opportunity to meet new friends along the way.

“Wordy Birdy”, Tammi Sauer

Wordy Birdy has a lot to say, but often forgets to listen to others. In this tale, Wordy’s friends have to help her out of a troublesome situation in order for her to learn the importance of sharing air time in her friendships.

“Number One Sam”, Greg Pizzoli

Sam is used to being number one at everything. But when he loses his number one spot, will he lose his friends, too? This story is about how doing the right thing will always make you “number one”, even if you cross the finish line last.

“Beekle”, Dan Santat

Gorgeous illustrations show the journey of one yet-to-be-imagined friend and his eventual union with a child’s imagination. While many stories about friendship center on peers, this story tells the often forgotten or dismissed relationship a child may have with their own imagination. Rip with feelings, I come back to this book again and again to support empathetic classroom discussions.

“He Came with the Couch”, David Slonim

This goofy story is equal parts humor and heart, and shows that friendship may just save you in the end. Silliness always has and always will have a place in my classroom’s read aloud circle, and year after year, students have requested this book for it’s fun and heartwarming message.

“Not Norman: A Goldfish Story”, Kelly Bennett

A fish may not be the main character’s ideal pet, but when a friendship develops despite the narrator’s intentions, he learns that a friend is the best kind of pet anyone could have. I originally encountered this text as part of a curriculum text set, and have since made it a permanent part of my classroom library because it lends itself to a variety of lessons about friendship, as well as feelings and vocabulary.

“The Rainbow Fish”, Marcus Pfister

A classic, and for good reason! This story of a beautifully-scaled fish who chooses between lonely adoration or less-flashy friendship is as applicable today as it was 20+ years ago. I like to read this story early in the year, and then reread it as the year goes on and students grow in their understanding of the character’s dilemma. Always a good basis for conversation, this book is on my Top 10 list, for sure!

“The Rabbit Listened”, Cori Doerrfeld

When something goes wrong, what do you need to feel better? The answer varies for all of us, and perhaps we need different responses at different times. In this lovely story, a child upset about a block tower has many friends offering many solutions to feel better. But one friend listens, showing us that being heard is sometimes the best first step in solving the problem. Empathy, sympathy, and compassion are all showcased in this sweet story.

“Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story about Gender and Friendship”, Jessica Walton

As gender identity becomes a more common discussion in the classroom, I have come to rely on Walton’s story about Teddy, a teddy bear who fears losing his best friend when he reveals that he feels more like a Tilly than a Teddy. The story provides specific language to support students as they experience gender identity changes, either first hand or as an ally, as well as showing how a successful conversation about gender identity can sound. Please read this story in class, you may not know who needs to hear it, but I bet someone does.

“One”, Kathryn Otoshi

Never have I seen such simplicity in illustration convey this multitude of feelings, but Otoshi’s story about friendship and bullies hits the nail on the head every time I read it. Regardless of age group, this story has all the right moments that capture children’s experience as they navigate peer relationships, and provide enough problem solving solutions to spark a post-reading conversation afterwards. I would suggest adding her entire collection to your classroom library.

“Stellaluna”, Janell Cannon

A bat raised as a bird, and a thoughtful message about how differences can bring us together. This is another classic that I feel has earned its spot on anyone’s Top 10 list, for it can be a jumping off point for a wide range of conversations. From nature and science to acceptance and love, Stellaluna shows how intersectionality can be both confusing and beautiful.

“Teammates”, Peter Golenbock

Most people know of Jackie Robinson as the first black baseball player in the Major Leagues, but his friendship with teammate Pee Wee Reese shows how anyone can be an ally for someone experiencing bias or bigotry. This text is historical in nature and may need some pre-teaching or vocabulary explanations, but it is worth the effort in order to show what it looks like and sounds like to be a true friend.

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