Books for feelings and life
Books about making friends and being a good friend
Friendship has to be learned like reading. These books show approaching, sharing, quarrels, and mending.
Picks drawn from long-standing children's-librarian lists, ALSC notable and award records, and Common Sense Media age ratings, with each title and author checked against Open Library, Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Arnold Lobel · Ages 4-8
Five short stories about two friends. A 1971 Caldecott Honor book and an early-reader classic.
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George and Martha
James Marshall · Ages 4-8
Two hippos teach each other how to be honest and kind in short, funny chapters.
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The Invisible Boy
Trudy Ludwig · Ages 5-8
Brian is invisible to his classmates until a new boy includes him.
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Ivy + Bean
Annie Barrows · Ages 6-9
Two neighbors who didn't plan to like each other become friends. The start of a long chapter-book series.
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We Are in a Book!
Mo Willems · Ages 4-7
Two friends discover they're in a book. Funny and a model of friendship.
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Charlotte's Web
E. B. White · Ages 7-11
The classic of friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte.
Watch for: Death of a main character.
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Stick and Stone
Beth Ferry · Ages 3-7
Two lonely things meet and look out for each other.
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A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead · Ages 3-7
A zookeeper who always makes time for his animal friends is cared for by them when he falls ill. The 2011 Caldecott Medal winner.
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More lists
Books about loneliness and finding a friend
Loneliness is different from being alone.
Books about bullying, teasing and being left out
Good bully books show the target, the bystander and the bully as people.
Books about anger for kids
Anger is one of the first big feelings children need words for.
Books about sadness and sad days
Children are often told to cheer up.
Books about fear, the dark and monsters
Fear of the dark, of monsters, and of being left is normal between ages 3 and 7.
Books about worry and anxiety
Worry can show up as stomachaches, clinging or perfectionism.
Books about shyness and quiet kids
Shy and quiet are not problems to fix.
Books about frustration and trying again
For the child who throws the pencil when the drawing is not right.