Picture Book Friends

We’re celebrating International Friendship Day with new picture book friends!

International Friendship Day, established in 2011 by the UN General Assembly, was created with the aim of celebrating friendships between countries, cultures and individuals whilst inspiring peace efforts and connecting communities.

Friendship is a common theme in picture books, picture book friends come in all shapes and sizes. Their experiences, situations and problems can help young readers understand, discuss and navigate their own friendships and any problems or worries that might arise from them.

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We love the way these two friends support each other through their various adventures…

Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns To Ride a Bike
by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Frank and Bert - Story Snug

This beautifully illustrated, gentle story of friendship is the perfect first picture book for a young reader. Frank’s attempts to help and support Bert are both humorous and heartwarming as he helps his friend achieve a major milestone in a child’s life – learning to ride a bike.

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This is a beautiful celebration of friendship between characters from different generations…

Old Friends
by Margaret Aitken & Lenny Wen

Marjorie attempts to find a friend who enjoys the same activities that she enjoyed with her Granny. This heartwarming story about finding friends that have the same interests as you, regardless of age and experience. celebrates the way that wonderful relationships can be enjoyed by young and old and the mutual benefits that the exchanging of ideas and experience between two generations can bring.

Old Friends - Story Snug

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Friendships don’t always run smoothly and this heartwarming picture book can help children find a way to reconcile with a friend after an argument…

Two Rabbits
by Larissa Ferenchuk & Prue Pittock
Two Rabbits - Story Snug

This heartwarming picture book about friendship and forgiveness uses simple text and adorable illustrations to tell the story of an argument between two friends. It’s a familiar experience that children can identify with and the story can stimulate discussions about how children can deal with and resolve their own arguments.

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Sometimes we have to deal with the grief when a friend is no longer with us…

The Hare-Shaped Hole
by John Dougherty & Thomas Docherty

Despite being two completely different species of animal Hertle and Bertle enjoy lots of different activities together – when Hertle has gone we feel Bertle’s pain. Sensitively dealing with the subject of grief and loss this beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and can support a child who is grieving the loss of a close friend.

The Hare-Shaped Hole - Story Snug

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There are so many wonderful picture book friendships and we have several blogposts that highlight friendships whether animal, human or a mix of both;

Heartwarming Fictional Friendships – International Friendship Day

Fabulous fictional friendships – International Friendship Day

International Friendship Day – fabulous fictional friendships

Picture Books for International Friendship Day

Do you have a favourite picture book friendship? We’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments.


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10 responses to “Picture Book Friends”


  1. Kim Carberry avatar

    Aww! What lovely sounding books!
    Great roundup. x



  2. RaisieBay avatar

    What a wonderful selection of books, although The Hare Shaped Hole sounds very sad. It’s good that children are not hidden from grief though as I was a child. I still find it hard to deal with a grief I had when I was young and the adults just pushed my feelings aside as if I could not feel it being so young.


    1. Catherine avatar

      The Hare Shaped Hole is both sad and hopeful. I think books like these encourage children to share their grief, even a small child can be affected by the loss of a loved one.


  3. Lisa | Handmade in Israel avatar

    Some delightful picks! I need to look up The Hare-Shaped Hole. Also a big fan of Room on the Broom.


    1. Catherine avatar

      I didn’t think to include Room on the Broom – that’s a huge favourite here 🙂


  4. Jayne avatar

    Lovely round-up of children’s friendship themed books. We also love Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. 🙂


    1. Catherine avatar

      That would be a great one to include!


  5. Joanne avatar

    We love the elephant and piggy series by Mo Willems and Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel.


    1. Catherine avatar

      Oh yes! Frog and Toad are brilliant! I don’t know elephant and pig – I’ll check them out 🙂