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
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.
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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
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.
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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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