PBS Kids for Parents Releases List of Books for Children About Friendship

PBS Kids for Parents has compiled a list of 15 books for children that cover the topic of friendship. 

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The list was recently put together to celebrate the International Day of Friendship, which took place on July 30. The author, Kate McKeown, wrote that as a mother of two children she found that teaching and practicing friendship skills is a daily effort.

“When my children and I read together, we watch the dynamics of friendships play out in the lives of storybook characters and then talk about what we observe,” she wrote.

The book list is meant to help start conversations with children about what it means to be a friend. Some of the topics included in the books include autism, bullying, race, gender stereotypes, kindness, bilingualism, and cultural differences.

The list includes:

• A Friend for Harry (Jenn Bailey)

• Stick and Stone (Beth Ferry)

• Be a Friend (Salina Yoon)

• The Other Side (Jacqueline Woodson)

• Best Friends in the Universe (Stephanie Watson)

• I Walk with Vanessa (Kerascoet)

• Boxes for Katje (Candace Fleming)

• The Lion and the Mouse (Jerry Pinkney)

• The Almost Terrible Playdate (Richard Torrey)

• If You Plant a Seed (Kadir Nelson)

• Katie Woo: Boss of the World (Fran Manushkin)

• Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy (Jacky Davis)

• Margaret and Margarita (Lynn Reiser)

• Big Friends (Linda Sarah)

• The Sandwich Swap (Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio)

The books’ descriptions can be found on PBS Kids for Parents’ website.