Friendships and Family: Building Strong Relationships

Every day, Amos McGee goes to his job at the City Zoo where he’s attentive to each of his animal friends’ special needs. One day, however, Amos doesn’t feel well and must miss work and so his friends visit to take care of him. Gentle, expressive illustrations expand this touching tale. (2011 Caldecott Medal Winner)

When a boy meets a robot they became fast and caring friends who worry about each other and share everyday activities and play. Simple language and bright, precise illustrations combine to present a fantastic and very gratifying friendship.

Daniela and Evelyn are more than neighbors, they’re lifelong friends. How they cope with Evelyn moving away is touchingly presented in Daniela’s realistic but hopeful narration and fetching illustrations. (Also in Spanish, Evelyn Del Rey se muda (opens in a new window))

When Hedgehog finds Mouse covered in leaves he learns that Mouse is now afraid of their friend Snake. When Snake saves Mouse, the rumor is unwound and Mouse realizes that Snake has always been his friend. Textured illustrations and relaxed text engagingly reveal a gentle message.

Clementine is back, this time named her 3rd grade classroom’s Friend of the Week. Things don’t go as planned, of course, but Clementine figures out more about true friendship in this latest book featuring the energetic, irrepressible, and always likeable heroine.

The narrator is angry at her friend, James, because of a simple misunderstanding. It all started when James told Aden who told Hunter and so on until it comes full circle; the narrator employs the dreaded silent treatment. All ends well in this satisfying and recognizable yarn.

Middle school is never easy but 7th grade becomes particularly tough for Ross when he’s diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer. In spite of his best friend preparing to move and being bullied for the effect of the grueling cancer treatment, Ross finds power in music and friendship — and discovers something about his nemesis. This uplifting, often humorous novel is based on the author’s experience.

A lot can happen when friends go to a Valentine’s Day dance together — and it’s not always expected! Greg’s diary entries and line drawings again present the angst of middle school and familiar problems of growing up.

The Bell twins are stars on the basketball court and comrades in life. While there are some differences — Josh shaves his head and Jordan loves his locks — both twins adhere to the Bell basketball rules: In this game of life, your family is the court, and the ball is your heart. When life intervenes in the form of a new girl, the balance shifts and growing apart proves painful. Alexander eloquently mashes up concrete poetry, hip-hop, a love of jazz, and a thriving family bond. The effect is poetry in motion. It is a rare verse novel that is fundamentally poetic rather than using this writing trend as a device. There is also a quirky vocabulary element that adds a fun intellectual note to the narrative. This may be just the right book for those hard-to-match youth who live for sports or music or both. (2015 Newbery Medal Winner)

The slightly silly, gently humorous, often wise stories of the irrepressible hippopotamus duo, George and Martha, have been compiled into one large volume in honor of the 25th anniversary of their first appearance. George and Martha’s friendship is revealed in a series of short stories each illustrated with seemingly simple but hugely expressive illustrations – appropriate for the size of their friendship.

Hunter learns that even though he and Stripe are best friends, he can still be true to his feelings. The gentle text and humorous illustrations demonstrate the difficulty presented by peer pressure. Hunter and Stripe become rivals but resolve it in Hunter & Stripe and the Soccer Showdown. (opens in a new window)

Reenie and her mother often fish along a river nicknamed Jim Crow, where they often see Peter and his father fishing, too. Since Reenie is black and Peter is white, they never speak — until Reenie reaches out to bridge a divide even wider than the river. A hopeful ending concludes this expressively illustrated recollection of the author’s childhood.

For one glorious, hot summer week, James went to stay with his friend Eamon’s grandparents so the boys could go to a nature camp. Though the boys seem to prefer playing video games and staying indoors, the truth is in the comic illustration. Adults will recall summer vacation while young readers will enjoy its unbridled joy.

A dog with no name and no home meets a boy with a ball but no dog. Boy and dog play in the park every day until one day the little dog — a small fleabag — helps the boy and finds a home. Loose lines and bright colors convey city activities and the affectionate relationship between child and hound and ultimately, a warm family.

Unlikely animals work together to the benefit of both as do more usual pairings such as dogs and people. How and why these relationships work is detailed in brief text and handsome collage illustration.

Clink is a robot that used to be state of the art; now he’s outdated and missing parts. Nobody wants Clink until he meets Milton, a boy who brings out the best in Clink and gives him a new home. The satisfying story is illustrated with full color illustrations.

Good news: rabbit has a picnic to share with his friend mouse; bad news: it starts to rain. So it goes — good and bad events — until mouse is overwhelmed by the bad news, hurting rabbit’s feelings. The duo reconciles, which is “very good news.” Understated text and simple illustrations enliven the series of improbable events for a comical picnic.

Splat, a likeable, fuzzy cat is grateful for many things, especially his friend Seymour. To show him, Splat makes more than a card; he makes a thank you book! Expressive, textured illustrations on open backgrounds show Splat’s range of emotions as he thinks about his buddy.

Molly told Olive a secret which Olive promised not to tell anyone. Secrets have a way of bubbling out though and so Molly’s secret comes back to her. This familiar dilemma is humorously presented with cartoon illustrations and short text with an unexpected conclusion.

Though one is very tall and the other quite short, Jake and Jacomo find they have much in common and find friendship in spite of classmates’ teasing. Though no longer in print, this recognizable, realistic story may be available used or at libraries.

The classic story of friendship and how a spider named Charlotte saves Wilbur, a small pig, from certain death with words in a web is now more than 50 years old. Nonetheless, it remains as fresh as the day it was first written.

Two boys, best friends, live next-door to each other. Marco is academically talented and short; Isaac is a basketball whiz but struggles with his studies. How the boys help each other cope with school, parents, and more is realistic, plausible, and totally engaging.

Jeff and Anders, a bear and a hare, are the best of friends. Anders figures out how to save Jeff embarrassment and even start a new forest fashion trend. Laugh-out-loud illustrations and text make for a truly unique yet instructive way to be a supportive friend.

Can a solitary alligator and an extroverted and nosey bird become friends? Ally doesn’t think so since Beak will not take no for an answer! The friendship will likely endure as this is the first in a humorous new early graphic novel series.

JoJo is concerned that her best school friend isn’t any more plus she’s concerned about her best home friend, her cat Mimi. This first in a new series stars 7-year-old JoJo, an Ojibwe girl who lives on a fictional reservation with her family.  It’s fresh, relatable, and not to be missed.

All friendships have ups and downs and it is no different for Jack, a cantankerous goat, and a blind horse named Charlie. Inspired by actual animals at a sanctuary, this gorgeously illustrated tale will remind readers about the enduring power of friendship.

Paul plants and waters his crops but despairs when the rain doesn’t come. “But Paul is not alone.” A cow, donkey, and mole who have also watched Paul’s hard work bring buckets and barrels just before the rain begins resulting in lush crops and a jubilant Paul. Dramatic illustrations are naïve and extremely effective in conveying a range of emotions.

Expressive ink and watercolor illustrations detail the story of a playground mishap. Alex tosses a ball that accidentally knocks another child’s artwork into a puddle. Other kids pick up on that child’s unhappiness and give Alex the cold shoulder until the child whose artwork got wet asks Alex to play ball again. Suggestions for readers conclude this engaging and relatable book. 

Ivan lives in a “domain” at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall. In evocative language and gentle illustrations Ivan’s story unfolds through his touching, taut, yet hopeful narration. It’s a chronicle of friendship, loyalty, and the power of art. (2013 Newbery Medal Winner)

Five short stories about best friends celebrate everyday activities. Each of them has a very distinctive personality; but Frog and Toad find that their differences are what make their friendship special. Gentle illustrations and an easy-to-read text create treasured tales. Be sure to read other stories about the amphibious friends in Frog and Toad Together (opens in a new window) and Frog and Toad All Year (opens in a new window).