Books About Friendship and Kindness

friendship book list cover

Do you need books about friendship and kindness to help teach your little learners about making new friends and having empathy? Most preschool teachers would agree that learning how to be a good friend and treat others with kindness and compassion are important social skills for all preschoolers to learn.

Kindness Book List for Preschool

Books About Friendship and Kindness

Often, adults will say “Be kind” or “Get along” but they may not always explain how children should do those things. These children’s books about building friendships and kindness will help your little learners better understand these concepts through playful stories and delightful illustrations. These books are also helpful for building positive behavior in your classroom.

Swimmy, by Leo Lionni
Swimmy is a black fish in that lives in a school of little red fish. One day a large tuna swallows all the fish in the school except Swimmy. He quickly swims away, discovering lots of wonders under the sea. He finds a new school of fish but these little fish are too scared to swim out in the ocean. Swimmy teaches them to work together to outsmart the big fish.

Stick and Stone, by Beth Ferry
Stick and Stone are each alone. When Stick helps Stone, they become friends. Later Stone helps Stick, too. Because best friends rock!

Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Philip C. Stead
Amos McGee visits his friends each day at the zoo. One day he is sick and stays in bed. His friends are worried and come to find out what is wrong. A good book about friendship and showing care.

How Kind, by Mary Murphy
Hen gives Pig a gift. That kind act leads Pig to be kind to someone else. And the kindness continues to spread to others.

Jessicas Box by Peter Carnavas

Books About Being Kind

Jessica’s Box, by Peter Carnavas
In this award-winning picture book about friendship, Jessica is worried her physical disability will get in the way of making new friends.

The Kindness Quilt, by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
After Minna’s teacher reads the story “The Lion and the Mouse,” she encourages the children to do kind acts and draw pictures of what they do. Minna thinks and thinks. Then she makes her pictures into a quilt. The kindness quilt grows and grows at school as more children do kind things.

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
A wordless version of Aesop’s fable. A lion shows kindness to a mouse and later the small mouse returns the kindness by saving the large lion. Friends can be kind no matter how small they are.

Duck, Duck, Goose, by Tad Hills
A new friend Thistle is in the picture and it complicates the friendship between duck and goose. Can they all be friends together?

You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown
Lucy decides to make a new friend. But it is harder than it looks. (And shouting, “You WILL be my friend” doesn’t work.)

Llama Llama and the Bully Goat

Books About Kindness

Llama Llama and the Bully Goat, by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama does it again, this time by teaching students about friendship, bullying, and how to deal with classmates who are not kind.

You Are Friendly, by Todd Snow
Kids will learn different ways they can be friendly using pictures and words to build social skills.

How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen
“What if a dinosaur’s friends come to play? Does he mope, does he pout if he can’t get his way?” Using fun illustrations of huge dinosaurs on bikes and slides, this book examines what not to do and what to do when playing with friends.

Bob and Otto, by Robert O. Bruel
These two friends enjoy eating and playing together. Until one day Bob has to climb up the tree, and Otto begins to dig through the earth. After many days, Bob has changed. Will their friendship last?

Pete the Cat and the New Guy, by James Dean
Everybody’s favorite blue cat, Pete encourages his new friend to see the good in himself. Your students will walk away from this precious story knowing that they are all special.

Strictly No Elephants by Mantchev

How to Make Friends

Strictly No Elephants, by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo
Your students will enjoy this sweet story of acceptance and friendship, no matter the shape or size.

The New Neighbors, by Sarah McIntyre
This is a rollicking story of how we can learn to navigate new friendships and acceptance.

Can I join your club
Can I Join Your Club? by John Kelly
A wonderful picture book with beautiful illustrations about making friends and including everyone.

Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson and Tara Calahan King
The perfect book for learning how to deal with conflict and turn your enemies into friends.

Books About Being Kind

Books About Building Friendships

Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller
In this beautifully illustrated book, children will explore many different acts of kindness.

Bad Apple, A Tale of Friendship, by Edward Hemingway
An excellent read-aloud to address name-calling and bullying!

You Me and Empathy by Sanders
You, Me, and Empathy, by Jayneed Sanders and Sofia Cardosa
Empathy is such an important social skill to learn in the early years, if they don’t learn it now, they may never learn it. This beautifully illustrated book uses verse to model the meaning of empathy for the reader. Your kids will gain a better understanding of compassion and kindness.

How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them, by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Join these fun characters as they learn how to treat their friends and navigate conflict resolution in this simple guide that your kids are sure to enjoy.

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoet

How to Be a Good Friend

I Walk with Vanessa, by Kerascoet
Enjoy this wordless picture book, based on a true story, that spreads the message of how one single act of kindness can change a life.

Kind Ninja, by Mary Nhin and Jelena Stupar
Can ninjas be kind? Find out as Kind Ninja learns the value of showing kindness and compassion.

My Friend is Sad, by Mo Willems
This classic from ultra popular children’s author Mo Willems features Gerald and Piggie who are complete opposites, yet still best friends.

The Fruit Salad Friend: Recipe for a True Friend, by Maria Dismondy and Kathyrn Selbert
What happens when your friends aren’t your friends anymore? Join Chloe as she learns how to solve conflicts and gain confidence to stand up to bullies.

My Friend Rabbit, by Eric Rohmann
Join Rabbit and Mouse as they learn problem solving alongside their friends.

The Recess Queen, by Alexis O’Neill
Playground bullies are the worst! Mean Jean meets her match in this hilarious picture book that also teaches conflict resolution.

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