8 favourite picture books about friendship

I’m Going to Make a Friend is my first picture book, published by Little Tiger. The illustrations by Sandhya Prabhat are not only beautiful – they add layers to the story. 

The book celebrates friend-making as a vital and creative act. It turns as the main character moves from considering the type of friend they would like, to the type of friend they would like to be. 

Here are some of my favourite picture books which engage with the notion of friendship. Some of these books are brand new. Others are older than I am. There’s humour, risk, drama and joy here – just as there is in friendship. 

Woodson and López deal superbly with the tension at the heart of many anxieties about friendship; that our perceived differences should not be obstacles and yet we might find that they are. 

There’s a striking simplicity to the opening of this little picture book, first published in 1961, and to Sendak’s illustrations. A friendship between two boys is ruptured by issues of control and resentment. Fond reminiscences lead to reconciliation – and a more equitable friendship. 

Beautifully illustrated, The Girls is quite unusual in that it follows the friendship between four girls from childhood to adulthood. It was such a huge success that it was followed by The Boys (telling the story of the next generation) and by two books about feelings. 

Keep an eye out for the teacher in The Boys – I gave some notes on an early draft and was drawn into the book by way of thanks. I’m still so happy about this! 

Dimitri says, ​“I love you” to everyone he meets. He’s worried that nobody says it back. Slowly, he realises that there are lots of different ways that we can show our care and love for friends. 

I was a judge for the Little Rebels Award the year this book won. It beautifully captures the many personalities one encounters in an early years classroom. 

Charlie Brown meets Franklin at the beach. Together, they build a sandcastle. The iconic Franklin Armstrong first appeared in 1968 after teacher Harriet Glickman wrote to Charles Schulz suggesting he add a Black character to Peanuts in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King. 1968 was also the year when segregated beaches were outlawed in the USA. This short book was published to coincide with the TV special that came out last year. 

I’m Going to Make a Friend shows a friendship between a Black child and a Brown child. Sunflower Sisters is one of the few other picture books I’ve encountered that does this. 

Amrita and her friend Kiki love wearing bright clothes. Amrita’s aunts give her unwanted ​‘advice’ about her complexion. This is a bright, bold book that promotes friendship along with healthier ideas about beauty and freedom. 

I’m a huge fan of Nadia Shireen’s work and there’s a lovely humour to Katie Clapham’s words and use of capital letters. The Tour takes us all over the important parts of the primary school. In the process, the New Person becomes a Friend of the Tour Guide. 

Dot is the new kid and keen to make friends. At school she embellishes the truth about her pet, transforming Monty the tortoise into a Tortosaurus. 

We can easily be seduced by the idea that we need to impress people in order to befriend them. But Monty helps Dot to come out of her shell and appreciate that just being yourself is a better option. 

I’m Going to Make a Friend, written by Darren Chetty, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, is out now.