Friendships are one of the most important parts of childhood, and they are the first relationships we all choose for ourselves. We’ve pulled together a list of stories that focus on special friendships, as well as books that offer guidance on how kids can forge lasting bonds with their peers.
It’s well-being week at Peppa Pig ’s playgroup and the children are learning all about feelings and the importance of showing kindness towards others. Peppa and her friend Suzy Sheep fall out over a game but with some guidance from Madame Gazelle, the pair make up and apologise to each other. This sweet tale is great for guiding little ones on being kind and understanding towards their friends.
Recommended reading age: 3-5 years old
Bluey fans will love this collection of little board books that offer up fun facts about Bluey’s friends. You’ll meet Snickers, Coco, Honey, Chloe, Lucky, Mackenzie, Indy and Rusty. Find out who builds gnome villages, who makes an awesome spy, and which friend has eight brothers and sisters!
Recommended reading age: 3-7 years old
It’s time for little ones to earn their Making Friends Badge! The Squirrels and Duggee are on their way to a jamboree – there’s going to be food, music, and the opportunity to make new friends. Peggee and the Hummingbirds welcome the gang to their clubhouse but when it comes to the two groups getting to know each other, things are a little awkward at first. Will the Squirrels and the Hummingbirds be able to find some common ground?
Recommended reading age: 2-6 years old
Mina is a little monster with sharp teeth, and most of the time she is calm and gentle. But every now and then, others can get too loud or too close and Mina ends up using her teeth on them! One day, Mina bites one of her friends at Little Monster Nursery and really hurts him. It’s time for Mina to learn other ways of coping in stressful situations so she doesn’t hurt her friends again.
Recommended reading age: 2-5 years old
Flora and Nora are the best of friends and with Flora’s brilliant ideas and Nora’s super-organised toolbox, they always have the best adventures together. They set sail on a journey to find the secret treasure, but then a storm comes out of nowhere and separates the two friends. Now on a journey to reunite, Flora and Nora learn along the way that friends do not always need to be near each other for the magic of friendship to work.
Recommended reading age: 0-5 years old
For children who have just started school, the Learn with Peppa range is perfect, and this book will serve as a valuable tool for little ones new to making friends. Making Friends will teach children how to be considerate of others and what it means to be a good friend. There’s guidance on sharing, listening, taking turns and more. Plus, the wipe-clean feature means children can practice the activities again and again.
Recommended reading age: 4+ years old
Bluey and her family are on a camping trip and it’s here that she meets Jean Luc. Although they don’t speak the same language, the pair quickly become friends. From building a stick house together to hunting for food, the pair have a wonderful couple of days playing. But just like that, Jean Luc and his family’s holiday is over, and they leave. Bluey is devastated and wonders whether she’ll ever see him again. ‘Well, you never know’, says her mum Chilli. ‘The world’s a magical place…’
Recommended reading age: 3-7 years old
Gretel has been frozen for a very long time, and after emerging from her icy shell she learns that she is the last mammoth on Earth. Everyone is so excited to meet her, and she quickly makes lots of new friends. But adjusting to this new world is hard and after a while, Gretel begins to feel lonely and very overwhelmed. Eventually, she does a very brave thing and tells her friends how she feels. And like true, good friends, they sit and listen, and do their best to make her feel less alone.
Recommended reading age: 4-7 years old
Topsy and Tim’s friend Stevie is having a hard time at school. He’s being bullied by James, the biggest kid in their class. James has been tripping Stevie up, hiding his plimsolls and throwing his school bag around. Topsy and Tim want to help, so they do the bravest thing they can in this situation – they tell their teacher, Miss Terry. This sweet story serves as a good introduction to bullying and what children can do to help their friends.
Recommended reading age: 4-6 years old
It’s ten minutes to bed and the fairies in the glade are getting ready to settle down for the night. With the exception of little Poppy – she’s determined to try and fly! Before long, she’s up high in the air but when she makes her way back down to the ground, Poppy spots a little gnome who is lost and far from home. With her fairy light, Poppy helps her new friend find his way home before zooming back to the glade for some much-needed rest.
Recommended reading age: 3-4 years old
In this collection of tales from all around the world is Hans Christian Andersen’s famous story about the power of friendship, The Snow Queen . Gerda and Kai are neighbours and the best of friends until Kai gets a shard of the hobgoblin’s evil mirror in his eye and heart. He’s suddenly filled with hatred, and everything looks ugly to him. After rejecting Gerda, Kai is captured by the beautiful but terrible Snow Queen. Despite Kai’s coldness towards her, Gerda braves encounters with witches and robbers in her determination to rescue her friend.
Recommended reading age: 4-8 years old
