Having a friend is lovely. Getting one is terrifying. Somebody has to walk across the playground, say a first sentence out loud, and risk the possibility that it lands wrong — which is why so many of the best children's books are really about that thirty-second walk. The good ones do not pretend it is easy, and they do not hand the hero a friend as a reward for being nice. Somebody knocks, somebody answers, and a pie gets baked for an enemy.
Drawing from Bookroo's collection of 318 books about making friends, our editors picked twelve that get the beginning right — the shy hello, the new kid at the door, the classmate everyone walks past, the unlikely pair who decide to be a pair anyway. Start with the shortlist, then browse by age for board books, read-alouds, and chapter books about finding your people.
The club sign says no elephants, so a boy and his elephant start a better club.
A young girl faces her biggest fear: the first day of school.
A mouse seeks friendship, following tails to find the perfect pal.
Chester and Wilson have their routines down — and then Lilly moves in next door.
A boy's summer changes when he uses Enemy Pie to turn a foe into a friend.
A dog's routine is disrupted by a new arrival, leading to unexpected friendship.
A boy struggles to be noticed by his classmates and teacher until a new student befriends him.
Unhei is new, and rather than say her name, she lets the class try to pick one for her.
A narwhal befriends a jellyfish and they go on adventures together.
Ivy and Bean have decided they will never be friends. It takes about a chapter.
A lonely runt of a pig hears a voice in the dark offering to be his friend.
A young girl navigates a new town and a new life with the help of a stray dog she adopts.
Sturdy, cheerful first books about saying hello, playing alongside somebody new, and discovering that other people are interesting — ages 0–4.
Dance through winter with playful rhymes and fun moves.
A tidy bear discovers an unexpected friend in a messy web.
Discover how animals show friendship in this delightful tale of buddies helping each other.
A boy's first school day unfolds with new stories and friendships.
A girl orders a unicorn, but what arrives isn't what she expected.
A girl in a ladybug costume discovers the joy of friendship.
A shy ghost struggles to fit in until a hidden talent emerges.
Can Little Elephant and friends find a way to play together despite their different toy preferences?
Two puffins named Steve clash over who is the 'Stevest.'
Egg refuses to hatch, fearing the world outside.
A unicorn fears losing his best friend to a new companion.
A preschool day full of fun, friends, and farewells.
Read-alouds for first days, new neighborhoods, and playground standoffs — funny, warm, and honest about how nervous the first hello feels. Ages 3–8.
A new student challenges Little Critter's patience, but friendship awaits.
A young boy moves to a new planet with his family and navigates a new school and friendships.
A group of kittens go on an adventure with various animals they meet along the way.
Can a dancing duck and a rough boy find common ground to play together?
A champion bear loses his growl before a big contest. Can he find it in time?
A boy befriends a lost blue whale and embarks on a journey to return him home.
Sadie's prized shoe is lost. How will she cope with just one?
A chameleon seeks friendship but struggles to fit in. Will he find his match?
Discover the secrets of friendship through whimsical animal antics and clever social tips.
A scary salamander learns fear isn't the key to friendship.
Can Maurice, a polite beast, survive a school for the brutish?
A child genius's plan to make friends turns into chaos. Can he fix it?
Early readers and novels about new schools, new towns, and unlikely pairs — including a few characters who insist they will never be friends, right up until they are. Ages 6–11.
A young boy named Bat cares for a baby skunk after its mother is killed by a car
A young artist navigates two worlds, struggling to fit in at a new school.
A friendship forged in imagination faces a tragic test, altering two worlds forever.
Two pranksters clash in a sleepy town, igniting a hilarious prank war. Who will outwit whom?
A boy with cystic fibrosis befriends a mysterious girl, challenging his sheltered life.
Four princesses work together to rescue animals in need and uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious events in the kingdom of Mistberg Forest
Left out, Katie forms a new club with unexpected friends. Sweet beginnings await.
A young girl starts a snack business to fit in and faces unexpected challenges.
Can two opposites defy school rules and stay friends amidst bullies and chaos?
The story of an unlikely yet heartwarming friendship between a frog and a toad.
A girl with Tourette syndrome navigates a new school, friendship, and self-acceptance amid constant change.
A girl finds friendship and faces hidden struggles through J-Pop.
