14 books that celebrate friendship

Change can be a big cause of worry for little people. But from leaving mum at the school bus, to the moving away of a best friend, every heartfelt goodbye opens the door for new connections and adventures. Beautiful illustrations capture the emotional ups and downs of a special friendship between two children who fill each colourful spread with joy, play… and tears. An uplifting springboard for conversations with little ones at times of transition.​

Friends can come in all shapes and sizes... but none more cute than Kevin! When Sid's imaginary friend invites him into his world, it's not long before cheeky Sid hatches a plan to cause havoc. Poor Kevin ends up in big trouble and Sid must act quickly to right his wrongs (both in Kevin's world, and his own). This captivating picture book is bursting with creativity and detail, and the spot on rhyme makes it ideal for reading aloud with little ones.

Penny isn't sure about the new house she's moved to with Dad... so sets off to explore the garden with the help of her mum's old exploring hat. It's not long before she's lost the hat but made a new friend in the form of Morris the mist monster. This moving story touches on big themes of loss, loneliness and transition so sensitively. The interweaving of Penny's real and imaginary worlds give the book a dreamlike quality, and the gorgeous illustrations help to keep the two worlds moving in unison.

Get ready to be drawn into the warm and fuzzy world of Bear and Hare! ​Bear and Hare might be the best of friends, but it's time Hare learnt how to share. Everything Hare sees on his lovely walk he wants for himself: flowers, ice cream, a balloon. But when Hare decides to take on the honey bees without his friend by his side, will he get more than he bargained for? Yet another cracker in the Bear and Hare series, this little board book is full of big character and visual humour.

A spiky black beetle and a bright red caterpillar strike up an unusual friendship. But when caterpillar disappears, beetle puts on a brave face, packs a picnic, and sets off in search of their friend. The simple, monochrome colour palette - black and white with just a pop of red - complements the simplicity of this sweet little tale, and little ones will enjoy following caterpillar's journey through a series of wordless spreads.

Poor hedgehog can't find a hug anywhere. And neither can tortoise! Everyone seems to have an excuse to avoid the tricky prickles or bony shell. But just when the two creatures are about to give up, along comes the other to show that there's always someone to share a special moment of connection with. Gorgeous, sparse illustrations - and the option to 'flip' the book and share either hedgehog or tortoises's story - add to the book's charm, but most heartwarming is the core message about resilience and friendship.

Iris and Isaac are not friends anymore! Both polar bears stomp off after a disagreement, only to discover that the natural wonders of the Arctic - ice caves, a flock of Eiders, and even the Northern Lights - aren't quite as magical without your friend by your side to experience them. This stunning celebration of nature is brought to life with watercolour illustrations full of crisp whites and hues of green and blue.

When a young Italian boy arrives in Wales, the only thing that reminds him of home are the racing pigeons kept by his neighbour, Mr Evans. The boy and the elderly man strike up an unlikely friendship, and pin their hopes on one pigeon becoming a champion racer: King of the Sky. Evocative images of Italian towns, Welsh coalfields and migrating birds add weight to this powerful story of immigration and belonging, and the blossoming friendship between the two central characters is one rarely seen in picture books.

'You don't belong', the others tell Something Else when he tries to play, eat and sit with them. Poor Something Else! Thankfully friendship comes knocking at his door in the form of a cheery, red creature who shows Something Else that being different should be celebrated - and that friendship can come from the most unexpected places. This sweet tale is brought to life with original illustrations full of character and emotion.

A little girl finds a star who has fallen to earth and is in need of some TLC. She takes him in and nurtures him back to his bright shiny self, until he’s ready to go back home. A lovely, gentle story about the importance of friendship, caring for others when in most in need and learning to let go.

This heartwarming picture book is about an eager dog who wants to be friends with Floof the cat. Their cautious first meetings grow into a funny, affectionate bond – sealed by a shared dislike of vacuum cleaners – while the playful text and energetic, expressive illustrations make it a perfect read-aloud.

Head outside and find all the different colours in nature with this beautiful book. Its sturdy pages are perfect for wee hands, and little ones will love looking at all the toddler friends doing fun activities together! Children are sure to get excited over the interactive last page, where they’re encouraged to find all the different colours in the book.

Everyone thinks this small unicorn has magic powers (she doesn’t) but while she can’t make a rainbow or turn a frog into a prince, she is friendly, kind and much braver than anyone else. One day when a monster rises out of the loch and all the animals run away in terror, Wee Unicorn is the only one to go back and try to make amends. Wee Unicorn is a brilliant picture book about being true to yourself and finding friendship in unexpected places.

When a boy finds a fawn all alone in the woods, he takes the animal home to care for it – and a deep connection soon develops. However, his mother warns him that wild things need to roam. Soon, he will need to set the fawn free to the hills and glens. But that doesn’t mean the pair’s friendship won’t last forever in their hearts. A beautiful and moving book, which helps little ones to examine the complex nature of friendship.