Happy National Best Friends Day, readers! Founded in 1935 by the U.S. Congress, this annual holiday celebrates friendship and encourages us to enjoy the day with our best buds. With our hectic daily lives, sometimes we need a reminder to take a step back and cherish the deep connections we share with our closest friends. And where better to find inspiration than in the loving world of children’s literature?
For kids, a best friend can take many forms. It can be a playmate, a parent or even a pet. But what about a friendship between a bear and a frog? An Earthling and a Martian? A bean and a hot dog? With an open mind, a best bud can be found in the most unlikely of places. After all, it’s not how your friendship looks from the outside that counts — it’s the love you share for each other, and that’s a bond that only the two of you share. Every friendship is unique, but these 8 stories take things to the next level to bring us some truly unexpected best friends.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Winner of the 2015 Caldecott Medal, this touching story brings a child’s imagination to life — literally. On a mystical island, imaginary friends wait for a child to manifest them into the real world and give them their name. But as one imaginary friend waits and waits, no child ever claims him. After working up his courage, this plucky protagonist does what no imaginary friend has done before: he sets off into the human world in search of his friend-to-be. The narrative follows him on his daring adventure across the sea and into the bustling city, all in search of his fated companion. Author and illustrator Dan Santat uses every inch of the page to immerse us in the magnificent, magical world of imaginary friends. The Adventures of Beekle inspires us all to be brave and pursue the friendships we’re looking for, reminding us that there is a friend out there for everyone.
Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak
When Frank the hot dog first meets Bean the (you guessed it) bean, he’s not so sure they’ll become friends. Frank is thoughtful, reflective, always keen to sit quietly and write in his journal. Bean, meanwhile, is a one-bean-trumpet-band whose approach to music is “the louder, the better.” But Bean’s music is missing something very important: lyrics. When he calls on Frank to help him write some tunes, it might just be the start of an unlikely friendship. With wacky characters and side-splitting humor, it’s no wonder that Frank and Bean is part of the Amazon teacher’s pick collection. Author Jamie Michalak blends wit and straightforward language will have readers of every age and skill level laughing along. But the humor isn’t the only integral part of the story — Frank and Bean’s impactful friendship teaches us that friends don’t have to be alike to be best buds. When two friends come at life with a different perspective, it just means there’s twice the opportunity for fun.
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
Monsters, Inc. meets The Story of Ferdinand in this heartwarming and hilarious read. It seems that Leonardo the Monster is terrible at what he does — which is, of course, being a monster. No matter what he does, he simply cannot succeed at scaring anyone. But Leonardo isn’t ready to give up yet, so he sets off into the human world to do some on-the-job training. He figures that if he can find the biggest scaredy-cat kid, he’ll finally have a shot at being a fearsome monster. Sure enough, Leonardo does find Sam, and even manages to scare him to tears! But the victory is short-lived — it seems that Sam’s outburst has less to do with monstrous fright and more to do with his older brother stealing his action figure and a bird pooping on his head. With charming story and a main character that is all-too loveable (despite his best efforts), Mo Willems creates a playful tale full of charm and wit. It seems that being a good friend is a talent all its own, and it sure beats the pants off being scary.
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers
When a young boy finds a single propellor plane, he decides to head straight for the sky on a solo adventure. His fuel tank doesn’t extend as far as his imagination, however, and our young protagonist must make an emergency landing on the moon. As the little boy sits on the craterous surface, he begins to worry about what may lurk in the shadows around him. And it turns out his fears aren’t unfounded — there is indeed another lifeform on the moon with him! But it turns out that this young Martian is in the same predicament as this boy. And as they both take stock of their situation, the two of them realize that the desire for companionship far outweighs their differences. Illustrator of the bestselling picture book The Day the Crayons Quit, Oliver Jeffs creates a whimsical narrative full of heart that every reader will cherish. It seems that no matter your home planet or species, things are always a little less scary when you have a friend.
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
This Caldecott Honor book takes the reader on a journey over a winding river tucked away in a forest. There, a solitary bear leans a little too far on a dead tree, and … SPLASH! Into the river he goes. As the river’s current carries him and his makeshift buoy, Bear soon happens upon Froggy, who also needs a lift. From there, the pair soon encounter some turtles, a beaver, a duck and even a couple of raccoons. Together, this impromptu team clings to their tree trunk float and as they get further down the river, they begin to see how their common predicament unites them all. With a compelling cast of characters and rich illustrations that help carry the story along, Bear Came Along is a must-read for bedtime and classroom read-alouds. This story of an unlikely group of friends, all brought together by a spontaneous adventure, reminds us that we never know when a new friendship is about to come into our lives.
Please Don’t Tell Cooper That Jack is a Rabbit by Michelle Lander Feinberg
Winner of the 2021 Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Award, this zany tale combines wild antics and a great message in a compelling story of friendship. When Cooper the dog’s family heads off for the day, he often spends a part of his day simply sitting and waiting for them to get back. So when Cooper spots a stray rabbit in need of a home, he knows it’s the new friend he’s been waiting for. Sure enough, Cooper and Jack are soon the best of buds — but the people around them are shocked. With so many differences between them, could a dog and a rabbit really be the best of friends? With humor and heart, this charming picture book reminds us that our friends don’t have to share our experiences or identities. By looking past their differences, Cooper and Jack are able to forge a strong bond that rises above everyone’s expectations of what a friendship can be. For more about Cooper and Jack, read our full review here.
Raybot by Adam F. Watkins
We’ve all heard of dogs being man’s best friend, but what about a robot’s best friend? That’s exactly what our metallic protagonist is looking for in this story of intergalactic friendship. When a sociable young robot lands on Earth, he’s on the lookout for a best friend. Raybot has heard tales of a legendary animal that is sure to be friendly — the problem is, all he knows is that these creatures go “bark.” Readers of all ages will have a great time watching the comedy of errors unfold as this robot encounters everything but a dog. By the time Raybot finally does find his new canine friend, it seems he’s been introduced to the entire animal kingdom. For any young child whose best friend has a wagging tail, Raybot is a great choice for story time. But the story goes above the simple quest for a four-legged friend. Our young protagonist learns that if he has an open mind, he can find friendship in unexpected places — and maybe make more than one friend along the way.
Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry
With an inspiring friendship and a vital message for young kids, it’s no wonder that Stick and Stone is both a NYT bestseller and an Amazon teacher’s pick. This heartfelt story introduces us to Stick and Stone, two lonely souls looking for a companion. When the two finally do meet, it’s not under the best circumstances; Stone is being teased by a bully named Pinecone. But Stick defends Stone without even knowing him — and from there, a beautiful friendship is born. Alone, Stick and Stone were just a 1 and a 0. But together, they make “a perfect 10!” With delightful illustrations and a friendship worth emulating, this tender story is a testament to the bond between best friends. Stick and Stone reminds us that a true buddy is there with us through thick and thin, to celebrate our wins and support us through tough times. Not only does this book include a clear anti-bullying stance, it shows young readers how kindness and open-mindedness towards their peers can be the start of a truly special friendship.
