For toddlers concept of friends is a bit hard to comprehend, however they will need to learn to socialize and get along with others as they grow up. One of the way we, parents and caregivers, can help them get along and make friends easier is to read and discuss with them about what exactly is a friend, how to make a friend and how to be a good friend in return. We gathered a selection of the best friendship board books to read to your toddlers to help them from an early age.
Toddlers who attend kindergarten / preschool have more social interactions with other children as they spend lots of time with other kids on daily basis. For home-raised toddlers, it is a bit harder to interact with other children similar age, especially if they don’t have siblings or large extended family.
TODDLER’S FAVORITE FRIENDSHIP PICTURE BOOKS TO READ ALOUD
If your child is one or two year old, they will love our selection of friendship themed books. Our selection for under 2 year old kids is based on one (or more, if we are lucky) things:
- short books with few pages since toddlers have a short attention span
- chunky and durable books to endure rough toddlers
- books with lovely and vivid illustrations
- books with textures or finger puppets for extra sensory experience during reading
Babies Love Friendship
Introduce little ones to friendship and relationship-building in this adorable lift-a-flap board book. Whether bunnies in a field, bugs under rocks, or birds in the trees, make friends anywhere you go! Packed with cute illustrations of all types of animal friends, this sturdy board book is perfect for babies and toddlers—boy or girl. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
This Is How We Make Friends
This adorable friendship board book teaches children how to make new friends, with tips on ways to start talking and what games you can play together. Most importantly, it helps kids learn how to be kind and say sorry, and look out for someone who needs a new friend. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Best Friends Forever
Little Bear liked his new house, but he missed his friends, Badger, Bunny, and Mouse. Come and discover a world of friendship and fun with Little Bear and all his wonderful friends. With beautiful illustrations by Xenia Pavlova, this charming tale will be treasured forever. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
The Things I Love About Friends
Sleepovers, sharing feelings, being excited when good things happen to one another—there are so many things to love about friends. This special junior edition of The Things I Love About Friends—with its simple, meaningful words and beautiful illustrations—is part of a series that is perfect for introducing little ones to positive thinking about everyday situations. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
My Best Friend
Giraffe and Hippo are best friends who do everything together. Follow the two buddies as they have a fun day at school in this rhyming story about friendship. This soft padded children’s board book is the perfect book to read the night before a child’s first day of daycare, preschool or kindergarten. Find the book here: United States | United Kingdom
Best Friends
Full name of this friendship board book is Best Friends-Discover all the Ways these Animal Best Friends, Play, Share, and Help each Other! and it already introduces what the book is about. What we love is that it’s a rhyming book with lovable illustrations! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Do You Want to Be My Friend?
While it is true that most kids need to learn to accept children who are different than them, there are plenty of kids who feel “different” and need the hope that if they look long enough, they will find someone they can connect with. For the children who easily find friends, this book can help them understand how it feels to be one of the “different” kids who need a friend. We can ask, “Would it have made the mouse feel better if the other animals would be his friend?” This book can introduce great discussions. There are plenty of books that show children an ideal world. This one shows reality. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Spot’s New Friend
When Spot goes on a trip with his family, he worries that he won’t have anyone to play with. But when Spot loses his ball, Alice the kangaroo finds it! Even though he is far away from home, he can always make new friends–and that’s a reason to jump for joy! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Rainbow of Emotions: Making Friends with Your Emotions
This board book, which features full-color artwork, helps children develop their emotional intelligence by introducing them to different scenarios that generate a variety of responses and emotions. The main character – Iggy the multicolored chameleon turns different colors depending on his emotions. Children will relate to the adorable animal characters and pick up on the valuable lessons the chameleon learns. And perhaps most importantly, young readers will learn just how important it is to be themselves! Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Books of Kindness (Box Set)
Learn to love and love to learn! Support your little one’s social-emotional development with these soothing, adorable board books that focus on the most important aspects of life: kindness, gratitude, joy, and friendship.
This boxed set includes following books: ABCs of Kindness, 123s of Thankfulness, Happiness is a Rainbow and Friendship is Forever. Find the set here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
What can parents do to help their toddlers make friends?
Making friends is not easy! Even as adults, you had people you wanted to befriend but never succeeded and it’s likely that your child will experience the same at some point of time. Here are few additional articles you can reference:
What to Do When Kids Don’t Get Along with Other Kids
We have gathered information to provide solutions and assistance in cases where your toddler doesn’t get along well with other kids of similar age. Read more here.
How to Improve Communication Between Parents and Toddlers
Tips from parents that can help you improve your communication with your toddlers, getting them to hear you, but also helping you as a parent to understand them. Read more here.
Simple Random Acts of Kindness for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Wondering how to encourage your toddlers and preschoolers to be nice and grow up to be kind adults? Start from young age with our list of 25 simple random acts of kindness for toddlers and preschoolers! Download it here!
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