Bibliography
Theme 4: Friends Together
The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.
Recommended Books for Browsing
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
Putnam 1995 (28p)
A firefly flits through a summer night in search of friends.
Here Comes the Bus by Anastasia Suen
Lee & Low 2000 (8p)
An Asian American girl greets all her friends as they climb on the school bus.
Multicultural
Two Girls Can by Keiko Narahashi
McElderry 2000 (32p)
Two girls celebrate all the things that friends can do together.
Multicultural
Dear Daisy, Get Well Soon by Maggie Smith
Crown 2000 (32p)
When Daisy gets the chicken pox, Peter proves he's a friend she can count on.
Math
Best Friends by Marcia Leonard
Millbrook 1999 (32p) also paper
Two girls are best friends even though they're different in many ways.
Multicultural
Cat and Mouse in the Rain by Tomek Bogacki
Farrar 1997 (32p)
On a rainy day, friends Cat and Mouse have fun splashing through
puddles with a frog. See others in series.
My Pal Al by Marcia Leonard
Millbrook 1998 (32p) also paper
An African American girl and her favorite stuffed animal spend a busy,
happy day together.
Multicultural
Recommended Books for Teacher Read Aloud
* Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
Houghton 1972 (48p) also paper
Spending the night at his friend Reggie's, Ira worries about not
having his teddy bear.
My Steps by Sally Derby
Lee & Low 1996 (32p) also paper
An African American girl and her friends have fun playing on the front
steps of her city home. Available in Spanish as Mi escalera.
Multicultural
Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
Farrar 1999 (32p)
Friends Cat, Duck, and Squirrel make soup together the same way every day
until a squabble breaks out.
Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban
Harper 1969 (32p) also paper
Frances the badger teaches her next-door neighbor Albert about friendship.
Classic
The Best of Friends by Pirkko Vainio
North-South 2000 (32p)
Hare likes carrots and Bear prefers fish, but despite their
differences, the pair are good friends.
Friends! by Elaine Scott
Simon 2000 (32p)
Photographs and text introduce friends and the activities they share.
Multicultural
Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow 1988 (32p) also paper
Friends Chester and Wilson are set in their ways until Lilly
moves into the neighborhood.
A Letter to Amy By Ezra Jack Keats
Harper 1968 (32p) also paper
Peter rushes out in a thunderstorm to send his friend Amy an invitation to his party.
Classic
Friend Frog by Alma Flor Ada
Harcourt 2000 (32p)
Field Mouse can't jump or swim like the frog he meets at the pond, but they
become friends.
Science
* My Friend and I by Lisa Jahn-Clough
Houghton 1999 (32p)
Two friends who fight over a toy discover it's more fun playing together
than alone.
Recommended Books for Shared Reading
A Summery Saturday Morning by Margaret Mahy
Viking 1998 (32p)
A group of friends and their dogs enjoy a lively walk on a summer morning.
Howdi Do by Woody Guthrie
Candlewick 2000 (24p)
A playful song celebrates friendliness and being neighborly.
Music
May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
Macmillan 1964 (32p) also paper
A boy invited to tea with the king and queen takes along his animal
friends in this repetitive, rhyming story.
Classic
Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham
Holt 1988 (32p) also paper
Mr. Gumpy and his friends end up overboard when too many pile into his boat.
Classic
Bein' with You This Way by W. Nikola-Lisa
Lee & Low 1995 (32p) also paper
In cumulative rhyme, a girl rounds up a group of friends for fun in the park.
Available in Spanish as La alegría de ser tú y yo.
Multicultural
What Shall We Do When We All Go Out? by Shari Halpern
North-South 1995 (32p) also paper
Two children have fun playing together in this song.
Music
Recommended Books for Phonics Read Aloud
Oh, Cats by Nola Buck
Harper 1997 (24p) also paper
A girl tries to make playmates of the three cats she finds in her back yard.
Two Cool Coyotes by Jillian Lund
Dutton 1999 (32p)
When Frank the coyote's friend Angelina moves, things just aren't the same without her.
The Visitor by Patrice Aggs
Orchard 1999 (32p)
Kittens Cosy and Posy discover that someone very different from
themselves can be a good friend.