The power of friendship: 12 inspiring primary school reads about friends

Friends and friendship groups are an incredibly important part of any primary schooler’s life. And it’s in the infant and primary school years that we learn the fundamentals of what it takes to be a ‘good’ friend.

What role can books play in making friends? Reading fiction can help to develop empathy in children – an important part of building friendships. Children’s novels which feature strong friendships can also provide a how-to model of how to be a friend, and inspire kids with what can be achieved through friendship.

We’ve put together a list of 14 books for kids of all ages.

Picture books

The Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard

Meet the world’s favourite bear in this delightful collection in which Pooh gets into a tight place, nearly catches a woozle, and discovers the wrong sort of honey – amongst other things. It offers a lovely model of friendship between Pooh and Piglet. The two connect so charmingly: they like the same kinds of uncomplicated things, they remind each other of their strengths, and they enjoy and miss each other’s company.

Ages 3+

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are close friends who are very different from each other. Pearl is loud and boisterous, Charlie is quiet and likes to sit. She solves mysteries, he watches his garden grow. But they appreciate each other and look after each other when in need of a bit of TLC.

Ages 3+

Amy and Louis by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood

Amy and Louis live next door to each other, and their lives are closely intertwined. Theirs is a life rich in imagination – they see dragons in the clouds and make castles out of cardboard. But when Am’s family moves to another country, the children are separated and the colour drains out of their lives. Until Louis discovers how to rebuild their special bond.

Ages 4+

Minton Goes! The Complete Adventures of Minton and Turtle by Anna Fienberg and Kim Gamble

By the creators of Tashi comes this story that focuses on the friendship between two very different personalities. Minton is the ever-optimistic salamander who loves all forms of transport and finds just what he needs to make them, and doubter Turtle who worries that it will all end in disaster. There is also a theme of jealousy as Minton reunites with an old friend, leaving Turtle feeling on the outer.

Ages 4+

Chapter books 

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and Garth Williams

The classic story of Charlotte the spider, Wilbur the pig, and other farmyard animals focuses on kindness, loyalty, trust, and how friends can help us solve problems. It’s heartbreakingly sad towards the end but leaves readers understanding that close friendships will continue to influence us throughout our lives.

Readers aged 6+

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 

This story includes a lovely portrait of intergenerational friendship. Mr Willy Wonka is the most extraordinary chocolate maker in the world. And do you know who Charlie is? Charlie Bucket is the hero. The other children in this book are nasty little beasts. Clutching their Golden Tickets, they arrive at Wonka’s chocolate factory. But what mysterious secrets will they discover? Our tour is about to begin. Please don’t wander off. Mr Wonka wouldn’t like to lose any of you at this stage of the proceedings…

Readers aged 6+

The Simple Things by Bil Condon and Beth Norling

Stephen has never met his great aunt Lola, and he doesn’t want to. She sends him money twice a year and he always writes back, but Lola is almost eighty – what will they have to talk about? When they arrive at her house, Stephen discovers she’s grumpy, scary and really, really old. Soon Lola entrusts Stephen with a great secret, and he realises that Lola has become more important to him than just an aunt who sends him money – she’s now a friend. It tackles the important theme of intergenerational friendships.

Readers aged 7+

Middle-grade books

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

How wonderful for Anne, who had never had a real friend – only imaginary playmates – to find a neighbour like Diana in Avonlea. And how dreadful when Diana’s mother temporarily separated them after a misunderstanding! This story shows the powerful bond one can create through a friendship – especially when no one else just gets you like they do.

Readers aged 8+

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

We count this wonderful novel as a must-read for pretty much every child aged eleven plus. It follows the tory of Auggie, a fifth-grader who was born with facial abnormalities and is starting mainstream school for the first time. Auggie’s story shows us friendships being forged, that friends can be betrayed, what happens when we take the time to get to know someone from the inside, and what kids can achieve when they stick up for one another.

Readers aged 9+

Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein

This page-turning novel with a deeply flawed lead character portrays the agony of rivalries between sixth-grade girls and all the feelings of awkwardness and insecurity that can plague kids of that age. Often very funny, it also has important lessons about the danger of making assumptions about others and letting your own ambition get in the way of possible friendship.

Readers aged 9+

YA 

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Things get off to a bad start when Jesse’s new neighbour Leslie beats him in the running race he has been determined to win in order to gain his dad’s attention and stand out among his siblings. Nevertheless, Jesse and Leslie do become close friends, building a fantasy world (‘Terabithia’) together and navigating family and school issues with each other’s help, even in the face of ribbing from their school mates about their boy-girl friendship. This beautiful novel about friendship and connecting with people despite barriers is also a tear-jerker, with themes of loss and grief.

Readers aged 12+

Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner

Judy’s father, Captain Woolcot, found his vivacious, cheeky daughter impossible – but seven children were really too much for him and most of the time they ran wild at their rambling riverside home, Misrule. Step inside and meet them all – dreamy Meg, and Pip, daring Judy, naughty Bunty, Nell, Baby and the youngest, ‘the General’. Come and share in their lives, their laughter and their tears. Seven Little Australians also has a gentle message about allowing friends to be a bad influence, when Meg lets her opinions be swayed by older ‘friend’ Aldith.

Readers aged 13+