9 New Picture Books About Friendship & Being Yourself
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9 New Picture Books About Friendship & Being Yourself


Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss
Award-winning author, Kate DiCamillo, shares the story of a lonely dog named Rosie. Her owner, George, is worried so he takes her to a dog park. At first, the dogs she meets overwhelm Rosie– Maurice is big and growly and scary. Fifi is hyper and bouncy and talkative. It takes some getting used to each other and compromise (no eating Fifi, Maurice!) but the three become good friends. I like the realistic portrayal of how friendships can be tricky and take some figuring out. I love the beautiful watercolor cartoon panels.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
You are going to read this book multiple times — it’s so funny while being profound “Sometimes it’s hard to make friends with children,” said her dad. “Especially when you eat them.” After a rough first day at school where she eats her classmates, gets scolded by the teacher, spits them out, and doesn’t make any friends, Penelope’s dad explains that “children are the same as us on the inside. Just tastier.” HA. The next day, Penelope eats her classmates again. She just can’t stop herself! However, when the class goldfish chomps on Penelope’s finger and it HURTS, she realizes that it’s no fun to be someone else’s snack. It hurts. EMPATHY!! So even when her classmates look delicious, Penelope tries to remember what it felt like…and resists eating them. Which means she has friends and playmates at school. Also on: Essential Back-to-School Books for Kids & Best 2018 Picture Books & Picture Books About Manners

Quiet Wyatt by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Arthur Howard
For all the quiet kids in the world, this book shows YOU matter and you can be friends with people who aren’t like you. Wyatt’s quiet life isn’t quiet on a class field trip when he’s paired with Noreen — his exact opposite. In a hilarious contrast of personalities, Noreen talks non-stop and trailblazes right into trouble. Luckily, Wyatt is an excellent ninja so he can save Noreen from the rock slide. “Wyatt smiled. Quietly of course. / He still liked quite. // He also liked having a friend.“

Cleo and Cornelius: A Tale of Two Cities and Two Kitties by Elizabeth Nicholson, Janine Pibal, and Nick Geller, illustrated by Michelle Thies
Rich illustrations help narrate the story of two kitty cousins who lived in ancient Egypt until one, Cornelius, travels to Rome. His cousin, Cleo misses Cornelius so he sets off to find him. Even though the city of Rome is not as quiet and boring as in Egypt, Cleo prefers to be at home in Egypt. The settings in this adaptation of City Mouse and Country Mouse will give young readers a taste of ancient Rome and Egypt, perhaps sparking further reading.