Hi, my name is Ali Schindler. I believe in children's competence to understand the world around them, and I strive to treat them with the respect, honesty, and caring they deserve. I am a lifelong lover of books as well, and picture books are always the cornerstone of any curricula I do in my classroom. Today, I am going to recommend some books about friendship for the Prek to Kindergarten age group.
This is a wonderful story about a boy who, with the help of his father, sets out to make a yucky, smelly, diabolical "Enemy Pie" for Jeremy Ross, the new boy in the neighborhood who he has labeled "Enemy Number One." However, the story takes a heartwarming twist when the boy realizes that his number one enemy is quickly turning into his best friend. I love reading this to my students and watching them slowly but surely realize what the "recipe" of Enemy Pie is all about!
Chester and Wilson are best friends who do everything together, and everything the same - their way. And then Lilly moves into the neighborhood... with her own way of doing things! I have loved Kevin Henkes books since I was a child, and this one is all about accepting new friends - especially ones who are headstrong and unique.
This book is so sweet, and the pictures are gorgeous. Amos McGee is a dedicated and thoughtful zookeeper who gets sick one day and can't make it to work - so his animal friends come over to take care of him just as wonderfully as Amos takes care of them. This is a beautiful story about how when we show kindness to others, we receive kindness in return.
I cannot recommend these books enough. My students LOVE them and practically beg me to read them every single day! Gerald and Piggie are goofy, hilarious, sometimes misguided, but ultimately they love each other and always go out of their way to make their friend feel loved and happy.
This is a book not only about friendship, but about diversity, kindness, and inclusivity. Gabe is the new kid in Johnny's classroom who doesn't speak English, but Johnny isn't too happy about it. At first, he even goes out of his way to be unkind to Gabe. However, as the story goes on, Johnny realizes that even though he and Gabe don't speak the same language, they have things in common - and soon enough, kindness and friendship become the language that they share.
About the writer:
Ali Schindler is currently a transitional kindergarten teacher at a Jewish Community Center preschool. She has been working in preschools for about seven years now, and working with children is the best thing in her life.
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