Beautiful Friendships in Children's Books

16 Oct 2014

“Friendship,” said Christopher Robin, “is a very comforting thing to have.” - A.A. Milne

If children’s books were your only guide to friendship, you’d be in very good hands. Here are five of our favourites.

Claude and Sir Bobblysock (Alex T. Smith)

Many people have tried and failed to anthropomorphise objects and animals but this partnership of a dog and a sock really works. Claude is bright-eyed and eager to explore the world while his owners, Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes, are at work. His best friend is rather more anxious, less inclined to get messy, and has a few hang-ups. In some ways this perfectly captures the whole child: enthusiasm for new experiences (Claude) but also a tendency to hold tightly to comforts - blankets, dummies, a favourite teddy…a bobbly old sock. Claude doesn’t try to talk Sir Bobblysock out of his anxieties, and nor does Sir Bobblysock interfere with Claude’s adventures - he just sits them out occasionally. These are funny, satisfying, illustrated stories to share with 4+ or to be read independently from around 6 or 7.

(Try Claude in the Country.)

Old Tom and Angela (Leigh Hobbs)

Anyone who thinks that children’s books need to contain children / overt happiness / rainbows should take a look at the Old Tom stories. Old Tom’s face could crack mirrors, and his owner Angela Throgmorton is the most reluctant cat lady you’re ever likely to meet. She likes things neat and proper, and Old Tom is a slob. Together they are comedy genius. This is no insta-friendship but one that develops over time and against the odds. The Big Book of Old Tom is a lovely thick format containing all of their stories, told largely through the hilarious illustrations and with perfectly spare wording, making this a great choice for newly independent readers who want to look like they’re on their way to War and Peace.

(Try The Big Book of Old Tom.)

Gerald and Piggie (Mo Willems)

Mo Willems has perfected the art of a satisfying story arc with developed characters in under 100 words. That’s a rough guess, by the way, but these are very low on words but high on comedy, navigating conflict and difference, and the value of friendship. Gerald’s experiences are coloured by anxiety but also by his propensity for kindness and his fierce love of Piggie. Piggie is more carefree but tends to fly off the handle. Just like children, they share snippets of knowledge with each other and somehow cobble together the answers they need to conquer the struggle of each particular story. There is great balance here, and nothing tepid or saccharine about their relationship.

(Try We Are In A Book!.)

Frog and Toad (Arnold Lobel)

The dynamic between these two (whose friendship dates back to 1970) manages to capture several kinds of relationships: sometimes Frog and Toad are like two ageing eccentrics, sometimes they verge on parent-child, but as each story concludes they are nothing more complex than great mates. Similar to Charlie and Lola, you might sometimes wonder how Frog remains so patient in the presence of stroppy Toad, who gets out of bed on the wrong side most mornings. But Toad’s clumsy attempts to return Frog’s love are irresistible. Lobel’s stories are always clever, and Toad adds an element of daft that make them great fun too.

(Try Frog and Toad Are Friends.)

Piglet and Pooh (A.A. Milne)

I couldn’t leave these two out - are they not the original beautiful friendship? I don’t think there’s any better depiction of the value of kindness, the joy of simple things, and the power of unconditional love. Perhaps that’s why we never grow out of Winnie-The-Pooh. I know it won’t just be children who receive this luxurious new edition, and I’m also confident that I’m not alone in listening in when my children go to sleep to the audio book which features the voices of Judi Dench and Stephen Fry.

“Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”

(Try Winnie-The-Pooh.)