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I am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde is a picture book that teaches children about how we can make good choices by acting with compassion and having empathy for others. It focuses on mindful strategies to be our best selves.

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Katie Woo and Friends by Fran Manushkin is an easy reader that has 4 short stories. The Katie Woo series is well-known and popular among second graders. These short stories could be used for small group readings.

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The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig is a picture book that teaches how small acts of kindness can help children feel included. The story of "invisible" Brian who isn't always included.

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The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson is a picture book that discusses how we all feel like outsiders sometimes, but when we reach out to others, we can be seen and create new friendships.

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A Little Spot of Empathy by Diane Alber is a picture book that shares how one little SPOT sees things from another person's perspective and shows kindness to others!

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Stand Up for Yourself and Your Friends by Patti Criswell is an American Girl easy reader and handbook. It includes quizzes and tips on how to deal with bullies and stand up for your friends.

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I Choose to Speak Up by Elizabeth Estrada is a picture book that teaches three different solutions to bullying: ask the bully to stop, ask an adult for help, and walk away. It includes SEL concepts and real life examples.

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King of the Playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a picture book that shares the story of a difficult playground bully and ways that kids stand up to him.

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The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz is a picture book about a boy who grows flowers all over his body when the moon is full. He is treated as an outcast until a new girl comes to school and sees him for who he truly is!

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How to Lose All Your Friends by Nancy Carlson is a picture book that is lighthearted and looks at behaviors that will make kids lose friends! It is funny and applicable to real life.

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The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric is a picture book about a new kid at school who is picked on and teased. It shares lessons of being kind and learning that people aren't as different from each other as they may seem.

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A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon is a picture book about making friends. Camilla Cream is very worried about what other people think of her. She gets so worried that she breaks out in stripe!! Themes include empathy and being yourself.

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Lola and Tiva by Craig Hatkoff shares the story of friendship between Lola, a rhino, and Tiva, a little girl. This story is about friendship and family and explores human-animal friendships. This book could be used as a close reading exercise.

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The Survival Guide for Making and Being Friends

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The Survival Guide for Making and Being Friends

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The Survival Guide for Making and Being Friends by James J. Christ is an informational text with practical advice and tips to improve friendships. It includes "what would you do?" scenarios, examples, quizzes, and advice in an accessible format. Passages could be used for small group inquiry projects or close reading to discover traits of healthy friendships.

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The Cool Bean by Jory John is a picture book that follows the story of the "cool beans" and the one that doesn't fit in. It follows the theme of inclusion, acceptance, and fitting in through kindness and friendship. This book could be used as a read aloud in this unit.

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Growing Friendships: A Kid's Guide to Making and Keeping Friends

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Growing Friendships: A Kid's Guide to Making and Keeping Friends

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Growing Friendships is an informational handbook that includes advice and facts for kids on how to make and keep friends. It also focuses on how to BE a good friend! It is very accessible to read. It could be used in small group inquiry circles or small passages for whole class discussion as daily "articles".

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Help! A Story of Friendship by Holly Keller is a picture book that discusses friendship trials like gossip and how to help a friend who is in trouble. It captures these questions through animal storytelling in a cute and engaging way.

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The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

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The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

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The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat is a picture book that could be used as a read aloud. Beekle is an imaginary friend who is overlooked but finally meets his perfect match. Themes are friendship and imagination. It is a Caldecott Medal-winning picture book.

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Sophie's Shell by Jo Rooks is a picture book that uses Sophie the snail to explore feelings of being shy and how to make new friends despite being sensitive.

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Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows is a beginning chapter book. This series is well-known and loved by second graders. It could be used for small group reading. The trials of friendship is a big theme in these books.

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What Kind of Friend are You? by Brooke Rowe is an informational text with high interest level as it includes fun quiz questions and trivia. It has clear visuals and is very accessible. It could be used as a resource for small group inquiry projects or as a daily quiz to get students thinking and connecting to their own lives.

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How Can I Help? by Robin Nelson is an informational text that explains how to care for others. It gives practical tips and examples of what you can do for others by being helpful. This knowledge can enhance friendships and help students to recognize how friends care for each other.

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Am I a Good Friend? A Book about Trustworthiness 

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Am I a Good Friend? A Book about Trustworthiness 

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Am I a Good Friend  by Robin Nelson is an informational text that helps kids to learn about being trustworthy and honest. It could be a good resource to use for small group inquiry.

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A Frog in My Throat by Frieda Wishinsky is a beginner chapter book that discusses the ebb and flow of friendship over time as friends grow apart. This could be used in small group reading circles.

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Learning About Other People and Cultures

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Learning About Other People and Cultures

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Learning About Other People and Cultures by Jan Mader is an informational text that shares information on different cultures that make up our world. While it notes our differences, it more so promotes how we can come together and recognize our similarities! Could be used as a read aloud or as a resource in small group inquiry.

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How To Be Friends with This Unicorn by Erin Savory is a picture book about a dragon and a unicorn who become friends. This story teaches children how to make a new friend.

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Celebrating All Personalities by Abby Colich is an informational text that shares how communities are stronger when we come together in a collective to understand, support, and most importantly celebrate each other! This book brings in SEL concepts alongside exercises and tips.

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Crafting for a Cause by Emma Bland Smith is a chapter book about a group of friends who come together to raise money and help others. This book discusses friend groups and helping a friend in need. This could be used as a book club book to read independently, or certain sections could be used as examples for close reading.

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All Kinds of Friends by Shelley Rotner is an informational text that shares ways for young readers to discover the many ways to be a friend. It focuses on celebrating our unique differences!

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Cyber Poser by Mari Kesselring is a chapter book about cyber awareness and responsibility when people that you don't know try to connect over social networking. Passages of this book could be used for close reading or small group discussion, and students could continue reading the entire chapter book as independent reading.

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Trust Me: A Loyalty Story by Anastasia Suen is a picture book about the importance of trust, patience, and friendship. The character trait of fairness is also considered. There are also "What Do You Think?" questions infused throughout the book, which could prove useful if this book is done for an interactive read aloud.

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Outdoor Antics by Ethan Long is a collection of two short stories about friendship between animal friends! This book could be used in small group inquiry circles due to the fact that the stories are short.

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My Friend, Fred by Daniel Cleary is a picture book about a cat who is friends with a sunflower. This book highlights friendships across species and takes it a step further to include the plant kingdom as friends.

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Lying Around by Anna Prokos is an easy reader about Leon the lion who learns about the character concept of trust and trustworthiness.

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Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

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Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

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Owen and Mzee by Craig Hatkoff is the true story of a friendship between a baby hippo and a 130-year old giant turtle. This beautiful story shows how friendship is stronger than our differences--even differences in species!

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Who Would Win? by Jerry Pallotta is a series that is loved by students!! Any of these books would be great to use for this project to discuss "foes" and battles in the animal world. These books are informational and include real facts while following a narrative that determines which animal would most likely win if they were to battle.

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National Geographic Kids Chapters: Best Friends Forever

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National Geographic Kids Chapters: Best Friends Forever

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Best Friends Forever by Amy Shields is an informational text that shares true stories of animal friendships! This book explores unexpected animal bonds. National Geographic Kids Chapters are accessible for kids while introducing them to nonfiction text features.

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National Geographic Readers: Cats vs Dogs

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National Geographic Readers: Cats vs Dogs

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Cats vs. Dogs by Elizabeth Carney is an informational text that shares facts about these two beloved species to determine their differences and similarities. This text would fall under the "foes" category of our unit. It would be used in small group inquiry.

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Elephant and Piggie: My New Friend is So Fun!

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Elephant and Piggie: My New Friend is So Fun!

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My New Friend is So Fun is an easy reader that shares the story of when Piggie finds a new friend...but what will Gerald think about this? Elephant and Piggie is an extremely popular series.

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Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel is an easy reader that includes five short stories about the bonds of friendship that Frog and Toad share. This book could be used in small group inquiry or for close reading practice.

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My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems is an easy reader that shares the story of when Gerald is upset and ways that Piggie, his best friend, can help make him happier!