Imaginary friend

Calvin and Hobbes

by Bill Watterson

In this classic comic strip by Bill Watterson, children can understand, or even relate to, the benefits and love that can emerge from having an imaginary friend. Children will fall in love with the mischievous Calvin and his adorable pet tiger, Hobbes. Watterson captures the affection that the duo shares, as well as all the fun that goes along with it. You'll find yourself rooting for Calvin and Hobbes to follow their wild imaginations and at the same time find yourself wishing you had a companion like Hobbes. One of my all-time favorites.

Friendships with pets

Clifford the Big Red Dog

By Norman Bridwell

This book will help develop emotional intelligence by showing children how a friendship with animals can be meaningful and fulfilling. In this series Clifford and Emily Elizabeth deal with the day to day trials of growing up together. The everyday situations and interesting subjects the two main characters get into, such as a trip to the fire house, visiting the hospital, and bath time, are easily recognized and identified by young children. Books like “Clifford’s Manners” and “Clifford’s Opposites” allows children to recognize the manners and situations they are learning and view them in a comedic way through an oversized, big red dog. Each book is bright, colorful and full of humor. Who doesn’t love the big red dog?

Sibling Friendships

Yo Bro!: My Brother, My Friend

By Tom Burns

In this humorous collection of 60 photographs the nature of brother-hood, sister-hood, and friendship is addressed through witty sayings. This book deals through mostly visual stimulation the nature of life, loyalty among siblings, and family memories. This book will help stimulate emotional intelligence in children by recognizing the joys of growing up with a brother or sister, and touch on the fact that you might not always get along, but you will always be there for each other. It is an important lesson for children to have, and this book provides a way for children to view actual photographs of animals and relate them to their own lives. Seeing real photographs of animals humanizes the emotions that the captions portray.

Growing Friendships

Forget Me Not (Friendship Blossoms) By Michael Broad

In this book the main character is an elephant named Forget-Me-Not. He is trying to make friends but gets discouraged and turns to his mama for advice. She points out that just like the flowers on the trees, friendship takes time to blossom and become meaningful. When Forget-Me-Not meets a new friend Cherry he decided to take his mama’s advice and give the friendship time. This book will help spark emotional intelligence in children by providing a story that deals with the concept of making new friends. Children will recognize that making new friends can be hard, and sometimes they need to get to know the other person before becoming good friends. It will also help children with managing their emotions, especially to not get discouraged and be patient.

Diverse friendships (age/race)

Mrs. Katz and Tush

By Patricia Polacco

In this book a young African-American boy, and Mrs. Katz, an elderly Jewish woman, develop a friendship through their mutual concern for an abandoned cat named Tush. Together they explore similar themes of suffering and triumph in each of their cultures. This Book will help develop emotional intelligence by showing children how friendship with an elderly person can develop and blossom. Children will be able to recognize and value friendship with someone who is older and wiser. They will be able to understand that friendship with people other than their age group is acceptable and can be valued. This book also develops a moral intelligence towards a different culture and recognizes the similarities between different races and ages.

Diverse friendships (characteristics)

The Dragon and the Turtle

By Donita K Paul and Evangeline Denmark

In this picture book a young, pirate-playing turtle named Roger becomes lost and a small, bug-eating dragon named Padraig helps him find his way home. Padraig must use all his senses; sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, to help bring his new friend home. Roger gives directions that take some time to follow—his house looks brown, sounds like singing, smells like baking, feels like sand, and tastes like strawberries—and along the way, Roger and Padraig become friends. This book would help a child develop their emotional intelligence by showing them that they can be friends with someone who does things differently than they do. By recognizing that that the dragon may do things differently than the turtle, a child can see that the way they do something may not be the only right way. A child can visualize and learn acceptance through this tale.