Resource Filters Description More information about this book
More information about this book

Book Description

Resource Type

  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • During Reading Activities
  • Post-Reading Activities

Skills and Subjects

  • Oral Language
  • Make Predictions
  • Visual Elements
  • Making Connections
  • Social & Emotional Learning
  • Vocabulary Acquisition
  • Critical Thinking in Literacy
  • Comprehension Strategies
  • Key Ideas & Details
  • Integrated Learning
  • Developing & Creating Texts
  • Character Development
  • Just for Fun!
  • Further Research
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A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend

When a child arrives at summer camp, they see a lot of other kids. Will any of them want to be their friend?

    Book Genre:

  • Picture Books

    Audience:

  • ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1

Written by

  • Sara O'Leary

Illustrated by

  • Qin Leng

  • Book Description

    A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend is an inclusive picture book that explores the many ways children experience friendship. Set primarily at a summer camp, the story is told through short reflections from different children, each sharing what friendship means to them. The book highlights friendships between peers, across generations, across languages and across differences in identity and personality. Through gentle text and detailed illustrations, readers learn that friendship is built through kindness, listening, bravery, patience and acceptance. The story reinforces the central idea that the best way to make a friend is to be one.

    A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend portrays friendships across differences in ages, language, identity and life experience, emphasizing inclusion, acceptance and belonging as essential to meaningful relationships.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Oral Language
    What Is a Friend?
    Begin with a whole-group discussion about friendship. Ask students what a friend is and what friends do. Record responses on chart paper. Encourage students to give examples from their own lives. Explain that the class will revisit this chart after reading to see if their ideas change or grow.
  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Make Predictions, Visual Elements
    Cover & Illustration Walk

    Display the cover and do a picture walk through several pages without reading the text. Ask students what they notice about the children, their actions and their expressions. Invite predictions about what the book might be teaching about friendship.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Making Connections
    Same and Different
    Have students share one way they are similar to a friend and one way they are different. Discuss how being different does not stop people from being friends and may even make friendships stronger.
  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Making Connections, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    New Places, New Friends
    Ask students to think about a time they were new somewhere. How did it feel? Discuss feelings such as excitement, nervousness or shyness, and connect this to the beginning of the story.
  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Social & Emotional Learning, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Feelings Vocabulary

    Introduce or review emotion words such as shy, brave, lonely, happy and excited. Explain that these feelings may appear in the story and students will look for them while listening.

  • During Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy, Visual Elements
    Symbolism Tracker

    Students track recurring symbols such as sunflowers, doves, stones, and seeds recording their meaning and evolution.

  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Critical Thinking in Literacy
    Stop & Reflect

    Pause after selected pages and ask students what the child on that page is saying about friendship. Encourage students to restate ideas in their own words.

  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Oral Language
    Question Journal

    Students record the questions Theo asks and compare them with their own unanswered questions.

  • During Reading Activities/ Social & Emotional Learning, Visual Elements
    Illustration Emotions

    Ask students to look closely at facial expressions and body language in the illustrations. Discuss how pictures help show feelings even when words are few.

  • During Reading Activities/ Making Connections, Oral Language
    Text-to-Self Connections

    Invite students to share if they have ever had a similar experience to the one shown in the story. Allow students to share verbally or with a partner.

  • During Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
    Kind Actions Spotting

    Have students listen for examples of kind or caring actions. Pause and name these actions, reinforcing positive social behaviors.

  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Key Ideas & Details
    Main Idea Tracking
    Periodically ask students what the book is mostly teaching about friendship. Record key ideas on chart paper.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning, Social & Emotional Learning
    Friendship Drawing
    Students draw a picture of themselves being a good friend. Encourage them to include details that show friendly actions.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    Role-Play Friendship
    In small groups, students role-play scenarios from the book or classroom situations that demonstrate being a friend.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Making Connections, Social & Emotional Learning
    Friendship Web
    Create a class web with the word “Friendship” in the center. Add student ideas about how to be a friend.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Developing & Creating Texts
    Writing Prompt
    Have students complete the sentence: “A friend is someone who …” Students may write, dictate or draw their response.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Character Development, Social & Emotional Learning
    Kindness Challenge
    Challenge students to practice one friendly action during the week and report back to the class.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Friendship Bracelet Workshop

    Provide yarn, beads or pipe cleaners. Model how to create a simple bracelet. Explain that each color or bead can represent a friendship quality such as kindness, listening or sharing. As students work, invite them to talk about who they might give the bracelet to and why. This activity reinforces fine motor skills, reflection and positive peer connections.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Friendship Freeze Dance

    Play music and allow students to dance freely. When the music stops, call out a friendly action such as “wave to a friend,” “give a thumbs up,” or “stand next to someone new.” This movement-based activity supports community building, inclusion and joyful participation.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Compliment Circle

    Seat students in a circle. Model giving a simple compliment focused on actions or character (for example, “I like how you help others”). Students then take turns offering compliments to classmates. Teachers should guide language to remain kind, specific and respectful.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Friendship Art Gallery

    Invite students to draw or paint a picture showing friendship in action. Once completed, display artwork around the room. Conduct a gallery walk where students observe and discuss how friendship is shown in different ways. This builds visual literacy and reflection.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Cooperative Building Challenge

    Provide blocks or classroom materials and challenge small groups to build something together. Emphasize cooperation, turn-taking and listening. Afterward, lead a reflection discussion about what helped the group work well together.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    Sesame Street: Friendship & Kindness

    Website: https://www.sesamestreet.org

    Activities:
    • Watch short videos about being a good friend
    • Practice sharing and helping others with familiar characters
    • Talk about feelings using simple songs
    • Teacher Tip: Pause videos to ask children what a friend is doing.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    PBS KIDS: Social Skills & Games

    Website: https://pbskids.org

    Activities:

    • Play cooperative games with characters like Daniel Tiger
    • Explore shows about emotions, helping and teamwork
    • Practice turn-taking through guided play
    • Teacher Tip: Connect games to real classroom situations.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Being a Friend

    Website: https://pbskids.org/daniel

    Activities:

    • Watch clips about sharing and welcoming new friends
    • Sing songs about kindness
    • Role-play scenarios about friendship from episodes
    • Teacher Tip: Use songs as transitions or morning meeting openers.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    National Geographic Kids: Learning About Others

    Website: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com

    Activities:

    • View photos of children around the world
    • Talk about how kids play and live in different places
    • Compare the similarities and differences between how kids play and live around the world
    • Teacher Tip: Emphasize that friendship happens everywhere.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    GoNoodle: Movement & Friendship

    Website: https://www.gonoodle.com

    Activities:

    • Watch movement videos focused on teamwork
    • Practice breathing and calming exercises
    • Encourage students to participate in partner activities
    • Teacher Tip: Pair movement with discussion about helping friends feel calm.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    Storyline Online: Stories About Friendship

    Website: https://www.storylineonline.net

    Activities:

    • Listen to picture books read aloud
    • Discuss characters’ choices and actions
    • Draw students’ favorite friendship moments
    • Teacher Tip: Ask prediction and reflection questions before and after stories.