Picture Books: On Friendship
Friendships come in all shapes, sizes and forms. In my life, I am lucky to have numerous four legged friends in my life from my cute cat, Mika to my parents’ dog, Bambi. In addition to having more traditional friendships, one of my best friends is my beloved cousin. Even though we have lived the majority of our lives apart, we still find ways to connect with each other and meet up in person when possible.
As I’ve grown older, I have come to better appreciate the effort necessary for friendships to flourish. Like with family members or life partners, friendships also require work in the form of compromising, spending quality time together, and having real conversations, no matter how difficult, when disagreements or upsetting behaviors arise.
Friendships require care to nourish and grow. But we all mess up sometimes, and learning how to navigate these disagreements is also important in order to be a good friend. Here you will find books which emphasize friendships in all forms. They also delve into some of the issues that may arise between friends and offer suggestions on how one may navigate these conflicts.
Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock
Author
Dallas Hunt (Swan River First Nation)
Illustrator
Amanda Strong (Michif/Métis)
Summary
During an unfortunate mishap, young Awâsis loses Kôhkum’s freshly baked world-famous bannock. Not knowing what to do, Awâsis seeks out a variety of other-than-human relatives willing to help. What adventures are in store for her? This book highlights the importance of working together and learning from the community.
Birdsong
Author
Julie Flett (Cree-Métis)
Illustrator
Julie Flett (Cree-Métis)
Summary
When Katherena and her mother move to a small town, Katherena feels lonely and out of place. But when she meets an elderly woman artist who lives next door, named Agnes — her world starts to change because Katherena has found a friend with similar interests as her. Together they explore their love of birds and nature through arts and crafts. As the seasons change, Katherena must learn to navigate the failing health of her new friend.
Forever Cousins
Author
Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian Nations)
Illustrator
Jonathan Nelson (Navajo)
Summary
Kara and Amanda are best-friend cousins. But when Kara leaves the city to move back to the Rez, will their friendship stay the same? They worry that the other hasn’t missed her, but it’s only when the two reunite that they realize they are still forever cousins. This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today, and reminds readers that the power of friendship and family can bridge any distance.
The Sharing Circle
Author
Theresa “Corky” Larsen-Jonasson (Cree/Danish Métis)
Illustrator
Jessika von Innerebner
Summary
Friendships aren’t always easy. We won’t always agree with one another or get along. Friendships require care and respect to nourish and grow. So when two best friends have a fight, it upsets the whole community of animals. But Kokom the Owl knows just what to do and brings together all the animals to hold a Sharing Circle.
Spencer the Siksik Makes a New Friend
Author
Nadia Sammurtok (Inuit) and Shawna Thomson
Illustrator
Valentina Jaskina
Summary
Spencer the siksik is excited for the first day of school. When he gets to class, the teacher introduces a new student: Gary the snow goose. Spencer doesn’t want to let Gary play with him and his friends. He thinks Gary will just confuse things because he is new. But when Spencer sees that Gary is upset, he remembers what his grandmother taught him about being welcoming.
What’s My Superpower?
Author
Aviaq Johnston (Inuk)
Illustrator
Tim Mack
Summary
Nalvana feels like all of her friends have some type of superpower. She has friends with super speed (who always beat her in races), friends with super strength (who can dangle from the monkey bars for hours), and friends who are better than her at a million other things. Nalvana thinks she must be the only kid in town without a superpower. Her dog doesn’t seem to mind, but Nalvana still feels left out. Then her mom shows Nalvana that she is unique and special, and that her superpower was right in front of her all along.
Conclusion
Friends in whatever form they come in should be celebrated and cherished. Navigating difficulties among friends can be challenging, but there are healthy ways to do so. By navigating these issues, friendships can come out stronger than before.
About the Author
Jillian Metchooyeah
Jillian Metchooyeah is an Indigenous Canadian author/artist. She is a member of the Dene Tha’ First Nation from northern Alberta, Canada. An avid library lover, she has worked in a library for over half of her life. She currently lives in Red Deer, Alberta with her two cats and hedgehog. She loves birds and all things nature.
