This Wednesday, January 24, is National Peanut Butter Day, which made me think of peanut butter and jelly, which made me think of other great pairs, trios and groups in children’s literature. Kids love reading about friends who support each other, and there are some great books in the library to read to and with your children!
Pea, Bee and Jay by Brian Smith
Of course, I had to start with this early reader graphic novel series, since they’re the inspiration for this book post! In the first book, Strawberry dares Pea to roll off of the farm, and a thunderstorm knocks him off course. He meets new friends, Bee and Jay, who help him get back home. There are now 6 books featuring Pea, Bee and Jay.
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Frog and Toad are a classic pair. This series has charmed kids for decades now with short, sweet adventures written at the level of kids just learning to read. In this book, Frog and Toad bake cookies, grow a garden and act bravely together. These books are also available as eaudiobooks through Libby, which would be great for listening to as you go about your day or to and from school!
Today I Will Fly! By Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie are one of the great duos of modern children’s literature. Uptight Elephant and freewheeling Piggie are total opposites, yet they have a wonderful relationship. This first book has Piggie announcing he will fly. Elephant is skeptical – pigs don’t fly – but when you get help from others, anything can happen!
This series shows young children how we all have something to share with friends. In the first book of the series, Stick saves Stone from a prickly situation with Pinecone, and now Stone wants to return the favor and rescue Stick.
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Ulysses (the squirrel) accidentally dies after an encounter with a vacuum cleaner, but Ulysses is saved by Flora and comes back as a super hero. He has super strength, he can fly, and he can recite (bad) poetry! Flora is cynical, but maybe the existence of a super hero squirrel can make her have hope in the world again.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
This is the first of the books about the Gaither sisters. Siblings are your first friends, and Delphine and her younger sisters have come to stay with their mother in Oakland, California in 1968. But their mother doesn’t really want them there and is going to send them to the local Black Panther camp.
Other options:
Picture books –Otis and Peanut by Naseem Hrab, Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie, Kite Day: A Bear and Mole story by Will Hillenbrand
Early Readers – Fox and Chick by Sergio Ruzzier, George and Martha by James Marshall, Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak
Juvenile Fiction – Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows, The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John, Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.