In honor of the new school year, I’ve chosen some picture book favorites that exemplify the meaning of friendship. As an added bonus, each of these books are written by authors who are also illustrators. These well-told stories with beautiful illustrations are perfect for sharing with family and friends. Enjoy!

“Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!” written and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld (Copyright 2019, Dial Books for Young Readers imprint of Penguin Random House) follows two young friends as they spend time together and discover that every time life gives us a goodbye, it leads to another hello. With text using simple phrases and art described by the author as having been “made with digital ink, Dr. Pepper, and a good dose of nostalgia,” Cori presents a sweet story about how true friendship can endure the test of time and distance.

“Cyril and Pat” written and illustrated by Emily Gravett (Copyright 2018, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) is the story of two unlikely friends. Cyril, a lonely park squirrel, finds a new best friend when he meets Pat. They share many adventures together while the other animals keep telling Cyril that Pat is not like him. Cyril eventually discovers that Pat is not a squirrel, he is a rat. Following the advice of the animals, Cyril stays away from Pat and once again becomes lonely. The two friends find each other again when a mean dog chases Cyril into the city and Pat is there to rescue him. The expressive pencil, watercolor, and acrylic ink illustrations help this funny book explain that friends can be different and that following others isn’t always the best choice.

“Got to Get to Bear’s” written and illustrated by Brian Lies (Copyright 2019, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) has a little chipmunk named Izzy desperately trying to make her way through a snowstorm so she can get to her friend Bear’s house. With help from several other friends along the way, Izzy gets there just in time for everyone to share a fun surprise. The gorgeous acrylic paint illustrations might make this a slower read as you stop to admire the artwork.

“The Rainbow Fish” written and illustrated by Swiss author/illustrator Marcus Pfister, and translated by J. Alison James (Copyright 1992, North-South Books) is a vintage favorite of mine that is still widely available. After rudely refusing to share just one of his shiny scales, the beautiful and proud Rainbow Fish becomes lonely when the other fish start to avoid him. Taking the advice of a wise octopus, Rainbow Fish soon learns that sharing what he has with others is a sure path to finding friends and happiness. I can’t imagine this book without the beautiful, sparkling illustrations that children find so fascinating. A timeless classic!