My Best Friend

Author: Pat Hutchins
Title: My Best Friend
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1993
Genre: Picture Book
Pages: 32
Reading Level (Lexile): NC500L
I found this book in the children’s section of the library.

Plot Summary: Although the narrator is not named, the girl talks about her best friend’s qualities as they do different things when she sleeps over. The two characters are African American girls who do everything together. The narrator is in awe of what her best friend can do. She can read, tie shoes, and button her own buttons. When her best friend is scared at night, the narrator knows how to close the windows and not be afraid better than her friend.

My Best Friend reminds me of friends I had when I was little. I remember feeling like they could do things better than I could. I think all children can relate to this feeling in one way or another. It may take time to realize that even though someone else may do things “better” than you, you can still be friends.

My Best Friend definitely shows students the qualities of being a good friend. This book fits into my theme of friendships for this reason. The narrator was very accepting of all the things her friend could do better. She didn’t get mad and kept playing with her. When it was time for bed and her friend was scared, she showed her how to not be scared by explaining it was the wind. The roles reversed and the narrator is now “better” at something. This book shows children how friends treat each other and support each other. This book could be used in a unit about friendship. It could also be paired with another story you may be reading with your students. Students could compare and contrast the two and discuss the types of friendships. With younger children, this book would be a good introduction to what friendship means.