A Fiesta of Favorite Friendships Inspired by…Laurie!

Every day this week, we’re falling more and more and more in love with Laurie Ann Thompson’s My Dog is the Best. Celebrating timeless friendship and love that lives down deep, Laurie’s book is a joy that lingers with us long after reading! And remember that Laurie is giving away a FREE, SIGNED copy of this gem of a book–just comment to be entered into the drawing.

Now, to keep this week-long party going, let’s turn towards a literary Fiesta of Favorite Friendships from the EMUs. What bookish tales of unconditional friendship inspire these elusive EMUs?

Let’s check in and see…

Laurie Ann Thompson herself: One of my favorite books about friendship is Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt. A girl discovers that her best friend’s fridge is white empty, but her friend makes her promise not to tell. This a touching picture book about childhood hunger, but, more importantly, it’s about friendship and making choices.

Christine Olson Hayes:  I love the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel. Their friendship is simple but true. Plus I have a lot in common with Toad, like making lists and trying not to eat too many cookies!

Maria Gianferrari: Two nonfiction ones: Tarra & Bella by Carol Buckley about a friendship between a stray dog, and a retired circus elephant. It will melt your heart. And Two Bobbies by Kirby Larson & Mary Nethery: a poignant and true story of a friendship between a dog and a cat orphaned after hurricane Katrina. Get your tissues ready! And for fiction I love The Farmer and the Clown–so touching, and of course, those lovable hippos, George & Martha.

Penny Parker Klostermann: A Visitor for Bear–the unlikely friendship between Bear and Mouse melts my heart. I also love Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer–adorable!

Mylisa Larson: I love the Poppleton books with Poppleton and his friends Hudson, Fillmore and Cherry Sue. I think the one about the grapefruit is probably my favorite.

Susan Vaught: Hands down, my favorite childhood book about friendship was Charlotte’s Web. All the different relationships between animals and people, and the animals with each other. Wilbur and Charlotte, oh, Wilbur and Charlotte–I tear up just thinking about those two, and how their relationship was so powerful it rallied even Templeton the Rat to their side in their time of need. They loved each other in a way that makes me warm inside, and that I can’t ever forget. I still remember my joy when Charlotte’s babies hatched, and some of them stayed with Wilbur, little pieces of his friend, to carry on that so-special bond. Sniff.

Tamara Ellis Smith: We love Henry and Mudge in our house, as well as Mr. Putter and Tabby. Lovely friendships that ring very true. I also love A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Such sweet friendships at that zoo.

Janet Fox: Teddy Bears Cure a Cold was one of the books I read to my son over and over–he loved it. Friends who come to the rescue. There’s nothing like that!

Kevan Atteberry: Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Sara Varon.

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman: Some current favorites with me and my son are: Boy+Bot by Ame Dykcman, Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie books, and Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers.

Elaine Braithwaite Vickers:  A Visitor for Bear  by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald, is such a fabulous friendship book. It’s beautifully written and illustrated and a ton of fun to read aloud, but I also love its sweet, subtle message that everybody could use another friend.

Megan Morrison: I love the Frog & Toad books. I loved them as a child, and I love seeing them now through my son’s eyes. He brings the complete collection with him everywhere, and I am never sorry to read every single story to him again. They’re funny and tender and true.

Adam Shaughnessy: Calvin and Hobbes. I know it doesn’t quite fit the parameters, but I think there’s something so special about their friendship despite—or honestly, maybe more so because of—the fact that one of the the friends is imaginary(ish).

Carol Gerber: “Some pig.” These are the first of many words spider Charlotte spins to save Wilbur from being slaughtered. Of all the picture books I have read (including my own!), Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White remains my all-time favorite. Just writing about it makes me want to read it again. Sigh. I love, love, LOVE it!

And there we have it: a Fiesta of Favorite Friendships inspired by the supremely sweet and tender friendship in Laurie Ann Thompson’s My Dog is the Best.

To have a shot at winning a signed copy of Laurie’s beautiful book, leave a comment below, and share your favorite literary friendship. Keep the fiesta going! And to buy a copy of Laurie’s lovely book, visit University Book Store, or also order it at: Amazon, Powell’s, or Indiebound.