Friends

Where would we be without friends? Whether they are human, mammal, fish, or fowl, friends add richness to our lives. This reading set explores these unique relationships, as well as the struggle to make friends in a new place.

Goldfish Hide and Seek

Today was the school carnival. Jimmy was excited. He wanted to win a prize at the game table. Jimmy stepped up to the first booth. “Hello, there!” called Mr. Ames. Mr. Ames was the school music teacher. “Would you like to try my game? Just toss a small ball into one…

Rocky and the Squirrels

Rocky Raccoon was playing by himself at the park. He noticed a group of squirrels nearby, playing soccer with an acorn. It looked like fun, and Rocky wished he could play too. However, thinking about talking to others made him nervous and he wasn’t sure how to start. Why would…

Amanda’s First Day

Amanda was not happy. She held her father’s hand tightly. “It’s time to say goodbye, Amanda. Have fun with your new class,” Amanda’s father said. Amanda let go of her father’s hand. She looked at the ground. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “It will be okay. There’s your new teacher now.” Amanda…

The Lilies and the Thistles

In a patch of garden, in a sunny corner of the backyard, stood a proud group of yellow lilies. They were tall flowers: elegant, graceful, and beautiful. They were surrounded by a ring of scruffy, prickly, purple thistles that had sprung up recently with all the April showers and May…

A Solemn Vow and Promise

In Anne of Green Gables, young orphan Anne Shirley has come to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert on their farm called Green Gables. Anne loves the farm. As this passage begins, Marilla has taken Anne to a neighbor’s house where Anne met a girl her age named Diana. ——————————-…

A Friend

In Little Women, Jo March has gone to New York to be a governess for a family who runs a boarding house. There she meets one of the residents, Professor Bhaer. She becomes friends with him, and she finds that all the people in the house are very fond of…

Molly and Buster

Molly was a fluffy grey cat. She liked to lap up sweet cream for breakfast. When Molly was ready to rest, she would curl up on Mrs. Marks’ lap. Sometimes this made Mrs. Marks say “tsk tsk” when Molly got tangled in her knitting. Molly was very happy. While Mrs.…

Lonely Star

Astrid was only three hundred years old, and therefore, still just a kid when it came to the heavenly bodies in her galaxy. It was quiet out in space, and Astrid’s neighbors were light years away; much too far to be able to have a conversation, let alone become friends.…

In the Neighborhood

Ahn vigorously scrubbed windows, a tedious necessity for her family’s new Vietnamese restaurant. They had turned the building from homely to gorgeous, but everything had to be absolutely perfect: unique decorations, skillful employees, and fabulous traditional food. Then customers would adore the place, making the business a success. Ahn shifted…

The Argument

Blip and Dit-dit were walking to school one day. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and the land around them was bright red. It was a beautiful spring day. Blip looked up into the sky and wiggled his long, green antennae. “Just think. We’re walking to school, and up there…