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Friendships Across Boundaries

From the April 18, 2008 Pigeon Post essay of the same name.
There are thousands of truly wonderful children's stories that tell the tale of children and people coming together, many times unexpectedly, to overcome mutual suspicions arising from assumptions (or raw ignorance) about gender, race, age, ethnicity, religion, wealth, class, culture, accent, language, country of origin, etc. The following are some stories where friendships are forged across the boundaries of age, race, religion, class, etc.
What suggestions do you have? This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom Suggested
Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss Highly Recommended
Pocahontas by Leslie Gourse and illustrated by Meryl Henderson Suggested
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest and illustrated by P. J. Lynch Highly Recommended
Great Wolf And the Good Woodsman by Helen Hoover and illustrated by Betsy Bowen Highly Recommended
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Lambert Davis Highly Recommended
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel Recommended
Secret of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman and illustrated by Bruce T. Taylor Recommended
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small Highly Recommended


Independent Readers

Eight Cousins or the Aunt-Hill by Louisa May Alcott Recommended
Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks and Brock Cole Highyl Recommended
Keeper Of Soles by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Yayo Suggested
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer Highly Recommended
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and illustrated by Tasha Tudor Highly Recommended
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech and illustrated by Christopher Raschka Suggested
Despereaux/the Tale Of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo Recommended
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo Highlt Recommended
Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell Suggested
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes and illustrated by Louis Slobodkin Recommended
Once upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris Recommended
The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz and illustrated by Ed Young Suggested
Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff Recommended
Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale Suggested
Jessica by Kevin Henkes Suggested
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen Recommended
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Highly Recommended
Martin Bridge Ready For Takeoff! by Jessica Scott Kerrin and illustrated by Joseph Kelly Suggested
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney Highly Recommended
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Lambert Davis Recommended
Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger Suggested
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja Suggested
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg Suggested
Marven of the Great North Woods by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Suggested
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Highly Recommended
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Highly Recommended
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren and illustrated by Alfred Lindgren Recommended
From Anna by Jean Little Recommended
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Recommended
Gold Dust by Chris Lynch Suggested
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery and illustrated by Jody Lee Highyl Recommended
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey and illustrated by John Schoenherr Recommended
The Mzungu Boy by Meja Mwangi Suggested
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Highly Recommended
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco Suggested
Bread And Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson Suggested
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and illustrated by Donna Diamond Recommended
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco Suggested
Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco Suggested
Elijah's Angel by Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Suggested
Holes by Louis Sachar Highly Recommended
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt Suggested
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare Recommended
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare Recommended
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams Highly Recommended
Crow Boy by Taro Yashima Suggested


Young Adult

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain Recommended
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and illustrated by Donald McKay Highly Recommended

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