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Can We Be Friends?: Unexpected Animal Friendships from around the World – A Charming Rhyming Picture Book About True-Life Pairs Teaching Kindness for Children
An adorable nonfiction picture book about five sweet and unusual real-life animal friendships from around the world
With charming, colorful illustrations, this heartwarming picture book in lyrical text asks an age-old question—can we be friends? Readers will hear about five unexpected animal friendships based on real-life stories, including popular duos like Mzee the tortoise and Owen the hippo, Koko the gorilla and her kittens, as well as lesser-known ones like Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog. This picture book includes the following dynamic duos:
1. Owen the hippo and Mzee the tortoise (Kenya)
2. Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog (Virginia, USA)
3. Themba the elephant and Albert the sheep (South Africa)
4. Koko the gorilla and her kittens (California, USA)
5. Ben the dog and Duggie the wild dolphin (Ireland)
With charming, colorful illustrations, this heartwarming picture book in lyrical text asks an age-old question—can we be friends? Readers will hear about five unexpected animal friendships based on real-life stories, including popular duos like Mzee the tortoise and Owen the hippo, Koko the gorilla and her kittens, as well as lesser-known ones like Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog. This picture book includes the following dynamic duos:
1. Owen the hippo and Mzee the tortoise (Kenya)
2. Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog (Virginia, USA)
3. Themba the elephant and Albert the sheep (South Africa)
4. Koko the gorilla and her kittens (California, USA)
5. Ben the dog and Duggie the wild dolphin (Ireland)
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2020
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 5, 2021
Really cute! I enjoy stories about unexpected friendships between animals but some of the back stories can be a bit tough for tender readers who are sensitive to animal suffering. I appreciate that this focuses only on the positive with the friendships so it's suitable for little ones who aren't yet ready for something like Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship or Koko's Kitten. In addition to Owen and Mzee, and Koko and her kittens, the book also highlights cheetah Kumbali and dog Kago, and African elephant Themba and sheep Albert, and dog Ben and wild bottlenose dolphin Duggie. Back matter includes a glossary, sources, and "Read More About It!" section.
It's a cute animal book and I like the deeper message of showing children that it's possible to be friends with someone who is different from you. I didn't really love the phrase at the beginning, "Can you be friends with somebody who is very different and not at all like you?" I suppose it works for different animal species, but the "you" makes me think of the children reading it and I wish it had just said, "Can you be friends with somebody who is very different from you?" I feel that the "and not at all like you" is just too much separation if we are thinking of human friendships. I never want my children to feel that another human being is "not at all like" them, even if they are "very different." But, the final illustration is of a child meeting many different animals, so perhaps the book is more focused on showing that humans and animals can be friends (? though that seems kind of obvious?) Anyway, a small quibble over the word choice, I think the author means well, and others may not even read it the way I did, so I'm not docking any stars for it.
Also, the kids loved the book and we read it twice :-)
It's a cute animal book and I like the deeper message of showing children that it's possible to be friends with someone who is different from you. I didn't really love the phrase at the beginning, "Can you be friends with somebody who is very different and not at all like you?" I suppose it works for different animal species, but the "you" makes me think of the children reading it and I wish it had just said, "Can you be friends with somebody who is very different from you?" I feel that the "and not at all like you" is just too much separation if we are thinking of human friendships. I never want my children to feel that another human being is "not at all like" them, even if they are "very different." But, the final illustration is of a child meeting many different animals, so perhaps the book is more focused on showing that humans and animals can be friends (? though that seems kind of obvious?) Anyway, a small quibble over the word choice, I think the author means well, and others may not even read it the way I did, so I'm not docking any stars for it.
Also, the kids loved the book and we read it twice :-)
June 23, 2020
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
CAN WE BE FRIENDS? is a cute picture book about unlikely animal friendships. The book combines rhyming prose about each animal with stories about animal friendships in real life. The illustrations are really cute. The book includes some better known friendships, like Koko the gorilla and kittens, with some less known but really interesting friendships of a dog and dolphin and a turtle and hippopotamus. The last page asks who the reader could be friends with, suggesting going outside their comfort zone for new friends.
What I loved: The illustrations are sweet with lots of unique animal friendships. Paired with the rhyming phrases, this is a cute read for young readers. The real-life stories are pretty lengthy, making this book better for older picture book readers. This ends up being a pretty long book for reading aloud, but is great for children who like a more involved book but are not yet to chapter books. The moral of the story is important and encourages children to find new friends that they might not have thought at first glance.
Final verdict: Overall, this is a cute book of animal friendships with in-depth information about real-life unexpected friends. The colorful illustrations and rhyming phrases make this a sweet and fun read for elementary school aged children.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
CAN WE BE FRIENDS? is a cute picture book about unlikely animal friendships. The book combines rhyming prose about each animal with stories about animal friendships in real life. The illustrations are really cute. The book includes some better known friendships, like Koko the gorilla and kittens, with some less known but really interesting friendships of a dog and dolphin and a turtle and hippopotamus. The last page asks who the reader could be friends with, suggesting going outside their comfort zone for new friends.
What I loved: The illustrations are sweet with lots of unique animal friendships. Paired with the rhyming phrases, this is a cute read for young readers. The real-life stories are pretty lengthy, making this book better for older picture book readers. This ends up being a pretty long book for reading aloud, but is great for children who like a more involved book but are not yet to chapter books. The moral of the story is important and encourages children to find new friends that they might not have thought at first glance.
Final verdict: Overall, this is a cute book of animal friendships with in-depth information about real-life unexpected friends. The colorful illustrations and rhyming phrases make this a sweet and fun read for elementary school aged children.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2020
I love these real-life stories of animal friendships with the kid-friendly illustrations. The book highlights several animals (a cheetah at the zoo who is best friends with a dog, a gorilla who loves kittens, etc). The write-up of the real-life stories supplementing the text might be a tad on the lengthy side for a preschool storytime, but it's not bad at all for more individualized reads. Very cute.
July 19, 2022
This nonfiction book is a collection of short descriptions in verse of unique or interesting animal pairings coupled with a little more information about the actual animal pairs. The pairs include more well known pairings and a few that will be total surprises to readers. Unfortunately, the book was not what I had hoped it would be. The verses are not particularly engaging (often with weird rhyme and cadence) and the information is super shallow. Also, the length is confusing when paired with the content. The illustrations and verses are clearly directed at a younger audience, but the longer passages would make this book too complex for those aged readers. It would have benefitted significantly from some other back matter about the animal pairs and actual photographs or links to actual photographs of the animals. Also, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the selection or organization of the selection of animal pairs. Could be used as the start of a discussion, but there are much better books about unique animal pairs. The book does have super cute illustrations that will definitely appeal to younger readers, but overall it was a book with somewhat disappointing content despite a great premise.
February 25, 2021
This book is about animals that make friends. Part of the book is about real stories, not just pretend. I really like the part about Koko, the gorilla, making friends with the cats. I love how it tells about animals and I think it is really cute. (review by Mina, 4th grade)
November 24, 2022
2023 Beehive Book Award Nominee: Picture Books
This is an unlikely animal friends book that is specifically written for younger readers and it will be great for a library lesson for younger grades (K–1st). I just wish there were real photographs of these real-life animal friendships.
This is an unlikely animal friends book that is specifically written for younger readers and it will be great for a library lesson for younger grades (K–1st). I just wish there were real photographs of these real-life animal friendships.
February 8, 2023
Rhyming text and kawaii illustrations make this book a treat to read. Back matter includes glossary, sources, and links to more information.
Themes: animals, friendship
Ages: Toddler (shorten it) to 3rd grade
Pub year: 2020
Themes: animals, friendship
Ages: Toddler (shorten it) to 3rd grade
Pub year: 2020
October 24, 2025
4.5 stars. wow! several incredible and true stories of how unlikely animal pairings became friends. I was fascinated by the gorilla using sign language to ask for a kitten and the dolphin giving the dog a ride in the water.
August 25, 2020
This is such a great book! The illustrations are endearing and the unlikely pairings and stories that go along are interesting and informative.
December 15, 2020
Loved this gem! Rhyming poems about each animal are followed by a page telling the story of the true-life pair of unexpected friends. This is a must purchase!
January 10, 2021
A look at five unexpected animal friendships from around the world. See also Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships by Catherine Thimmesh.
January 22, 2021
A fun book about unexpected animal friends!
February 9, 2021
I love stories of unusual friends. The illustrations were fun, but I wish it had actual photographs of the friends too.
March 20, 2021
Good early non fiction book about unexpected animal friendships
August 12, 2021
Cute to pair with other books about animal friendships.
January 20, 2022
Very cute.
I wish they included a real photograph of each of the friends mentioned.
I wish they included a real photograph of each of the friends mentioned.
February 17, 2022
Interesting.
February 26, 2023
Sweet true stories of unlikely animal friends
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews