Books like Thy Friend, Obadiah
By Brinton Turkle
For the kid who insists they don't care about that one persistent creature or sibling shadowing them — until suddenly they do — Obadiah's slow change of heart will feel familiar. quiet, wintry, and tender, with an old-fashioned New England warmth
An old mailman bikes through the forest every day delivering letters that mend friendships and spark invitations among the animals — though he alone never receives any mail, until one special letter finally arrives.
A small creature tries everything to fit in with the others, but he's different and just doesn't belong — until a strange Something shows up wanting to be his friend.
A toy bear waits on a department store shelf night after night, hoping someone will love him despite his missing button — until a little girl named Lisa decides he's exactly the bear she wants.
A veterinarian heading off to serve in World War I rescues a baby bear at a train station, names her Winnie after his hometown, and brings her along to war — a true story that leads all the way to a boy named Christopher Robin.
A fisherman's son who spends his days alone with six cats finds a baby whale washed up after a storm and secretly brings it home to care for it — until it needs the sea again.
A Japanese girl moving into a new house spots an American girl playing in the snow outside, and though neither speaks the other's language, they team up to build a snow creature together.
A pampered tabby cat named Oliver is used to being the only pet in the house — until a baby rabbit named Marshmallow moves in and slowly, charmingly, wins him over.
A wolf who has always lived alone atop a hill grows uneasy when a little wolf quietly settles beside him and won't leave — and slowly, warily, learns to let him stay.
A friendly zookeeper who's always on time oversleeps and misses his bus, putting a surprise he planned for his animal friends in jeopardy — so they set out to help him.
After an owl attack knocks a baby fruit bat from her mother's grasp, she lands in a bird's nest and is raised alongside three baby birds, learning to live by their rules — until she finds her way back to her own kind.
A boy's tiny pet elephant gets turned away from the neighborhood Pet Club because he's too unusual — so the boy sets out to build a club where every strange, wonderful pet belongs.
A small boy is invited to tea at the palace and always asks the same question — may he bring a friend? — and each time, a surprising animal guest shows up beautifully behaved.
