How to Be a Friend
A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them
by Laurie Krasny Brown
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 2001
Great fit for 2nd grade
Reading level and content both target K–3rd grade · ages 5–9
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Genre
Themes
- friendship
- kindness
- empathy
- communication
- conflict resolution
- inclusion
- bullying prevention
- cooperation
About this book
Friendly dinosaur characters show young children what friendship looks like—how to meet new friends, be kind, share, and handle tough moments like bossiness or bullying. Simple text and bright illustrations make social skills easy to understand for early elementary readers. The book models practical ways to solve disagreements and keep friendships strong. Great for families and classrooms starting conversations about getting along.
Setting: contemporary school, playground, and neighborhood settings with dinosaur characters
Frequently Asked Questions
Is How to Be a Friend right for my child?
Yes — How to Be a Friend is a great fit for 2nd grade. The reading level is AR 2.9, which is typical for 2nd grade. The interest level is rated Lower Grades (K–3), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 5–9 (K–3rd grade). Themes include friendship, kindness, empathy.
How long does it take to read How to Be a Friend?
At a typical 2nd grade reading pace, How to Be a Friend takes around 8m to finish. The book has 1,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does How to Be a Friend have an AR quiz?
Yes — How to Be a Friend has an AR quiz available, worth 0.5 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is How to Be a Friend?
How to Be a Friend has an AR reading level of 2.9, which places it at a 2nd grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Lower Grades (K–3) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.