Grade PreK–2Friendship & Differences

Best Buds

Written by Becky Scharnhorst

Illustrated by Becky Scharnhorst

Two plants grow side by side — one tall and reaching for the sun, one small and close to the ground. They are very different, but they are best buds. In this warm and witty picture book, Becky Scharnhorst uses the language of gardening to explore what it means to be a true friend: someone who grows alongside you, supports you, and loves you exactly as you are. A gentle, funny, and deeply felt celebration of friendship in all its forms.

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From the Library Director

Best Buds is a delight from start to finish. Becky Scharnhorst has found a wonderfully fresh metaphor for friendship — plants growing together — and she uses it with both humor and heart. The plant-pun wordplay is genuinely funny without being forced, and the emotional core is real and warm. A perfect read-aloud for any conversation about what makes a good friend, and a lovely addition to any PreK–2 collection. Kids will want to hear it again and again.

Big Idea

The best friendships aren't between people who are exactly alike — they're between people who make room for each other to grow.

Discussion Questions

1
The two plants in the story are very different from each other. What are some of the ways they are different? How do those differences make their friendship interesting?
2
What does it mean to be a 'best bud'? What do the plants do for each other that shows they are true friends?
3
Have you ever had a friend who was very different from you? What did you like about being friends with someone different?
4
The book uses plant and gardening words to talk about friendship. Can you find some of those words? What do they really mean when we're talking about friends?
5
Sometimes friends need different things. One plant needs more sun, one needs more water. Do you and your friends ever need different things? How do you take care of each other?
6
What does it mean to 'make room' for a friend? Can you think of a time when you made room for someone, or someone made room for you?
7
The plants grow side by side. What do you think would happen if one of them tried to grow in a completely different direction? What does that tell us about friendship?
8
If you were a plant, what kind would you be? What kind of plant would your best friend be? Why?

Activity: Our Friendship Garden

Students explore what makes friendships grow through a creative art and writing activity inspired by the plant metaphor at the heart of Best Buds.

1
Before reading, ask students: What makes someone a good friend? What do friends do for each other? Record answers on the board. Then introduce the book: this story talks about friendship using plants. What do students predict that might look like?
2
Read Best Buds aloud. After reading, revisit the list on the board. Did the book add any new ideas about friendship? What plant words did the author use to talk about friends? (e.g., 'grow,' 'bloom,' 'root,' 'bud') What do those words really mean?
3
Discuss: The two plants are very different. Is it easier to be friends with someone just like you, or someone different? What are the good things about having a friend who is different from you?
4
Students create a 'Friendship Garden' page: draw two plants growing side by side — one representing themselves, one representing a friend. Label each plant with 3 words that describe that person. On the roots of each plant, write one thing that holds the friendship together.
5
Share friendship gardens with the class or a partner. Display them together as a class garden. Discuss: What do all our friendship gardens have in common? What makes each one unique? How is our classroom like a garden?

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K-2.3 — Describe characters in a story and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K-2.4 — Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text; identify words and phrases that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K-2.9 — Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K-2.3 — Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events
SEL — Relationship Skills: Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding connections with diverse individuals and groups
SEL — Social Awareness: Show care and concern for others; recognize and appreciate individual and group similarities and differences