Alexis Millar is the former Digital Marketing Specialist at the Edmonton Public Library.
When our favourite heroes stumble or fall down their friends are always there to help them up.
Friendship comes in many forms whether it's a stuffed animal, a yellow bird or a partner in crime. Friends are there through the good times and the bad and all of us (fictional and real) are better because of them.
In honour of International Day of Friendship, we asked our staff to share their favourite fictional and non-fictional friendships.
1. Booksmart
“I just watched Booksmart, and the Molly/Amy friendship is the best! The movie does a great job portraying the ups and downs of a high school BFF relationship, and reminds us of all the ridiculous things we are willing to do for our friends (and probably some trouble we've gotten into together as well)!” — Angela Lieu, Youth Services Librarian at the Lois Hole (Callingwood) Branch
Booksmart is available as a DVD.
2. The Complete Peanuts by Charles Schulz
"I've been indulging in some nostalgia this year by reading The Complete Peanuts series. One of the most enduring storylines in this series is the friendship between Snoopy and Woodstock. A beagle and a bird that flies upside down may be an odd pair, but their friendship is pure gold. In one story sequence, Snoopy and Woodstock have a disagreement and stop speaking to each other. A short while later, Snoopy sees the evil cat next door chewing on something yellow. Fearing that the cat has Woodstock, Snoopy immediately hurls himself into battle. A battered and bruised Snoopy discovers that the cat was just playing with an old yellow glove. Woodstock appreciates his act of self-sacrifice, however, and the friendship is back on track. A true friend is one who is willing to risk his life, even for a friend he isn't speaking to at the moment." — Christine Barr, Interlibrary Loans Assistant in the Collections Management & Access Division
The Complete Peanuts is available as a book, eBook and graphic novel.
3. The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
“The lost pets — a Siamese Cat, a Bull Terrier and a Labrador Retriever — face challenges in the wild, supporting each others while making their way home. The Incredible Journey, 1963 CLA award winning, is the modern classic book not only for children, but for everyone!” — Sirilak Carter, Library Assistant at the Meadows Branch
The Incredible Journey is available as a book and DVD.
4. Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
“Frog and Toad are the best pair that I can think of. Frog and Toad are different and they don't always understand each other but their true friendship always wins in the end. Their stories are simple but not always easy. Frog and Toad and have endured for 50 years.” — Ilona Storie, Collections Librarian in the Collections Management & Access Division
The adventures of Frog and Toad are available as a book, eBook, and downloadable audiobook.
5. Hercule Poirot Series by Agatha Christie
"Poirot and Hastings in Agatha Christie's books are my favourite duo. Don't want to give away any endings, but in the ITV movie version of Curtain (the last Poirot novel), when Hastings realizes something is wrong and races up the stairs toward Poirot … gets me every time. There's something special about lifelong friendships..." — Karen Doerksen, Associate Manager at the Lois Hole (Callingwood) Branch
The first adventure of Hercules Poirot, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is available as a eBook and downloadable audiobook.
6. The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
“The relationship between Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, certainly meets the brief. The books is a great story, has elements of history, biography and makes a variety of complex concepts very accessible.” — Jason Harris, Manager, Application Services in the IT Services Division
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds is available as a book, eBook and downloadable audiobook.
7. Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! by Mo Willems
"I recommend Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator. The story features Amanda, a human child, and her toy alligator. Amanda truthfully answers alligator's question about where he came from (a bargain bin — he still has his seven cent price tag!) because as she says, friends tell each other the truth. I love that the reader sees what toys get up to when humans aren't around! I also enjoy seeing alligator make friends with panda, Amanda's new toy." — Alexandra Egan, Library Assistant at the Whitemud Crossing Branch
Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! is available as a book and downloadable audiobook.
8. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
"Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is the OG for me! In junior high, my best friend and I would send copies of the series back and forth to each other when I went away in the summers/school holidays (at the time my parents lived in different provinces), and when the movie came out we watched it together via talking on the phone (the old school Netflix party)." — Quincy Hiscott, Licensing and Collections Assessment Librarian in the Collections Management & Access Division
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is available as a book, eBook, DVD and downloadable audiobook.
9. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
"I think I would lose my Islander status if I didn't recommend Anne Shirley and Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables. It's hard not to think of them when you come from the province of Kindred Spirits!" — Bethany Arsenault, Digital Discovery Librarian in the Collections Management & Access Division
Anne of Green Gables is available as a book, eBook and downloadable audiobook.
10. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
"There is a reason the first book is called The Fellowship of the Ring and that is because the group of nine companions would do anything for another (yes, even Boromir got his honour back by protecting Merry and Pippin). The bonds the group made transcend race and generations of fear and hatred especially Leogolas and Gimli who travel together when the war of the ring is all said and done. But the duo that gets me every time is Frodo and Sam. Sam was willing to brave the Tower of Cirith Ungol and all the horrors within for the chance to save Frodo even with the doom of all good things around his neck. It gets me in the feels every time!" — Alexis Millar, Digital Marketing Specialist in the Marketing and Communications Division
The Lord of the Rings is available as a book, eBook and downloadable audiobook.
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