Henson added, “You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) is for the kids who feel different. This book is for the parents who want their kids to accept differences.

2. Model what it's like to be a good friend Kids mimic behaviors. If they see you, for example, say "I'm sorry" after bumping into someone, they will replicate that reaction.

That’s a pretty good summation of friendship, isn’t it? You don’t necessarily need to share the same values, come from the same background or even have common interests, Brown writes.

Of course, my grandparents and most of my friend's parents came from a time when kids were meant to be seen and not heard. Parents were never friends. They knew their role; I knew mine.