Stories for Growing
Cover of Amos and BorisAge guidance pending
Kindness

Amos and Boris

William Steig

Age guidance pending

We haven’t confirmed a numerical age range for this book yet.

Listed by Sarah Miller under Helpfulness.

Amos, a mouse who loves the sea, builds a boat and sails out to explore. A storm carries him overboard, and Boris the whale rescues him. They become close friends, but Boris eventually returns to the sea. Years later, Boris is stranded on a beach and Amos organizes help to roll him back into the water. Their friendship ends with a final parting as Boris returns to the ocean.

Recommended by Can we read? — Children’s books about values

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What children see in the story

Boris saves Amos when the small mouse is drowning. Amos later organizes the mice to save Boris when the whale is stranded; the reciprocal acts are separate moments of mutual aid.

Why it’s on these shelves

Kindness
Boris the whale saves Amos the mouse after a storm sweeps him into the sea. Years later Amos finds Boris stranded on a beach and gets help to return him to the water.

Why pick it up?

Amos and Boris each help the other in a life-threatening situation, and their friendship persists across years. The ending includes a final separation and should be considered when choosing the intended age and read-aloud context.

A note for parents

Each friend faces real danger, one at sea and one stranded on the beach, and each is saved by the other.

Where this recommendation comes from

Can we read? — Children’s books about values

Listed under Helpfulness.

Read Sarah Miller’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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