TODAY'S TOPIC: We asked who is your best friend and what qualities make up a best friend.

I do have a best friend whose name is Alex. He is a good friend for me and he is nice. His virtues are that he is funny, trustworthy, fair and he is helpful. He is my friendly pal. We like to fool around playing normal games. My advice to make a new friend is first, say "hi," next, say your name and finally, shake hands and tell him what you want to play. That's it.
Edward Sanchez, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

Today I'm going to tell you about my best friends, Wilmer, Alex, Randy and Rony. They are all my best friends. They are funny, cool and not bad. They help me when I'm hurt, play with me and make funny jokes. We are bathroom monitors at school. We talk, we play the same cool sports. My advice to make friends is to talk to them and if they don't know you, play with them and help them when they get hurt.
David Ortiz, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

Yes, I have a best friend and his name is Chris Lemous. What I admire about him is that he is forgiving. We like to play with our PSPs and we also like to play Star Wars Battlefront 2. My advice to make a new friend is to be friendly to them, especially if they are new at school.
Julian Sanchez, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

My friend is Alyson. The way I admire her is when she does her crazy laugh. It's so funny. She makes the whole class laugh. She can make the whole world laugh. We like to play hoops and tell funny stories.
Tanya Cabrera, 8
Fernangeles Elementary
Sun Valley

I like my friend because he helps me and when I get hurt, he makes me laugh. We both enjoy playing soccer. We often play together. If you want to learn how to make friends, you have to be nice and be kind.
Diego Astorga, 8
Fernangeles Elementary
Sun Valley

My best friend, Bryan, is very interesting. He is trustworthy and respectful and he shows it by listening when I tell him how to beat hard video games. Bryan and I love to have crazy sleepovers with each other. We go crazy by goofing around and laughing at silly cartoons. A tip to make a friend like Bryan is to be very kind. Bryan and I are going to be best friends forever.
Caden Weiner, 8
Castaic Elementary
Castaic

Will is my best friend. One of his virtues is trustworthiness. If I leave a toy at his house, he will always remember to give it back. His other virtue is respect. He never kicks sand at people when we're at the beach. When we're together, we sometimes play the Wii for six hours. We play Extreme Fight Wii Sports and Pokemon. My advice on making a friend is to not be shy, go and say, "Hi! Do you want to play?" That's how I got Will as my best friend.
Tristan de Lemos, 9
Castaic Elementary
Castaic

What I like most in a friend is that he's honest, loyal, trustworthy and, most of all, fun. It's also important that my friend and I have lots of things in common so that we can agree on things instead of arguing all the time. If someone was getting bullied, I'd like a friend who would stand up for the kid who needed help. A friend would encourage the bully to back off and do the right thing. That's what I'd do. That's the kind of friend I am, too.
Adisa Douglas, 11,
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

The traits that I look for in a friend are that they are nice, they are friendly and they don't tell any of your secrets to your other friends. What I also look for is that they care about me and they won't turn on me.
Jon Epstein, 12
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

When I look for a friend, some of the qualities and virtues I look for are someone who has a good sense of humor and can make me laugh. A good friend must also be honest and have integrity. It is important to me that my friends are loyal and trustworthy so that I know I can tell them anything and they will always be there for me when I need them.
Noah Kurnick, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

My best friend, Jordan, is very funny. He makes me laugh all the time. We like to tell jokes and plays DS. Be nice to him or her and just be yourself.
Hugo Escamilla, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

I have a best friend named Nelissa. She is smart, nice and thoughtful and has manners. I like to go to her house to study and play and watch a movie. Well, if you want to have a friend, then you have to be kind, thoughtful, trustworthy and honest to her or him and that is how you will earn a friend like mine.
Anayeli Gonzalez, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

COMING UP: Have you ever volunteered to do something helpful in your neighborhood, your school or community? Oct. 25 is the 18th annual "Make a Difference Day," originally founded by USA Weekend Magazine. Some people pick up litter at their school, their neighborhood park or, in our area, at a beach. Some people collect food and money for food banks and other charities. What project could you do to "make a difference" in someone's life, where you live and go to school? Would you do the project with a group of friends or family or on your own? Tell us your ideas and why they appeal to you. Draw yourself doing your "Make a Difference Day" project.

Parents and teachers should make sure that the student's name, address, age and school are CLEARLY PRINTED on the letters and the backs of drawings.

Pictures should be drawn using black or dark blue ink on white, unlined paper. Drawings must be no larger than a standard, 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet of paper.

The deadline is Oct. 14 and letters will be posted Oct. 21. Letters received after the deadline cannot be considered.

Send entries to Kids' Daily News, Daily News Features Department, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365-4200.