20 Best Children's Books For Teaching Your Kids Valuable Lessons
Books That Grow Little Hearts and Minds
Children's books are more than just entertainment. They are the perfect tool for helping your kids make sense of the wide and wonderful world around them and grapple with their own new and complicated emotions. They take big ideas like moral truths and turn them into bite-sized formats that their young brains can easily digest, all while being captivated by the wonderful narratives. Here are 20 of our favorite children's books for teaching kids valuable life lessons.
1. The Snow Cat
The Snow Cat is a book by Dayal Kaur Khalsa about a girl who after praying for a friend, builds a cat out of snow who turns to life and becomes her beloved companion. On an especially cold night, she lets the cat inside only to wake up to a puddle where Snow Cat used to be. The puddle runs into the nearby pond where the girl ice skates, teaching kids about the impermanence of life and how to cope with death.
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows a caterpillar as it hatches and goes on to consume a variety of foods before turning into a butterfly. The book introduces its young readers to things like counting, days of the week, and the process of metamorphosis.
3. Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is about a mischievous boy who, after being sent to his room for being naughty, escapes into his imagination and goes on a whimsical adventure in which he becomes king of a land inhabited by fantastical creatures. After all is said and done, however, he longs for home, teaching kids the importance of family and love.
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4. The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree is a book about a boy and a tree who form a lifelong bond after the tree offers him to sit on his branch. The book teaches kids the importance of generosity and the dangers of greed and ambition.
5. Giraffes Can't Dance
Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees is about a tall giraffe who wants nothing more than to dance but feels too self-conscious until he is encouraged by a wise cricket. The story is about embracing your individuality and finding your own rhythm.
6. Red: A Crayon's Story
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall tells the story of a blue crayon who is mistakenly labeled as red and its ensuing identity crisis until another crayon helps it discover its true color. It's a story about challenging assumptions, being true to yourself, and the importance of acceptance.
7. The Little Engine That Could
Watty Piper's The Little Engine That Could is about a train filled with toys that break down. After three more powerful engines refuse, a little blue one steps in, repeating the mantra, "I think I can." It's a story about optimism, perseverance, and selflessness.
8. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Judith Viorist's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day humorously tells the story of a young boy whose day is just not going as planned, plagued by minor incidents that continuously mount his frustration. The book teaches kids that bad days are normal, and that frustration is a part of life.
9. The Rainbow Fish
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is about a beautiful fish whose lovely scales are admired by all the other fish, but when it refuses to share its special scales, it ends up with no friends. The fish learns that true happiness comes from friendship and connection, not hoarding nice things.
10. Corduroy
Corduroy by Don Freeman follows a small teddy bear in a department store who is spotted by a little girl but the girl's mother refuses to buy him because he's missing a button. He goes searching for his button but is eventually picked up by the night watchman. The next day the girl returns to buy him, not caring whether he's missing a button, demonstrating the importance of being loved for who you are.
11. Chrysanthemum
Kevin Henkes' Chrysanthemum tells the story of a little mouse called Chrysanthemum who loves her name until she goes to school and the other mice make fun of it. With the help of her music teacher, she learns to appreciate her name again, emphasizing the importance of accepting and celebrating your individuality.
12. Enemy Pie
Derek Munson's Enemy Pie tells the story of a boy whose best friend moves away, only to be replaced by a new boy who the main character immediately despises. After the boy's father insists they bake an "enemy pie" which entails spending a whole day with the enemy, he realizes the new boy is actually pretty cool and they become friends. The central lesson is not to judge too quickly and that kindness can change perspectives.
13. The Dot
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is about a little girl who thinks she can't draw, but after being encouraged by her art teacher, she realizes that she can and goes on to encourage other children. It's a story about the importance of encouragement, overcoming the fear of failure, and that even the tiniest actions can be a starting point for something big.
14. The Color Monster
Anna Llenas' The Color Monster teaches kids to name their emotions. It's about the Color Monster who is all mixed up in his feelings until he identifies and separates each one by assigning it a color.
15. Ruby Finds A Worry
Tom Percival's Ruby Finds A Worry is about a carefree girl who suddenly discovers a worry, depicted by a yellow blob that follows her, growing larger the longer she tries to ignore it. It only starts to shrink and disappear once she talks to someone about it. It teaches kids to talk about their feelings.
16. Thank You, Omu!
Thank You, Omu! by Oge More is the story of Omu who makes a delicious stew in her tiny downtown apartment, the aromas attracting visitors far and wide. She shares with each person who comes by, only to find there's nothing left for herself, but the community returns the favor by throwing a potluck in her honor. The story illustrates the joy generosity brings and the impact of small kindnesses.
17. The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson is a story about a clever mouse who invents a scary monster to avoid getting eaten by the various predators lurking in the forest. To the mouse's surprise, he eventually encounters the real Gruffalo but manages to outsmart it and get away. This story teaches kids about the power of intelligence, resourcefulness, and imagination.
18. What Do You Do With an Idea?
What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada is about a child who has an idea and overcomes what others might think to turn it into something special. It encourages kids to believe in and nurture their ideas because they might end up improving the world.
19. Same, Same But Different
Same, Same But Different chronicles the lives of two boys in completely different parts of the world who, even though they come from different cultures and places, have many things in common. It teaches kids to accept and celebrate those who appear different from them.
20. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer is about a boy in Malawi who teaches himself basic physics and engineering to build a windmill so his village can have electricity, saving them from drought. It's a story about the importance of education, resourcefulness, and perseverance.
