I know as a parent I am always looking for subtle ways to show my children good behaviour. A really great kids book tells a lesson while still entertaining us immensely. There are so many great books on our site that have an important message in them, in this post I’ve put together some of my favourite ones.
Books that Directly Tackle Behaviour
In the i-Character series, Agnes and Salem de Bezenac focus on character building topics such as values, ethics and Biblical morals. The books are intended to help children choose good behaviour, and each has a specific message on positive values and how to develop and grow them.
Out and About encourages children to overcome shyness when greeting others, introducing the concept of acknowledging other people’s feelings, and modifying behaviour to make others feel good. Reviews (5) ; What is Love describes all the cool parts of love, how love makes you want to do stuff for others, and how love is beyond not feeling like it. Reviews (5)
Fading Flowers Is a story about being positive, a really important quality, one that helps us in all aspects of life in every situation. I know however, as a busy working parent it is the one we sometimes forget to talk to our children about when we are overly focused on homework, dinner, or preventing a glass of orange juice being thrown on the laptop…. Reviews (11) ;
Turtle Trouble deals with the difficult concept children struggle with – telling the truth and getting punished, or trying to cover up and hoping no one will notice. I know this is one I could read over and over to my kids! And we’d have plenty of examples to talk about afterwards. Reviews (6)
Cookie Rookie Is all about the important rule of always asking first – with one of children’s favourite topic – cookies. Reviews (8) That Worked! Is all about sibling rivalry. How often is it that a younger child bothers the older child, (or vice versa) and it’s always “Mom, he did…: “Or Mom, she did…” What about trying to find a solution that works for everyone? Reviews (9)
In Bed-making Blues Children learn that there is often stuff they think is too hard and don’t want to do, but Mum helps remind us chores are necessary, and the quicker we get better at them the easier they are.
Another great book that helps children learn a fun way is Brushing is No Fun by Srividhya Venkat, Anupama Ajinkya Apte of Pratham Books. This book provides a really novel and fun way to make tasks that are not fun more enjoyable. Reviews (3)
On the topic of doing things we don’t like, The Boy Who Loved Boats , by Vilim Livada and Ognjen Livada (a father and son team).
The story is based on the simple premise of love, a child’s love for boats, and parent’s love for their child, resulting in a simple yet powerful solution: when you are allowed to do the thing you love, you are more willing to do the things you don’t love, lovingly. Reviews (3)
The Boy Who Loved Boats is one of my personal favourites, because I believe the message is so important, for both parents and children! I think it is because so many children are set up for failure because they are not encouraged to just do what they love. They are told to do school work and apply to study in an area that will give them the easiest or highest chance of success. But even more so these days it is so important to do what you enjoy. If you do what you love, do it well, you will figure out a way to make money, and you will also willingly learn and do the things that don’t excite you. And if you can do both, you will always be successful. Moreover, you will always be happy, which, since (a point my kids haven’t learnt yet), after homework is more work! And it takes a good third of most of our time, we’ll all agree in hindsight that being happy in ones work is by far the most important!
Along the same lines this book is about the fact that everyone has a purpose, and finding your purpose makes life much easier.
The Paint Brush that Just Wanted to Help
by Eric Dean
Everyone has a purpose in life, once we find it, we can feel more fulfilled. In this beautifully illustrated story, the tools all help building a house, each doing their part, paint brush feels unwanted, until he finds his special purpose too. The book helps children learn about team work, and about the processes involved in building a house. Reviews (6)
Tania Series
Another series where the author promotes good values or problem solving is the Tania Series. If your children are always loosing their toys like mine are, this one will help, or at least it will make you laugh:
Age Group: Toddlers
A beautifully rhymed and illustrated book about a lost yo-yo…will it be found? …And the morale – look after your toys! Reviews (4)
Likewise, do they refuse to eat their lunch or dinner? Samira’s Awful Lunch
Sometimes viewing what others have makes one more appreciative of our own things. Reviews (4)
In The Little Narcissist, Tania finds out that too much of a good thing is definitely not good. No matter how much we like something we need to find balance.
There are around 20 Tania books on our site, and a few others from the author, all are a great read for children around kindergarten and early grades level.
Books About Love And Friendship
Another series of books that promote positive values are Sarbasst’s Tales from Sarbasst Braian. These short simple books are all about love and friendship, and valuing the important things in life. His books include: Friendship – Sarbasst’s Tale, Sarbasst’s Tales 5, Sarbasst’s Tales 4, Sarbasst’s Tales 6, and a favourite of mine The Rabbit and the Flower.
Sarbasst also does not only talk the talk, he has chosen to demonstrate good values by not only sharing these books free, but by providing these beautiful books in the public domain, so they can be used and shared in the maximum way possible by all, without copyright restrictions. A big thanks to Sarbasst for paying it forward!
These books are best for toddlers, but they have a renewed value at the ‘learn to read’ age, where they are the perfect book for older siblings to read to younger ones. Hopefully promoting sibling love and friendship too!
A Book About Staying Safe
Another aspect of behaviour for that is so important for young children is staying safe.
Baby Harp Seal Learns to Swim
Baby Harp Seal Learns to SwimThe baby seal learns water is dangerous, the book is written in primarily words of 5 letters and less and is a nice short story for young children, but also provides a great opportunity to talk about things young children don’t think about, “Remember when I told you not to….” Safety is of uptmost importance and it’s so important for children to learn this lesson early! It can’t be repeated enough.
To keep your child healthy and safe, also check out Guidelines for safer child care practices also on our blog.
Books About Respecting Diversity, Difference, and Disabilities
The next two books here help children respect diversity and disabilities.
Quarta – The Girl Born With Only Two Arms and Two Legs
Quarta – The Girl Born With Only Two Arms and Two LegsAge Group: Children
Imagine a world where you didn’t have the same abilities as everyone else? What would you do? Quarta is another awesome free kids book from Stuart Baum at Stuart’s Stories. Reviews (1)
Chuskit goes to School
Chuskit goes to SchoolAge Group: Children
Chuskit is 9 years old, and yearns to go to school, but because of her disability she cannot. After learning about human rights at the local school, Abdul, initiates an effort to change this. Everyone who wants to learn should have access to an education. A beautifully illustrated and heart warming story, set in Tibet with elements of cultural awareness and local terms introduced, which are explained at the end of the book. This book is a public domain book from Pratham Books, and should be shared to help people understand about disabilities and to help promote the basic right to an education for everyone. Reviews (1)
Firenze’s Light
Firenze’s LightAge Group: Children
Firenze does not like her light. How can she when it makes it nearly impossible to play a good game of hide and seek? When Firenze covers her light with a skirt, she thinks her friends will forget all about it. Instead she finds herself lonely and sad. Then she meets a new friend who encourages her to share her gifts. Will Firenze keep her light hidden or find the courage to let it shine? Reviews (4)
Books about Helping Others and Conservation
These books have a message about helping others, and our environment.
June Peters, You Will Save the World One Day
June Peters, You Will Save the World One DayAge Group: Children
A young girl is inspired to help organise a community picnic for the homeless. Reviews (6)
Forests for People
Forests for PeopleAge Group: Children
Ognjen Livada and Dragica Herceg
And old man and a young man take a walk in the forest, the young man learns a lot about how important trees are to our lives, changing his attitude towards nature, he shares this with his girlfriend. A beautiful picture book with many interesting facts about forests, throughout the story, and at the end of the book. This book is published by the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management, Croatia, to hep create awareness about sustainable forestry practices, and was first released in 2011, the year of the Tree. Reviews (2)
These are only part of the wonderful books we can share with you in our collection, Visit us at FreeKidsBooks.org or follow us at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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