Books with a Lesson

While there are beautiful children’s books that simply tell a good story, there are many others that build a lesson into the story that’s being told. The books on this page teach a lesson, whether it is that it is as profound as “It’s okay to be biracial” or as simple as “Moving is hard, but we all have to do it some time” these books tell a story, teach a lesson and entertain us in the meantime. Enjoy these lesson teaching books!

Mixed Me! By Taye Diggs, Illustrated by Shene W. Evans

Mike is a mix of his dark-skinned dad and his red-headed mom. He likes who he is and does not want to be forced to choose one race or one group of friends. While the text is short, it is to the point. As Mike says at the end: “They call me Mixed-up Mike, but that name should be fixed. I’m not mixed up, I just happen to be mixed.”

Peep and Egg: I’m Not Hatching by Laura Gehl, Pictures by Joyce Wan

Peep wants Egg to hatch so they can enjoy the world together, climbing to the top of the barn to watch the sunrise, or riding on the back of a sheep. But Egg is afraid of coming out into the world. A great book for young ones who seem to be afraid of many things. The final page shows Peep and Egg as a newly hatched chick sitting on the roof of the barn, reading a book and eating a picnic: enjoying life together!

Before I Leave by Jessixa Bagley

For all those children who have to move and leave their best friends behind! Hedgehog and her family are leaving best friend, Anteater. While Hedgehog insists that she is not going, she continues to pack and eventually is forced to leave with her parents. What she does not know is that there are notes in her suitcase from Anteater. These notes decorate her new room and remind her that she has a best friend back home. A good companion book to Alexander, Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst.

The Toy Brother by William Steig

Originally published in 1996 by acclaimed children’s book author, William Steig, The Toy Brother tells the story of Yorick and Charles, two brothers who do not see eye to eye. When their parents go away to attend a family wedding, Yorick, the older brother, plays around in his father’s laboratory and succeeds in shrinking himself. Younger brother Charles takes good care of him and even fantasizes about Yorick staying small forever, so Yorick can no longer ignore him. Shades of “Honey, I’ve Shrunk the Kids” here, but on a simpler, less complex plane. Lesson: don’t mess with your dad’s stuff!

The Tale of Tricky Fox Retold by Jim Aylesworth, Illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Aylesworth retells the tale of Tricky Fox with animation and verve. Both the prose and the brief bits of song move the story forward and make for an interesting read. McClintock uses motion and facial expressions to match the animation of the words. The light orange background and the limited color palette combine to pleasing effect. This will go to the top of the list when working on folk tales and trickster tales. As with all trickster tales, there is a lesson for the tricker: don’t get too cocky; and a lesson for the tricked: when you don’t tell the truth, you open yourself up to the trickers of the world.

You’re Here for a Reason by Nancy Tillman

 

With Tillman’s trademark illustrations and rhyming verse, You’re Here for a Reason gives anyone who has had a bad day a chance to see that even when a day goes wrong, “To somebody else, you will always be strong!” The message here, as in all Tillman’s books is “You are loved!” Who can resist that?

I Used to be Afraid by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

A young girl has many fears, but each one is reconciled through pictures and clever cutouts. “I used to be afraid of spiders, but not anymore.” Sets the stage for repetitive language. However the illustrations are anything but repetitive. Each page turn leads to another discussion. Why does the beauty of the spider web lesson the girl’s fear? What did she do so she is not afraid of being alone?  Lesson: deal with your fears head on.

It’s Not Easy Being Number Three by Drew Dernavich

Number three is tired of being a number, he feels taken advantage of and underappreciated. In a weird, surreal way, Number Three explores other options. Clever artwork and imagination show how three can be any number of things, from the hem of a scalloped skirt to the bottom of an anchor. But, nothing seems to satisfy Three, until he becomes a bronze statue in a park. There he is appreciated and looks forward to the many adoring crowds. But, when winter comes, he is once again left alone. Although the other numbers beg him to come back, he refuses, until finally, he realizes that without a number Three, the world really cannot go on, or at least the Fair cannot go on. Lesson: be sure to be who you are; stick with what you know; be adventurous, but always return to your roots? Who knows?

Board books to keep us from getting bored

Board books are for the youngest readers and started out as the simplest books, often with only one or two words on a page. Recently, publishers are reprinting books for young children in a board book format. Because these books tend to be smaller than regular children’s books, not all books translate well to this format. I have put these books in order from those that work best in this format to those that would be best left alone (either not pushed into a board book format, or not reprinted at all). When looking for a good board book for the youngest readers, consider the color palette (limited colors is best), the potential for interactivity (can you engage the child in the book easily?) and simple language and concepts (are the concepts presented appropriate for readers aged 2 to 4?).

I Get Dressed by David McPhail

I Play by David McPhail

 

In I Get Dressed, each page has one animal from David McPhail’s Nursery Rhyme collection and each animal has one item of clothing: shirt, pants, socks, tie, etc. Simple drawings and simple words, for our youngest ‘readers.’

In I Play, the little bear is featured with one simple verb per page, cutely illustrated by bear singing, running, and even reading.

While there is not much here, both of these books can be very interactive and lead to active play, a good combination of reading and active moving! Three stars for meeting three of the criteria listed above!

Night Owl by Toni Yuly

Baby Night Owl is waiting for Mommy Owl to come home, listening to all the night sounds and hoping that he will soon hear Mommy Owl. Using a limited color palette, Yuly illustrates this uncomplicated story with orange, yellow, black and purple simple line drawings. Many opportunities for interaction here as the different sounds are questioned and identified. Whoo wants to read about Night Owl? Another three star book!

Close Your Eyes by Kate Banks, Pictures by Georg Hallensleben

Little Tiger is reluctant to close his eyes as he prepares to go to sleep. Anyone who has had a conversation with a child where one answer leads to three more questions, will recognize Little Tiger in their own child. Mother Tiger has all the answers and finally convinces Little Tiger to go to sleep. The images in both words and pictures are poetic while still being easily understood by the youngest listeners: “You can even float among the clouds, and when night comes, the moon will hold you in its lap.” Three stars.

Mimi and Bear in the Snow by Janee Trasler

Mimi is a rabbit with human features who carries Bear with her wherever she goes. But, when she takes Bear out to play in the snow, she leaves him behind. After a careful search, she finally finds Bear and starts carrying him in a backpack so he won’t get left behind again. A perfect story for any child who has a special stuffed animal that goes everywhere with him/her. Three stars.

Kiss, Kiss, Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, Pictures by Dan Hanna

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen, Pictures by Dan Hanna

 

Pout-Pout Fish has many adventures, all in rhyme and all below the sea. You will meet a variety of fish swimming and working together in both of these sweeter than sweet stories. If you like to rhyme and have the time, you’ll be right in the swim of things with these two new stories. One star for the potential for interactivity.

I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman

The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman

 

Nancy Tillman is known for her beautiful illustrations and her sweet sentiments. While some books do not translate into board books as easily as others, I’d Know you Anywhere, My Love works perfectly with smaller renditions of her artistry and a tiny font for her rhyming lines. A book to be told with copious amounts of hugs and kisses.

The Spirit of Christmas, on the other hand,  is clearly told for the adult and not so much for the child. The rhymes are sometimes saccharine, “He spoke to me then/ in a whisper of wings./ “There are gentle things/ the season brings.” And the pictures alternate between artful realism and fancifully stylized. As a Christmas book, it has my vote for when I am looking for a way to express how I miss the children in my life at that time of year. One star for the potential for interactivity.

Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

 

Following in the footsteps of Train Man and Fire Engine Man, Digger Man follows big brother on his adventures with a large earth mover as he scoops rocks, pushes mud and honks his horn. The main character is always concerned about his little brother and wants to be sure to teach his brother how to work with the digger! One star for simple language.

Firebears: The Rescue Team by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Dan Andreasen

 

The firebears have a number of adventures, fighting fires, rescuing other bears and even helping a cat stuck in a tree. Told in simple rhymes, the story moves quickly from one emergency to another. Brightly colored illustrations support the text and help to tell the story. Classrooms that have units on community helpers would love this book. Since the bears are not explicitly gendered, it could be a good tool for talking about both firemen and firewomen. One star for simple language.

This Plane by Paul Collicutt

While the language is simple, the concepts here are not. Colorful images of different types of planes accompany each page where a plane is described in plain text. Little ones will love the colors and the variety of planes. Older toddlers will be interested to learn more about the different kinds of planes. Be prepared for a multitude of questions. One star for simple language.

Tractor Mac Farm Days by Billy Steers

A shortened version of a Tractor Mac story, just right for toddlers. The anthropomorphized tractor is a busy as can be as he plows, plants, grades and scoops. Just another busy day on the farm! One star for simple language.

At the Supermarket by Anne Rockwell

A little boy accompanies his mother to the supermarket, telling about the groceries he bought, including the necessary ingredients for making a cake, just in time to celebrate his birthday the next day. As I read through this, I wondered: who still eats meat every day? Where are all the black and brown people? There is one Asian looking woman working at the register and one or two other darker skinned people, most seem to be working rather than shopping. The back of the book indicates that the books was first published over forty years ago. While it is a cute story and one that many children can relate to, the lack of diversity makes me think this should be a book that can be kept on the shelf. Can’t give any stars to this one. Let’s leave this book back in the seventies!