Books That Teach Kindness and Courage

Some of the greatest lessons our children will ever learn won't come from lectures. 

They'll come from stories.

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Stories have a way of slipping quietly into our hearts and staying there long after we've turned the final page. They teach us what bravery looks like. They show us kindness in action. They remind us that doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.

As a mother, I don't just want my children to become successful.  I want them to become kind.  I want them to be brave enough to stand up for what's right, compassionate enough to help those who need it, and thoughtful enough to treat others with respect and grace.

Thankfully, books can help us teach those lessons.  Some stories teach children how to be a good friend.  Others show them that courage isn't the absence of fear but choosing to do the right thing even when you're afraid.

Some teach generosity.
Some teach perseverance.
Some teach empathy.

All of them help shape the hearts of the children reading them.

One of my favorite things about reading together is the conversations that happen afterward.

"Why do you think he helped her?"

"Was that the kind thing to do?"

"What would you have done?"

Books open doors to conversations that might never happen otherwise.  And perhaps that's part of their magic.  Long after children forget the details of the story, they often remember how it made them feel.

They remember the brave character.

The loyal friend.

The neighbor who chose kindness.

The child who refused to give up.

Little by little, those stories become part of who they are.

In a world that often celebrates being the loudest, the fastest, or the most successful, I hope to raise children who are known for something else.

Kindness.

Courage.

Integrity.

Compassion.

Because the world can always use more people who are willing to be gentle in a hard world and brave in difficult moments.

And sometimes those lessons begin with a book, a blanket, and a quiet afternoon spent reading together.

Those may seem like small moments now.

But I have a feeling they're shaping something much bigger. 

Here's our list, how many of these are on yours? I'll be adding to this over time also, I'm always on the hunt for good new books we've yet to discover.

Do Unto Otters: A book about manners by Laurie Keller

Okey Dokey Oakie by Peg Sundberg

We read it every.day. without fail Unicorn Day: A Magical Kindness Book for Children

We love all the Charlie The Ranch Dog books by Ree Drummond, they're a big hit with both of my kiddos.

We read The Little Red Caboose on repeat over here!

A new Christmas fave last year was Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is actually one of my childhood favorites.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis is an all time favorite read aloud over here.