Dolly Parton’s Legacy: Inspiring Childhood Literacy

Posted on by Bob Richley
Rocking chair, books, and coffee on a porch overlooking sunset mountains

Dolly Parton, Books, and the Gift of Imagination

We’ve all heard the news of the recent passing of Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80.

I find it strange that I feel sad about the death of a celebrity I never knew personally. Perhaps because we “see” celebrities so much in the media, they become familiar to us. We hear their voices, watch their interviews, listen to their songs, and learn pieces of their stories. It can almost feel as though we know them.

When a celebrity dies, I often find myself researching their life. My curiosity is stirred, and I’m amazed by what I discover.

That’s what happened with Dolly Parton.

Most people know Dolly as a singer and songwriter. Many know about her business success and Dollywood. But as I learned more about her life, I was especially interested in something that has little to do with her music.

Dolly Parton has given hundreds of millions of books to children.

Why?

The answer begins with her childhood.

A Child of Faith and Poverty

Dolly grew up poor in Locust Ridge in the mountains of East Tennessee. She was one of twelve children raised in a small one-room home in the Great Smoky Mountains. Her family had little money and few material possessions. There was no electricity or running water.

But poverty didn’t mean that Dolly’s family lacked something important.

  • They had faith.
  • They had family.
  • And they had music.

Dolly’s father worked hard to provide for his family. He would get up early to work on the farm and then go to another job to earn money. He did whatever he could to put food on the table.

Dolly’s childhood wasn’t easy, but it helped shape the woman she would become.

Her family was deeply connected to the church. Her grandfather was a preacher in a local mountain church, and Dolly began singing hymns and playing guitar when she was a child.

Faith became part of the foundation of her life.

Dolly has spoken openly about her belief in God throughout her life. Her music includes numerous gospel songs, and her faith has continued to influence her work.

She believed that with God all things were possible. The belief shapped her legacy.

But there was another lesson from her childhood that would eventually inspire one of her greatest contributions to children.

The Father Who Couldn’t Read

Dolly has described her father as one of the smartest men she ever knew.

He had a brilliant mind for numbers and a natural talent for business. He knew how to bargain and negotiate and could make a good deal. But there was something he couldn’t do. He couldn’t read or write. Her father had to leave school at a young age to work and help support his family. Growing up in rural Appalachia, educational opportunities were limited. His inability to read didn’t mean he lacked intelligence. Quite the opposite.

He was a smart, hardworking man who simply hadn’t been given the opportunity to learn something many of us take for granted. Dolly saw how that limitation affected him.

Years later, that memory would become the seed of an extraordinary idea.

Motivated by Faith—and by Her Father

Dolly’s faith and upbringing shaped the way she viewed children and opportunity.

She had experienced poverty. She knew what it meant to grow up without many resources. And she knew what it was like to watch someone she loved have his opportunities limited because he couldn’t read.

She could have simply remembered her childhood. Instead, she did something with it.

In 1995, Dolly Parton founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee. She wanted to give children an opportunity her father had never had: the chance to grow up with books and develop a love of reading.

That small beginning became something enormous.

The Book Lady

The Imagination Library mails a new, age-appropriate book every month to registered children from birth through age five. There is no charge to participating families. Funding is shared between Dolly Parton’s organization and local community partners.

The program now operates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

And the numbers are staggering.

By the end of 2025, the Imagination Library had gifted 304,539,509 books since its founding. More than 40 million books were gifted during 2025 alone.

Think about that.

More than 300 million books.

One little girl growing up in the mountains of Tennessee remembered that her father couldn’t read, and decades later, motivated by faith, millions of children around the world are receiving books because of it.

That’s quite a legacy.

Why Give Children Books?

Why books?

Because books do more than teach children how to read.

Books introduce children to courage, sacrifice, kindness, forgiveness, perseverance, friendship, consequences, and countless other values.

  • A child meets a character who faces a difficult decision and gets to watch what happens.
  • A character makes a selfish choice and suffers the consequences.
  • Another character sacrifices for someone else.
  • Another forgives.
  • Another refuses to give up.

Through stories, children can encounter difficult questions in a safe environment.

They can learn from someone else’s mistakes without having to make those mistakes themselves.

That’s one reason I believe so strongly in reading with children.

Dolly’s Gift Goes Beyond Literacy

A free book says something to a child.

  • You matter.
  • Your imagination matters.
  • Your future matters.

The Imagination Library certainly encourages literacy, but its purpose goes beyond simply helping children learn to read. Its stated mission is to inspire a love of reading by putting quality books into children’s hands.

And there’s an important difference between giving a child a book and reading a book with a child.

When we read aloud together, we are not simply helping children develop vocabulary and reading skills. We are sharing an experience.

We can ask questions.

  • “What do you think she should do?”
  • “Why did he make that choice?”
  • “What would you have done?”
  • “Was that fair?”
  • “What does the Bible say about that?”

The book becomes a doorway into conversation.

I’ve written before about the importance of reading aloud with our kids. Reading together builds connection as well as literacy.

It’s similar to why I play with my kids.

When I get down on the floor and play a game with my daughters, I’m entering their world. I’m telling them without saying a word, What matters to you matters to me.

Games give us opportunities to learn, too. There are rules to follow, turns to take, victories to celebrate, and disappointments to handle. We learn how to win graciously and lose graciously.

In other words, ordinary family activities can become opportunities to teach character.

What Can Parents Learn From Dolly?

Most of us will never have millions of dollars to give away.

We don’t have to.

Dolly Parton’s example reminds us that we can start with what we have. Try these:

  • Read to your children.
  • Give them good books.
  • Visit the library.
  • Talk about the stories you read.
  • Ask questions.
  • Listen to their answers.
  • Build a family culture around books and stories.

We don’t have to wait until we have a foundation, a corporation, or a million dollars to invest in children.

We can start with one child and one book.

What Stories Are We Putting Into Our Children’s Hearts?

Dolly’s legacy also raises another question.

What books are we putting into our children’s hands?

If books teach lessons—and I believe they do—we need to pay attention to those lessons.

Not every book teaches the values we want our children to absorb. Some stories may contain ideas that contradict our family’s values or what Scripture teaches.

That doesn’t mean every book has to be perfect.

It does mean we should be intentional.

Ask quesitons like:

  • What is this story teaching?
  • What choices do the characters make?
  • What happens because of those choices?
  • What does the story celebrate?
  • Do those values agree with our family’s values?
  • Do they agree with Scripture?

I’ve written more about this in Choosing Books That Teach Life Lessons.

As an Author…

I know something about the power of putting a story into a child’s hands.

That’s one reason I wrote Redeeming Rhubarb.

I wanted children to enjoy a story about a mouse and a rat while wrestling with bigger questions about prejudice, forgiveness, friendship, courage, and doing what is right.

I don’t expect a book to replace a parent.

I want the book to help parents have conversations with their children.

That’s what I find so inspiring about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Dolly understood something that I believe every parent should understand:

Books can open doors.

  • They open doors to imagination.
  • They open doors to knowledge.
  • They open doors to empathy.
  • They open doors to difficult questions.
  • And sometimes, they open doors to faith and character.

Dolly gave children books because she remembered what her father had been denied.

She took something painful from her childhood and turned it into something beautiful for millions of children.

That’s a legacy worth remembering.

A Legacy We Can Continue

Dolly Parton gave away more than 300 million books.

Most of us won’t come close to that number.

But perhaps we don’t need to.

  • We can give one book to one child.
  • We can sit beside that child and read it.
  • We can ask a question.
  • We can listen.
  • We can talk about the choices the characters made.
  • We can connect those choices to the values we want our children to develop.
  • And then we can pick up another book.

Perhaps that’s how a legacy begins. Not with millions of dollars. Not with fame. But with one child, one book, and one conversation.

Dolly Parton gave children the gift of imagination. We can help them use that imagination to learn, grow, and become the people God created them to be.

5 Children’s Books That Teach Important Life Values

Posted on by Bob Richley
Open The Secret of Eldritch Forest, Holy Bible, and BOOKWORM mug

Why Teach Values Through Literature?

Stories are a beautiful way to teach valuable lessons. Stories take away our defenses because events are happening to fictional characters. We are pulled into the events and feel for the characters. When we do, the characters can teach us through the consequences of their actions. It gives us a chance to learn from their mistakes without us making them ourselves.

A child may resist a lecture about honesty, courage, forgiveness, or kindness. But let that same child encounter a character who lies, and suddenly the child has an opportunity to see where dishonesty leads.

We can ask, “Was that a good choice?”

The child isn’t being lectured. We’re talking about a character in a story.

Then we can ask, “What would you have done?”

Now we’re talking about the child’s own values.

That is the power of literature. Stories create a safe place to wrestle with difficult questions.

Jesus understood the power of stories. Much of His teaching came through parables. Rather than simply telling people what to believe, He often placed them inside a story and allowed them to wrestle with its meaning.

Children can learn in the same way.

Criteria for Selecting Children’s Books

When choosing books to teach lessons, I prefer to look at the classics. They are timeless, and the lessons are often invaluable. Because these books have stood the test of time, we know the stories have entertained children over generations, and the lessons haven’t grown outdated.

Many of the classics also contain Christian values, sometimes because of the Christian culture in which they were written. Heidi, for example, contains themes of forgiveness and redemption. Heidi’s love helps restore her grandfather, and the story even draws on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.

The Swiss Family Robinson was written by Johann David Wyss, whose story follows a family relying on God’s provision as they survive on a deserted island. The family regularly gives thanks to God for what He provides.

These stories weren’t written as children’s sermons. That’s part of what makes them so useful.

The story comes first. The lesson emerges from the story.

If you choose newer books, do a little research. Read the book yourself or read reliable summaries and reviews. Ask:

  • What lessons are being taught?
  • What choices do the characters make?
  • What happens as a result of those choices?
  • What values does the story celebrate?
  • Do those values align with our family’s values?
  • More importantly, do they align with Scripture?

Not every book will teach everything we want our children to learn. That’s okay. We don’t need every story to be perfect. We need to be intentional about what we put in front of our children and prepared to discuss what they encounter.

Don’t Just Read the Story—Discuss It

Reading the book is only the beginning.

One of my favorite ways to teach values through literature is to ask questions after—or sometimes even during—the story.

What did the character do?

Why did he do it?

Was it a good choice?

How did that choice affect other people?

What would you have done?

Has anything like that ever happened to you?

What does the Bible say about this?

These questions turn reading into a conversation.

I don’t want my children merely to know that a character made a good or bad choice. I want them to understand why it was good or bad and to begin thinking about how they would respond in a similar situation.

That distinction matters.

I’m not simply trying to give my children a list of rules. I want to help them develop the ability to recognize truth, evaluate choices, understand consequences, and make wise decisions when I’m not there to tell them what to do.

Five Classics, Five Opportunities to Teach Values

Treasure Island — Integrity and Courage

Jim Hawkins finds himself surrounded by people who are deceptive, selfish, and willing to betray others to get what they want. Yet Jim repeatedly has opportunities to choose courage and loyalty rather than simply looking out for himself.

That allows parents to ask, “What would you do if doing the right thing put you in danger?” Is courage the absence of fear, or doing what is right even when we’re afraid?

Heidi — Forgiveness and Redemption

Heidi provides a beautiful picture of how love and forgiveness can transform a hardened heart. Heidi’s grandfather has withdrawn from society because of bitterness and painful experiences. Heidi doesn’t lecture him into changing. Her presence, love, and childlike faith help soften his heart and reconnect him with others.

The story can lead to questions such as: Can love change someone? Is it possible to forgive someone who has hurt us? What happens when we refuse to forgive?

Heidi reads the story of the Prodigal Son to her grandfather, and it impacts him. He thought he was unworthy of love, but through this story and Heidi’s own love, he sees that redemption is possible.

A Little Princess — Character When Circumstances Change

Sara Crewe’s circumstances change dramatically. She goes from living a privileged life at boarding school to becoming a servant after her father dies and his fortune disappears.

Yet Sara tries to maintain her kindness, imagination, generosity, and dignity even when she has almost nothing.

That raises an important question for our children: Who are you when you don’t get what you want?

It is easy to be kind when life is going well. Sara shows us that character is revealed when circumstances become difficult.

Sara sacrifices for someone else, giving a beggar food when she is hungry herself. It’s easy to be generous when you have much, but much harder when you have little. Sara demonstrates true character and generosity, giving out of her own need, much like the Biblical story of the Widow’s Mite. Jesus commended a widow who gave all she had, while others gave from their abundance.

The Secret Garden — Transformation

Mary Lennox begins the story as a selfish, unpleasant, and lonely child. Through friendship, responsibility, nature, and caring for the secret garden, she begins to change.

The transformation is one of the most valuable lessons in the book: people can change.

Parents can ask, “Why was Mary unhappy at the beginning?” What caused her to change? Who helped her change? Can we choose to become different people?

The garden itself provides a wonderful picture for children. Something neglected and seemingly dead can be cared for until life begins to appear again.

That can open a conversation about our own hearts. What happens when we nurture something good? What happens when we neglect it?

Pollyanna — Gratitude and Choosing Joy

Pollyanna’s “glad game” can be more than just a cute idea for children. It can become a conversation about gratitude and perspective. Pollyanna doesn’t pretend that bad things aren’t bad. She chooses to look for something good even in difficult circumstances.

Parents can ask, “Does being grateful mean pretending everything is good?” What’s the difference between gratitude and ignoring problems? How can looking for something good change the way we respond to difficult circumstances?

This connects beautifully with Paul’s instruction to give thanks in all circumstances. Pollyanna gives children a story-based way to begin thinking about what that might look like.

The “glad game” was based on rejoicing scriptures. It was taught by Pollyanna’s missionary father, who counted more than 800 references to rejoicing and gladness in the Bible.

Stories Give Children Something to Remember

These books illustrate why I prefer teaching values through stories. I could tell my children, “Be courageous.” But Jim Hawkins gives them a picture of courage. I could tell them, “Forgive people.” Heidi gives them a picture of forgiveness and redemption. I could tell them, “Character matters more than circumstances.” Sara Crewe gives them a picture of that truth. I could tell them, “People can change.” Mary Lennox gives them a picture of transformation. I could tell them, “Be grateful.” Pollyanna gives them a picture of choosing gratitude and joy.

The story gives the lesson a face.

Years later, a child may not remember the lecture we gave about courage. But they may remember Jim Hawkins.

They may not remember everything we said about forgiveness. But they may remember Heidi and her grandfather.

That’s the beauty of literature. A story gives children something to remember when the lesson becomes necessary.

Stories create a safe place for children to wrestle with difficult questions.

Choose Books With Imperfect Characters

Perfect characters aren’t very interesting—and they’re not very useful for teaching children.

Children need to see characters who make mistakes, struggle with temptation, become afraid, get angry, make selfish choices, and sometimes make things right.

Why?

Because children make mistakes too.

When a child sees a character struggle with jealousy, fear, pride, dishonesty, or selfishness, the child can recognize something of himself in that character. The story gives us a way to talk about those struggles without immediately making the conversation personal.

“What do you think she should have done?”

is sometimes a much easier question for a child to answer than:

“Why did you do that?”

Stories allow us to approach difficult character issues indirectly. Then, once the child begins thinking about the character, the conversation can naturally move toward real life.

Look for Consequences

One of the most valuable things stories can show children is that choices have consequences.

  • A character lies and loses someone’s trust.
  • A character is selfish and loses a friendship.
  • A character shows courage and protects someone vulnerable.
  • A character forgives and begins to restore a broken relationship.
  • A character refuses to give up and eventually succeeds.

These consequences help children understand that character isn’t just about following rules. Our choices affect other people.

And sometimes stories show something even more important: doing the right thing doesn’t always produce an immediate reward.

A character may sacrifice something and suffer because of it. A character may forgive someone who doesn’t deserve forgiveness. A character may tell the truth even when lying would be easier.

Those are opportunities to talk about biblical values that go deeper than “good choices lead to good things.”

Connect the Story to Scripture

As a Christian parent, I don’t want to stop with the moral of the story.

Does the story echo something Scripture teaches?

  • A story about sacrifice can lead us to talk about Christ.
  • A story about forgiveness can lead us to the Lord’s Prayer.
  • A story about loving an enemy can lead us to Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:44.
  • A story about courage can lead us to Joshua 1:9.
  • A story about caring for someone who is hurting can lead us to the Good Samaritan.
  • The story gives us a bridge.

We can start with the character and eventually arrive at Scripture.

But there is an important caution here: we shouldn’t force a biblical lesson into every story.

Sometimes a story teaches something that doesn’t completely align with Scripture. Sometimes it teaches a mixture of truth and error. That’s not necessarily a reason to throw the book away.

It may be an opportunity for an even better conversation.

We can say, “The character did this, but what does the Bible say about that?”

Now our children aren’t simply absorbing a message from a book. They are learning to compare what they encounter with God’s Word.

Create a Reading Routine

Choose a regular time to read with your kids.

We often read as part of the bedtime routine. Keep it as regular as you can.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate. You don’t need a special reading chair or an hour of uninterrupted time. Even fifteen or twenty minutes can become an important part of family life.

When our children were younger, we would snuggle together and read. Sometimes we read only one book. Other times, we’d read a few or even the same one again.

One of my favorite family memories is reading Charlotte’s Web together, a chapter at a time. We weren’t simply completing a book. We were sharing an experience.

That’s what I want parents to remember.

The goal isn’t to get through more books. The goal is to let good books get into our children.

Make Reading a Conversation

Don’t feel like you have to interrupt every page with a question. Sometimes the best thing you can do is enjoy the story together.

But when a natural opportunity appears, take it.

If a character makes an interesting choice, pause.

If something surprises your child, ask what they think.

If your child becomes angry at a character, ask why.

If your child admires someone, ask what they admire about that person.

And listen.

The conversation may go somewhere you didn’t expect.

That’s okay.

In fact, that’s often the best part.

Our children are developing their own understanding of right and wrong. We have the privilege of helping them think through those ideas while they are still young and while they still want to talk with us.

Let Stories Become Part of Family Life

Over time, something wonderful happens when you read this way.

Stories become shorthand for values.

You may encounter a situation in everyday life and say, “Remember what happened to Sara?”

Or, “That reminds me of what Charlotte did for Wilbur.”

Or, “What would Heidi do?”

The story has moved beyond the pages of the book. It has become part of your family’s shared language.

That is one of the reasons I love teaching values through literature.

We can’t always be beside our children when they face difficult choices. We can’t always tell them what to do.

But we can give them stories that help them recognize courage when they see it, understand compassion when it is needed, recognize selfishness when it tempts them, and remember that forgiveness is possible.

A good story doesn’t simply entertain a child. It gives a child a picture of who they can become.

Start With One Book

You don’t need to build a huge library.

Choose one good book.

Read it together.

Talk about the characters.

Ask questions.

Listen to your child’s answers.

Look for opportunities to connect the story to Scripture and to everyday life.

Then pick up another book.

Over the years, those stories will accumulate—not just on the bookshelf, but in your child’s imagination and character.

And someday, when your child faces a difficult choice, you may not be there to answer.

But perhaps a story will be.

And perhaps, through that story, your child will remember something you talked about together.

That is why teaching values through literature is worth the time.

We aren’t just raising children who know how to read. We’re helping raise people who know how to live.

Behind Redeeming Rhubarb: Prejudice, Empathy, and the Story Behind the Story

Posted on by Bob Richley
Woman leading a donkey across a forest bridge with a dog and cat

When we see someone acting with anger, cruelty, or prejudice, it’s easy to judge what we see. It’s harder to ask why. What happened in that person’s life? What fears, hurts, or beliefs shaped the way they see others? Understanding the answer doesn’t excuse bad behavior, but it can change the way we respond to it.

That idea is at the heart of Redeeming Rhubarb. Rhubarb’s prejudice didn’t come from nowhere. Strawberry has to decide whether to accept what her father taught her or look for herself. Bart has to decide how to respond to two boys who are cruel to animals. And throughout the story, characters repeatedly face the choice between judging an enemy and trying to understand one.

Those same questions matter outside the pages of a novel—especially for parents raising children in a divided world.

Recently, I was asked some thoughtful questions about Redeeming Rhubarb: Why did I choose mice and rats? Why did I give Rhubarb a painful reason for his prejudice? What can children see that adults sometimes miss? How much grief and hardship can middle-grade readers handle? What actually changes a cruel child? And what should parents do when their child repeats something hurtful they’ve learned from someone else?

Below are my answers. I hope they spark more meaningful discussions and provide more insight into the novel’s purpose.

You could have written this book about people. Why mice and rats — and why make the bigot the white mouse and the rescuer the black rat?

I wanted to remove the human element to make it more acceptable to my audience. If I chose specific races, others not included may not relate. By using mice and rats, I could keep the story universal while avoiding that problem.

I intentionally chose rats and mice to challenge readers’ existing biases about specific animals and help them recognize how quickly we form a judgment.

Rats are often seen as dirty, disgusting disease spreaders. We think of the bubonic plague spread by rats. In fiction, they are often portrayed as causing havoc, as in Templeton in Charlotte’s Web. While mice are often the good guys in cartoons and books. Think of Repacheep or Mickey Mouse. We often think of cute white mice as a pet.

In the book, I open with those preconceived ideas. Rats break into a home to steal food. Cute mice are having fun playing games and celebrating a birthday. Then I start to break down those notions by showing the rats are hungry and apologetic, while the mouse is loud and vindictive.

In my story, the rat is the hero who rescues, is wise, and sacrifices. The mouse is the one causing harm, trying to destroy, and hating. That reversal is meant to challenge readers’ expectations.

You spent three years as an evangelical Christian living in a lesbian community, having the conversations most people avoid. What did that teach you about how prejudice comes apart?

While I lived in that community, we got to know one another as people and became friends. We camped together, ate together, and played together. I went to parties to have fun and celebrate. All that helped prejudice come apart.

I watched documentaries and movies to understand better their point of view, which also helped me see them as people.

That’s how prejudice comes apart: when we see people as people, not a label.

That experience helped shape one of the ideas behind Redeeming Rhubarb: understanding someone doesn’t require agreeing with them. It requires being willing to see the person behind the label. I later expressed that idea in a poem I called “The Other Side.”

For convictions, we fight
so confident we are right.
Anger and aggression
without pausing to question
the pretexts of our certitude.
Rigid in our attitude.
It’s time we look inside
rather than trying to hide.
The fault and failure lie within
over our own self-centered sin.
Cease blaming others and God!
Let go of the deceptive facade!
Examine and evaluate,
consider convictions to abdicate.
Seek first to comprehend
what enemies apprehend.
Replace anger and apprehension
with charity and comprehension.

Rhubarb isn’t a cartoon villain — he lost a brother to rats. How important was it that his prejudice start from a real wound?

Stephen Covey tells a story of a man whose unruly children are disrupting a quiet subway car. When Covey asks the father to control them, the man replies blankly that they just left the hospital where their mother died. Covey’s perspective instantly shifts from annoyance to deep empathy. We all have a back story, and when you know it, you can understand why a person does or says what they do.

I tell my girls that people who bully or are mean are often hurting inside. We don’t know what goes on in their home. When I was in the 3rd grade, my teacher had a bully step out of the room, and we talked about what he did and why. The teacher explained that he may be hurting and ashamed. That stuck with me.

Knowing why Rhubarb hates rats helps us relate to him and understand his actions. It doesn’t make what he does right, but it does help us comprehend and sympathize.

You lived through the 2013 Boulder flood. What did you see then that ended up in the book?

I remember a road with a raised crack shaped like an upside-down “V”. That memory is in the book. I saw signs of people volunteering to help neighbors whose homes were damaged and people helping to repair trails. I, myself, volunteered to help clean our church’s flooded basement. I lost my wedding ring in the process. I put that volunteer spirit in the book. I remember some homes were damaged and others missed. I put Bart’s apartment near where I lived because our home was not damaged.

Strawberry is the moral engine of the book, and she’s a kid. What do children see about their parents’
prejudices that the parents don’t?

Do you ever watch young kids play? Young children may notice differences, but those differences don’t necessarily determine whom they’ll play with. They see another kid—a potential playmate. I don’t think that prejudice is instinctive. I think it is learned.

Kids can also show a remarkable openness and empathy. They’ve not built up walls to protect their feelings as adults have, so that they can feel and understand each other better.

Rhubarb drinks. Strawberry loses a leg. A character dies. How did you decide how much a middle-grade
reader can carry?

Reading With Your Kids put it this way in their review:

One of the greatest strengths of Redeeming Rhubarb is that it trusts young readers with complex ideas.

The book tackles racism, stereotypes, addiction, grief, courage, family loyalty, forgiveness, sacrifice, and faith without becoming preachy. Instead, these themes naturally emerge through the lives of memorable animal characters.

Kids go through much and are more resilient than we realize. I’ve seen children’s resilience firsthand. My late aunt grew up with an abusive, alcoholic father—my grandfather—and I’ve worked with children from broken homes who were carrying burdens adults sometimes underestimate.

That doesn’t mean children should be overwhelmed with darkness. It means we shouldn’t assume they are incapable of wrestling with difficult realities.

My daughters have watched movies and read books where the main character dies. They feel for the character. The tragedy impacts them.

I decided to make the characters go through tragedy so readers will feel and be impacted. I didn’t make Rhubarb a mean drunk because I didn’t want to scare the kids, so I did set limits. I also wanted the characters to be relatable. Life is not rainbows and sunshine. Characters are not all good and all bad. So I put the characters in difficult situations and show both the good and bad sides of each.

Bart’s nephews arrive, shooting kittens with foam darts, and leave, feeding one with a dropper. What
actually changes a cruel kid?

I have Bart speak sternly to his nephews but not yell. To children, we are towering giants. If we yell and scream, a child will be terrified. Even if we speak gently but look down upon them, they can be intimidated and fearful. Imagine being three feet tall and having someone twice your size standing over you, angry, pointing a finger, and raising his voice. That’s what we can look like to a young child. So Bart doesn’t yell because yelling won’t change them. I wrote in depth about this in another blog.

I have Bart make them work hard. Work does something to us. It gives us purpose and satisfaction. I also have Bart let the boys feel what it is like to feed the kittens and play with the dogs. They experience the warmth and joy of doing good. That teaches more than words can.

As I point out often in the book, we need to understand why someone behaves as they do. Bart inherently understood his nephews, and I bring that out by showing his thoughts.

Bart also doesn’t lecture. He asks questions and lets his nephews answer. This prompts them to consider which is better: being cruel or being kind.

I believe that’s how you change a cruel kid.

A parent hears their child repeat something ugly they picked up at school. Based on this book, what
should happen next in that house?

This should be a conversation starter, not a time for a lecture. We need to understand what happened and why. We need to ask our child why they think another child behaved as they did, to consider what may be happening in the life of the one who did or said something ugly. I give some insights into having those difficult discussions in this blog.

Conclusion

Redeeming Rhubarb was never meant to be a book that children simply finish and put back on the shelf. I wrote it to start conversations—about prejudice, forgiveness, choices, consequences, and what can happen when we’re willing to look beyond a label and understand the person on the other side. As Reading With Your Kids put it:

Some books entertain.

Some books teach.

And every once in a while, a book quietly challenges readers—children and adults alike—to examine the assumptions they carry in their own hearts.

Redeeming Rhubarb is one of those rare books.

To help families continue those conversations, I’ve created a free companion guide to Redeeming Rhubarb with chapter-by-chapter questions and activities.

Let’s keep the discussion going.

Choosing Books That Teach Life Lessons

Posted on by Bob Richley
Family reading books in a warmly lit living room with bookshelf and fireplace

The Importance of Teaching Values Through Literature

The stories we read with our children often shape them more deeply than our lectures ever can. Books are powerful tools for shaping a child’s worldview. Reading with our kids can help develop empathy, problem-solving skills, and complex behaviors in a safe, relatable context. Focus on the Family writes that reading with our kids develops parts of the brain that ignite visual imagery, comprehension, and word meaning. When we watch TV or are on a screen, we don’t need to use our imagination, but as we hear words read or read them ourselves, we must imagine.

Focus on the Family also says reading develops character, especially when we discuss what we read. Characters make choices in stories. Ask whether they are good or bad choices. What are the consequences of those choices? According to Focus on the Family, “Children whose parents read to them develop emotional and social skills quickly, and learn to effectively employ them in daily lives.” I’ve been reading to my kids since they were babies. I believe my kids are emotionally healthy and have wonderful social skills. We are told consistently what polite, thoughtful kids we have.

Research shows that regularly reading together boosts brain receptivity to learning and enhances social skills and emotional understanding. Books build vocabulary, spark creativity, and provide an anchor for parent-child bonding. The Children’s Mind Institute says, “By reading to your child starting at a young age, even before they’re able to communicate verbally, you help lay the neurological groundwork for effective language use and literacy. That’s partly because books expose children to vocabulary and grammar that they wouldn’t normally hear.” When we read to our children, they hear words they don’t know. The context gives them hints at the meaning.

Criteria for Selecting the Best Children’s Books

When choosing books for your kids, consider what qualities make a children’s book effective in teaching values.

  • Engaging Content: If you’ve not read the book yourself, check out the summary and reviews. Know your child and their interests. Will the content engage them? For example, does your child like animals, adventure, fantasy, or mystery? Do others find the story entertaining?
  • Relatable and Flawed Characters: Children naturally identify with imperfect characters because they recognize themselves in them. Characters in books need to be imperfect for the child to relate to them. They should make both mistakes and good choices. When characters experience recognizable emotions (like frustration, jealousy, or fear), children’s own feelings are validated. It helps make them more receptive to the book’s message. For example, Reepicheep in The Chronicles of Narnia is brave and skillful, but when he loses his tail, he’s ashamed and demoralized.
  • Moral Lesson: Intended or not, books contain lessons for children. Characters make choices, right or wrong. Events happen that require response. What is the book attempting to teach the child? What lessons are inherently contained in the story?
  • Show, Don’t Tell: Choose books that don’t sermonize. Children will learn more from what we do than what we say. The same is true for books; rather than explicitly stating a moral, the most effective stories show characters navigating dilemmas where the consequences of their choices unfold naturally.
  • Opportunities for Discussion: I am a huge proponent of not just reading to kids, but also discussing the book. Ask questions. Listen to the child’s answer. The best books spark “teachable moments.” They naturally lend themselves to post-reading conversations where parents and educators can ask open-ended questions and relate the story to the child’s own life.
  • Age-Appropriate Complexity: If the book is over a child’s level of understanding or experience, they will likely disengage. The moral conflict needs to be simple enough for the target age group to understand, allowing the child to build empathy and prosocial behaviors like sharing, kindness, and honesty.

My Choice of 12 Children’s Books That Teach Values

Classic:

The Hobbit

Summary

Published in 1937, ⁠The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit recruited by Gandalf and thirteen dwarves. Bilbo leaves his sheltered life to help reclaim their ancestral home and treasure from the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 9–12. The prose is more demanding than a picture book, and some of the peril (goblins, Smaug) can be intense for younger kids, but the humor and adventure make it accessible by upper elementary age.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Navigating a Huge World: Bilbo is small, sheltered, and often overwhelmed, mirroring a child’s experience of navigating a large, intimidating world.

Moral Lessons

  • Transformation: Bilbo evolves from an unwilling homebody into a courageous adventurer who confronts a deadly dragon.
  • Morality and Grace: The story emphasizes difficult choices. Bilbo’s ultimate victory is not his sword-fighting, but his moral choice to spare Gollum’s life in the goblin tunnels.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary

⁠To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1960 novel, is set in Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s Great Depression. Young Scout Finch and her brother Jem learn about racism and human cruelty as their father, Atticus, motivated by his principles, defends a Black man falsely accused of a crime.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 12+. This one deals directly with racism, violence, and injustice. It’s best suited for middle schoolers and up, ideally with a parent or teacher present to help unpack the harder themes.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Scout’s Curiosity: Kids will relate to Scout, a tomboy in overalls who gets into fights and asks her dad questions when she does not understand the world.
  • Jem’s Spirit: Kids will connect with Jem’s thrill-seeking spirit, especially when he leads games acting out local rumors.

Moral Lessons

  • Empathy: Scout learns to understand others by “walking around in their skin.” Jem matures by shielding his sister from the trauma of the trial.
  • Courage: Atticus teaches that bravery is not about physical fighting, as Scout does, but standing by one’s principles even when you know you are bound to lose.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Summary

In C.S. Lewis’s 1950 classic, ⁠The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, four siblings—Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan—discover a magical world hidden inside a wardrobe. They must unite with the lion, Aslan, to defeat an evil witch and end an eternal winter.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 7–10. Gentle enough for a strong independent reader or a read-aloud for younger kids, though the witch and battle scenes may need extra reassurance for more sensitive children.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Lucy’s Disbelief: Children understand the frustration of Lucy, who is not believed by her siblings when she tells the truth.
  • Edmund’s Temptation: Kids relate to Edmund being tempted by sweets and power to betray his family.
  • Flawed Leaders: Peter is a relatable older brother who doubts his own abilities and fails to trust Lucy at first.
  • Practical Siblings: Older children will see themselves in Susan, the practical sister who eventually matures into a gentle person.

Moral Lessons

  • The Dangers of Betrayal and Greed: Edmund’s greed for power and “Turkish Delight” blinds him, leading to the betrayal of his siblings.
  • Radical Forgiveness: True forgiveness is shown when the siblings and Aslan choose not to constantly remind Edmund of his past mistakes, offering him a completely clean slate.
  • Courage and Responsibility: Each child faces moments requiring bravery, from Peter stepping up as a leader to Lucy standing up for the truth when others doubt her.
  • Self-Sacrifice and Redemption: Aslan’s decision to lay down his life to save Edmund mirrors the ultimate act of redeeming, selfless love.

Charlotte’s Web

Summary

E.B. White’s 1952 beloved novel, ⁠Charlotte’s Web, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Wilbur the pig and a clever barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur faces slaughter, Charlotte hatches a brilliant plan to save him.

We read this one together as a family, a chapter a day. To date, it remains my favorite family time. I thoroughly enjoyed the story as much as my children did.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 6–9. A classic early chapter book. Be prepared for questions about death, since Charlotte’s fate is a central, tender part of the story.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Fern’s Maturation: Kids see their own growth in Fern as she explores new interests, like the fair and boys, and transitions away from farm life.
  • Avery’s Mischief: Children relate to Avery’s fun-seeking nature, his fascination with “gross” things like frogs, and the freedom of exploring a fair.
  • Wilbur’s Insecurity: Readers connect with Wilbur’s fear, uncertainty, and feelings of inadequacy before he gains confidence.

Moral Lessons

  • Empathy and Growth: Fern’s growth reflects a deep sense of empathy as she protects the vulnerable and transitions into exploring new interests.
  • Kindness and Sacrifice: Charlotte, who acts as a Christlike figure, devotes herself entirely to her promise to save Wilbur, showing the profound impact of selflessness.

A Little Princess

Summary

⁠A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett centers on Sara Crewe, who goes from a wealthy, imaginative student to a penniless servant at a London boarding school. Despite incredible hardship and persecution, she never loses her dignity or inner strength.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 8–11. The themes of cruelty and poverty are handled with emotional nuance, making this a good fit once kids can sit with a story that isn’t resolved quickly.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Sara’s Imagination: Children deeply relate to Sara Crewe through her vivid imagination, her deep empathy for others, and her emotional strength when facing unfair treatment.
  • Ermengarde feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork or lacking self-confidence: Kids can learn from Sara showing patience and see the value in helping Ermengarde study without making them feel inadequate.
  • Lottie throwing tantrums when she feels frustrated or sad: Younger kids who need a comforting older friend to help them calm down and learn to share their feelings nicely will relate to Lottie.
  • Universal desire for friendship: Becky represents peers from different socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as those working around the school. Kids can relate to the universal desire for simple friendship and understand how acts of kindness (like sharing snacks) bridge social gaps.

Moral Lessons

  • Mindset Shapes Reality: Imagination and internal hope are powerful tools that can help keep you going during the darkest of times.
  • Kindness is a Choice: Sara generously shares her hard-earned buns with a starving beggar girl despite being hungry herself.
  • Dignity Under Pressure: True strength is maintaining self-respect and refusing to let cruel people, like Miss Minchin, break your spirit.
  • The Value of Empathy: True friendship ignores social classes; Sara treats everyone, including the servant girl Becky, with the same respect as a wealthy classmate.

Heidi

Summary

Written by Johanna Spyri, Heidi follows a cheerful young orphan girl who is sent to live with her solitary, embittered grandfather in the Swiss Alps, who reluctantly looks after her. Her joyful spirit transforms his heart. Even when she is temporarily uprooted to live in the city as a companion to an invalid girl, she maintains her attitude.

This one is my personal favorite. I read it with my wife-to-be when we were dating. I was moved by the Christian themes woven throughout the book.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 7–10. A cozy, slower-paced read well suited to early elementary kids, especially those who enjoy nature and animals.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Adjusting to Big Changes: Children will easily connect with Heidi’s fear and homesickness when she is suddenly moved from her familiar mountain home to a strict, unfamiliar city environment.
  • Healing Through Play: Kids relate to how outdoor play, fresh air, and animal companionship help Heidi and her friend Clara find happiness and physical strength.
  • Feeling isolated or different: Children relate to Clara’s need for courage to try new things, her desire for true friends who treat her as an equal, and her triumph over physical and emotional limitations
  • Simple, earthy, and sometimes mischievous aspects of childhood: Children relate to Peter’s loyalty, his love of the mountains, and his complex, very human feelings of jealousy when he must share his friend’s attention.

Moral Lessons

  • The Power of Optimism: Heidi proves that a joyful, positive attitude can break through the toughest emotional walls and heal broken relationships.
  • Faith and Contentment: The story highlights trust in God’s greater plan, showing that tough times can lead to unexpected blessings if we maintain a loving heart and trust in God’s providence.
  • Redemption: Through the story of the prodigal son and Heidi’s love, her grandfather is redeemed back to God. Peter is forgiven for his crime.

The Swiss Family Robinson

Summary

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss tells the story of a Swiss family—a pastor, his wife, and their four sons—who are shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island during a fierce storm. Left to survive on their own, they use teamwork, intelligence, and the island’s natural resources to build an elaborate new life.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 8–11. The survival and adventure elements appeal to slightly older kids who can follow a longer, more descriptive narrative.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Adventure and Exploration: Every child dreams of building a treehouse, exploring wild territory, and encountering exotic animals, which the Robinson boys do daily.
  • Sibling Dynamics: Kids will recognize the unique traits, rivalries, and cooperative moments among the four brothers as they work together.
  • Imperfection: Kids will see that the boys are not perfect. They tease each other. Sometimes, they make mistakes and sometimes they make good choices.

Moral Lessons

  • Resourcefulness and Self-Reliance: The novel teaches the value of hard work, thriftiness, and using one’s mind to solve complex, unexpected problems.
  • Family Unity and Faith: Survival is entirely dependent on the family remaining united and trusting in God’s providence to carry them through natural disasters and dangers.

Pollyanna

Summary

Eleanor H. Porter’s classic novel Pollyanna features a young orphan girl who goes to live with her wealthy, stern Aunt Polly. Pollyanna brings with her the “Glad Game”—an optimistic philosophy taught by her late father to find something to be glad about in every single situation, no matter how bleak.

This story impacted me personally. I can be very negative in my thinking. I needed to incorporate the “Pollyanna principle” in my own life. I still do. Her thinking is based on Biblical principles. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” and Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” In the book, the game itself was based on “rejoicing” texts of Scripture, over 800 of them.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 7–10. Simple and optimistic in tone, though the broken leg and hospital scenes may prompt some gentle conversations.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Dealing with Strict Adults: Kids heavily relate to Pollyanna trying to navigate the rigid, confusing rules set by an emotionally distant guardian.
  • Finding Joy in Small Things: Children naturally gravitate toward Pollyanna’s playful worldview and her ability to turn mundane life into an encouraging game.
  • Struggle: When Pollyanna breaks her leg, she struggles to find something good.

Moral Lessons

  • An Attitude of Gratitude: The “Glad Game” acts as a powerful moral blueprint, showing readers that while we cannot always choose our circumstances, we can always choose our perspective.
  • Community Transformation: A single child’s persistent kindness and joy can completely alter the emotional landscape of an entire town.
  • Reward in helping others: Pollyanna transforms everyone in her community by helping them. They, in turn, help her when she is in need.
  • Rejoice regardless of circumstances: Pollyanna is a beautiful example of “Rejoice always. Again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. Pollyanna doesn’t preach, so she lives out the principle.

Ramona and Beezus

Summary

Ramona and Beezus by Beverly Cleary explores the humorous and chaotic relationship between four-year-old Ramona Quimby and her older sister, Beatrice (Beezus). Ramona’s wild imagination and unpredictable antics constantly test the patience of her responsible big sister.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 5–8. One of the most accessible books on the list — perfect for early readers or as a read-aloud for preschoolers.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Sibling Frustrations: Younger kids will relate to Ramona’s desperate desire to be included and noticed, while older kids will perfectly understand Beezus’s annoyance at having her space disrupted.
  • Misunderstood Intentions: Children connect with Ramona because her disasters usually spark from creativity or a desire to help, not from maliciousness.

Moral Lessons

  • Unconditional Family Love: Despite the daily bickering and embarrassing moments, the sisters learn that their bond is irreplaceable and that loving someone means accepting their flaws.
  • Patience and Empathy: The story encourages kids to view life from their sibling’s perspective to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Modern:

The Underland Chronicles

Summary

Written by Suzanne Collins, The Underland Chronicles (beginning with Gregor the Overlander) follows eleven-year-old Gregor and his toddler sister Boots after they fall through a grate in their New York City laundry room. They discover a dark subterranean world on the brink of war, where Gregor discovers he is part of an ancient prophecy.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 10–13. War, loss, and moral ambiguity run throughout, making this best for tweens ready for more complex, weightier storytelling.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Responsibility Over Siblings: Older siblings will deeply relate to Gregor’s fierce, protective instinct over his little sister Boots while navigating terrifying surroundings.
  • The Feeling of Being Ordinary: Gregor feels like a completely normal, working-class kid, making his sudden thrust into a position of leadership highly resonant for readers.

Moral Lessons

  • The Cost of Conflict: The series handles the realities of war neutrally and maturely, teaching that violence carries a heavy toll for all sides and that peace requires immense sacrifice.
  • Overcoming Prejudice: Gregor must learn to look past his instinctual fear of giant bugs, bats, and rats to form alliances based on character rather than appearance.

Tuesdays at the Castle

Summary

Jessica Day George’s Tuesdays at the Castle centers on Princess Celie, who lives in Castle Glower—a magical structure that grows new rooms, corridors, and towers every Tuesday. When her parents, the King and Queen, go missing after an ambush, Celie must use her intimate knowledge of the living castle to protect her home from treacherous foreign politicians.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 8–11. A fun, lower-stakes fantasy adventure that’s a great bridge between early chapter books and more involved fantasy s

How Kids Can Relate

  • The Love of Secret Spaces: Children love the concept of a shifting house full of hidden passages, and they can easily imagine themselves exploring alongside Celie.
  • Underestimated Capability: Kids relate to Celie because the adults overlook her due to her youth, yet she ends up being the one smartest enough to save the kingdom.

Moral Lessons

  • Loyalty and Duty: Celie demonstrates that age does not excuse a person from standing up to defend their home, family, and heritage when crisis strikes.
  • Stewardship: True leadership involves listening carefully to your environment and caring for the things entrusted to your protection.

Redeeming Rhubarb (Full disclosure: this is my novel, written to help parents engage their children in meaningful conversations about character, prejudice, forgiveness, and compassion)

Summary

Redeeming Rhubarb by Bob Richley is an animal allegory set against the real 2013 Boulder, Colorado floods. Rhubarb, a mouse, despises rats. However, when a devastating flood ruins their home, his daughter Strawberry is forced to survive alongside them, questioning her father’s biases after a rat named Barnabas saves her family.

Age Appropriateness

Ages 8–12. The flood setting and themes of prejudice are approachable but meaningful, making it a strong pick for family discussion at this age.

How Kids Can Relate

  • Questioning Rules: Kids relate to Strawberry’s internal dilemma of wanting to honor her father while realizing that what he taught her about “outsiders” doesn’t match reality.
  • Surviving the Storm: Children understand the fear of chaotic, unexpected disruptions to their safe home environments.

Moral Lessons

  • Confronting Generational Prejudice: The story serves as a powerful allegory about how fear, bias, and hatred can be passed down—and how personal experiences can break those cycles.
  • Choosing Kindness Over Fear: True courage is defined as having the strength to change your heart, look past old divides, and show compassion to former enemies.
  • Loving your enemy: Barnabas doesn’t preach. He consistently shows up, helps, guides and risks his own life for someone who despises him.
  • Forgiveness: Barnabas is able to forgive Rhubarb because he has been forgiven.

How Parents and Educators Can Use These Books

Bringing These Books to Life

Reading the story is just the beginning. Here are a few simple ways to help these lessons stick.

Questions You Can Ask About Any Book

You don’t need a different set of questions for each title. These work for nearly every book on this list:

  • What choice did [character] make? Would you have made the same one?
  • How do you think that choice made others feel?
  • Has something like this ever happened to you?
  • What would you have done differently?
  • What are some good character traits of the characters in the book? What are some of the bad ones?

Use this discussion question guide for Redeeming Rhubarb as a guide not only for Redeeming Rhubarb but also as a template for other books.

Start Young, Grow With Them

This list isn’t meant to be read start to finish in one summer. Books like Ramona and Beezus or Heidi are wonderful entry points for younger children, while To Kill a Mockingbird and The Underland Chronicles are better suited for older kids ready to sit with harder questions. Consider this less of a reading list and more of a reading path — one you can return to over several years as your child grows into new levels of understanding.

Let Kids Respond Creatively

Discussion doesn’t have to mean sitting at the table with a list of questions. Invite your child to draw their favorite scene, write a letter to a character, or imagine an alternate ending. You could do experiments around events in the story. For example, Redeeming Rhubarb happens during the Boulder flood. Try making a small sand hill and slowly pouring water over it. Make a similar hill and quickly pour water over it. Notice the difference. Make food mentioned in the books. When we read Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish, we made lemon meringue pie. After reading Heidi, try making toasted goat cheese. These creative responses often reveal more about what a child understood — and felt — than a conversation alone.

Bring the Story Into Everyday Life

The real payoff comes when a book’s lesson shows up outside of reading time. When your child shares a toy, you might say, “That reminds me of when Sara shared her buns even though she was hungry too.” Connecting a real moment back to a story helps the lesson move from the page into your child’s own character.

Revisit Old Favorites

Don’t be afraid to reread. A book like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe means something different to a six-year-old than it does to a twelve-year-old. As your child grows, so will their understanding of forgiveness, courage, and sacrifice — even from a story they’ve heard a dozen times before.

No single book will shape a child’s character. But over months and years, stories become part of the moral imagination. They help children picture courage before they’re called to be brave, forgiveness before they’re asked to forgive, and kindness before they have the chance to practice it. Reading together isn’t just about raising good readers—it’s about raising wise people.

What books shaped your own childhood values? I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments.

    Review of Pixie And The Green Book Mystery by Caroline Grace illustrated by Encarna Dorado

    Posted on by Bob Richley

    Do you remember classics like Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and Snow White? What would you do if the stories were all mixed up and the characters were alive asking for your help? Well, that’s the challenge, Pixie finds herself facing in the children’s chapter book, Pixie And The Green Book Mystery by Caroline Grace illustrated by Encarna Dorado. Pixie is having a bad day until she goes to her favorite place, the library. Today would not be an ordinary trip to the library to read books. Instead, she encounters Alice, Cindi, and others in need of her help.

    Pixie and The Green Book Mystery is a humorous, fun chapter book that middle schoolers will enjoy. As an adult, I found myself wondering how Pixie will solve her mysteries and dilemmas.

    As an author and a parent, I look for books that will teach my children moral lessons and good character traits. Pixie demonstrates courage, fortitude, and persistence. She doesn’t quit despite setbacks. I think there are good lessons for my girls to learn someday. The author’s purpose is to encourage reading and I think this is accomplished by Pixie’s love for books.

    I would recommend this book to parent’s wanting to encourage good character traits and encourage a love for reading. I think younger readers will enjoy this and be excited to learn what happens next in this unfolding mystery/adventure.

    Author Bio

    Coraline Grace is a reader, writer, library romper, mom of four. This native Texan lives off the coast and draws inspiration from her wonderland forest

    She holds a B.A. in child psychology and a Masters in Edu. with an emphasis on reading, both supporting her passion for learning and facilitating children into becoming lifelong readers.

    Coraline’s first book, Park It! – A Guide To Austin Parks & Playgrounds was published in Austin Texas. And after trading the salt lick for the salt life she changed focus, publishing a cookbook and two Christian motivational books for success.

    But her heart has always been set on children. So she followed her passion and began writing chapter books for young readers. Pixie And The Green Mystery is the first in the series and Pixie And The Purple Mystery is coming up soon!.

    For more information visit

    http://www.libraryromp.com/p/home.html

    http://www.libraryromp.com/p/home.html

    Buy the book on Amazon

     

     

     

    Encourage Outdoor play, a review of “When a Squirrel Sings” by Shana Hollowell

    Posted on by Bob Richley

    What do your children do most of the day? Do they watch TV or play video games? Are they inside more than they are outside? I encourage my children to play outside. I go outside and play with them. I restrict their total screen time to 2 hours a day because I prefer them to play. I also read every day to my kids. I like books that help reinforce lessons I’m trying to teach them.  The sing-song story, “When the Squirrel Sings” by Shana Hollowell illustrated by Jennifer Finch is a story that does reinforce a lesson I want to teach. This book encourages children to get outside and play.

    In the narrative, a squirrel encourages children to play outside telling them it sees them and is happy watching. The story proceeds to a song done by the squirrel and other woodland creatures. The song also encourages children to play outside and observe the wonders of nature.

    The story is very simply written in a sing-song rhyming style. Young ears will appreciate the rhymes and the entertaining backyard creatures, but the real value for parents is the opportunity to reinforce the joy of being outside. I would encourage parents to read this to their children and encourage kids to get outside to play and explore nature.

    Author Bio

    Shana Hollowell is a public health professional that grew up in Windsor, Virginia. She enjoys writing stories for her 2-year-old and 2-month-old. She lives in Suffolk, Virginia with her husband, 2 babies, 4 cats, 31 koi fish and hundreds of bonsai trees.

    For more information visit

    http://www.shanahollowell.com

    But the book on Amazon

    What Does it Take to be a Man

    Posted on by Bob Richley

    The group Boston asked in 1986 “What does it take to be a man?” Often society answers that question by portraying a man as tough, strong, independent, courageous, and non-emotional. The ideal men are the John Wayne’s and Chuck Norris’s of the world.

    Tom Scholz of Boston answered the question differently with words like “a gentle hand,” tenderness,” “weak or strong” and “what you can feel.”

    In the children’s picture book, “Boys Can Be Strong & Emotional” author Esther Pia Cordova answers the question in a similar way as Scholz. Jimmy, a bear, is to become a man. He must go through a test given to him by his Dad. The tests are challenging and frightening. Jimmy decides he needs help, so he seeks both advice and help from his friends. For the final challenge, Jimmy wisely decides that it is too dangerous.

    Jimmy learns that to be a man, it is good to seek help because “real men are not always good at everything”. He learned that real men “make smart decisions.” It’s a smart decision not to do something too dangerous. Jimmy learns that real men can cry as he witnesses a tear on his dad’s face. He learns that real men “can still have fun.”

    These lessons are contrary to the messages our boys often receive from society. It is important that children understand the lessons being taught them when they watch movies, play games and interact with peers. When those messages contradict what we want children to learn, it is our responsibility as parents, educators, and caregivers to make children aware and to present the lessons we do want them to learn. Cordova gives us a tool in her story to use to do just that. As we read this story we can engage our children and ask, “What should Jimmy do?” ”Is it good to ask help? “ “Should he do something that is dangerous?”
    I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants children to learn that men need to ask for help, need to make wise decisions and can be emotional.

    Author Bio:

    When Esther was 7 years old she had a phase during which she refused to do her homework alone. She thought she couldn’t do it. This is far too often what we tell ourselves, even as adults. Recently, Ester attended a coding bootcamp. The experience was the most challenging thing she had ever done, but that is where she learned about the growth mindset and the powerful word YET. It’s such a simple but important concept. Esther wanted to share this discovery with kids everywhere and help parents to embrace the growth mindset as well. She believes that this simple concept will help children overcome their fears and strive to learn as much as they can in life. She wants people to stop saying “I can’t do that,” and start saying “I can’t do that, YET!”

    For more information go to

    http://powerofyet.com

    https://www.facebook.com/powerofyet/

    Review of “I Can’t Do that Yet”

    Posted on by Bob Richley

    What potential do we hope our daughters reach? As a father of two daughters, I don’t want my daughters potential limited by others or their own perceived limitations. I know my daughters are intelligent and gifted. I want them to discover their talents and become the best they can be.

    I Can’t Do That, Yet by Esther Pia Cordova, illustrated by Maima W Adiputr is a book that encourages girls to reach their potential. Enna is a girl, who says “I can’t do that” when asked to read. She then has a dream in which she sees a potential self as someone who can solve a server issue. As an IT developer myself, I can appreciate this example and is one which my daughters can relate to. She then sees other potential future selves. When she wakes she changes her phrase to “I can’t do that, YET.”

    I recommend this book to any parent or caretaker of young girls. I appreciate books like this that teach valuable, important lessons to our kids.

    Author Bio:

    When Esther was 7 years old she had a phase during which she refused to do her homework alone. She thought she couldn’t do it. This is far too often what we tell ourselves, even as adults. Recently, Ester attended a coding bootcamp. The experience was the most challenging thing she had ever done, but that is where she learned about the growth mindset and the powerful word YET. It’s such a simple but important concept. Esther wanted to share this discovery with kids everywhere and help parents to embrace the growth mindset as well. She believes that this simple concept will help children overcome their fears and strive to learn as much as they can in life. She wants people to stop saying “I can’t do that,” and start saying “I can’t do that, YET!”

    For more information go to

    http://powerofyet.com

    https://www.facebook.com/powerofyet/

    A review of The Underground Toy Society Helps Beary Bear: A Lesson in Cleaning Your Room.

    Posted on by Bob Richley

    How many times as parents have we heard, “Where is my _____? I can’t find my ___.” It is a major tragedy for a little child when they can’t find a toy they want. It is worse when it is that special toy that goes with them everywhere. For my daughter is her blue dog. If we can’t find that little-stuffed toy, her little world is in crisis. She can’t go to bed without it.
    I’m trying to teach my daughter the importance of putting away her toys. If she had a place for each toy and each toy was in its place, nothing would be lost. Of course, that never happens which is why things go missing.
    As a parent, I know I need ways to reinforce this lesson. The worst time to do it is in those panic moments when the precious item is lost. I’m thankful for cartoons like “Hello Kitty.” In one episode, Kitty loses her precious toy and must clean her room to find it. That is a good opportunity to enforce and teach the lesson of cleaning the bedroom and putting away toys.
    Another good way to teach is through the stories we read. I’m always thankful for books that teach lessons I want my children to learn. The Underground Toy Society Helps Beary Bear by Jessica D. Adams is such a book. Beary the Bear is lost. Beary is that precious toy of Janelle. Beary is not found until Jenelle cleans her room. Reading this story to kids gives a great opportunity to ask questions to teach lessons such as cleaning one’s room. Any children can relate to a lost toy. Parents can ask questions such as “How does Jenelle feel?” to help the child empathize. Parents can ask “What did Jenelle have to do to find the bear? Could she have found it sooner?”
    I would recommend this book as a means to teach and reinforce the lesson of cleaning one’s room. It would make a good bedtime story.

    Author Bio:

    Jessica grew up in Catawissa, Pennsylvania. She attended Southern Columbia Area High School. After high school, she attended Bloomsburg University for two years, and then Thomas Jefferson University for two years. She graduated with honors with a degree in Occupational Therapy.
    She still lives in PA with her husband, Greg, and two daughters. Her daughters are the inspiration for her books, and they help with the illustrations in most of the picture books about The Underground Toy Society.

    For more information go to

    https://onesweetday48.wixsite.com/undergroundtoysociet

    https://www.facebook.com/theundergroundtoysociety/

    Teach Patience: a Review of There’s Something Pokey in My Shoe by Kelly Jean Lietaeret

    Posted on by Bob Richley

    What is one of the best ways to teach? It is to do what I just did: ask a question. When we ask a question, we invite our student to think. We are not asking to memorize facts, but rather to draw upon facts and experience to reach a conclusion. This is especially true for teaching values. While the best way to teach values is to model the value, it should be supplemented and enforced in other ways. I’m an advocate of reading to children AND asking them questions to teach valuable lessons. The story There’s Something Pokey in my Shoe by Kelly Jean Lietaeret provides us with an opportunity for both. Not only does the story have a lesson, but the author also provides questions to ask to enforce the lesson.
    Little Lizzie has something stuck in her shoe. She has plans with her family to bike and hike in the woods. Something in her shoe requires her to pause her plan to figure out what’s poking her. To make matters worse, she’s also lost her earring. Rather than whine and complain as many children would do, she makes the mature decision to solve the problem. It means delaying her fun to take off shoes and socks.
    This wonderfully illustrated story is told from Lizzie’s perspective in a fun sing-song rhyme. I think young kids will enjoy the rhymes and the simple story. All kids can relate to having something pokey in their shoe. I know my little daughters often get wood chips, rocks, and sand in their shoes. They must delay their fun while Daddy removes the irritating items.
    The best part of this books is the questions at the end. This gives parents a wonderful opportunity to discuss the valuable lessons of the simple story. I would recommend not only using these questions but ask some of your own from your child’s experience. I would ask, “How do you feel when you have wood chips in your shoe?”
    I recommend this book to any parent, grandparent or caregiver of young children.

    Author Bio:

    Kelly Jean is a mom of 4 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Married for 20+ years to my Prince Charming. Loves hot coffee, loud music, and fuzzy socks. This is her second book released. Her first book, I Wish I Was Big, was released in October, 2014.

    For more info go to

    http://www.wordlove.org

    https://www.facebook.com/booksandblessings/

    From the Author:

    This little book has a big lesson. We all encounter problems every day, but do we handle them the correct way? The book contains discussion questions in the back that encourage starting with a story and ending with a conversation. There is also a word scramble and word search containing key vocabulary from the book.