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:
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
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.
