Picture Books with Lessons
Drawing Conclusions/Making Inferences from King George County Schools
10 picture books that teach important life lessons from The Art of Simple
1. Henry Builds a Cabin by D.B. Johnson
This sweet story takes its inspiration from the life of Thoreau and his home at Walden Pond. The main character, a bear called Henry, proceeds to build his dream house–a one-room cabin.
THE LIFE LESSON:Simple living is good living. Bigger is not necessarily better.
2. Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Leo can’t do the things his friends can. He can’t read, write, or even eat neatly. His father is worried, but his mother believes he’ll get there when he’s ready.
THE LIFE LESSON:You will shine in your own time and that is more than okay.
3. William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
He has a basketball and a train set, but what William really wants is a doll. The boys and men in his life discourage him, but his grandmother shows a little more insight. She sees the doll as training for when William will have a family of his own.
THE LIFE LESSON:Don’t be limited by gender stereotypes. Nurturing children is a job for everyone in the family.
4. The Little Brute Family by Russell Hoban
This delightful story, from the authors of the Frances books, is a must read. The Little Brutes spend their days feeling miserable about life, and everything seems to go wrong. Then one day Baby Brute discovers a little wandering good feeling, which spreads and transforms the entire family.
THE LIFE LESSON:By focusing on the good in our world we see more of it.The most important aspect of life is your attitude.
5. Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola
Four-year-old Tommy loves visiting his two grandmothers every Sunday. But one day he rushes upstairs to find that his Nana Upstairs is not in her bed as usual. This was one of the first children’s picture books written to deal with the topic of death.
THE LIFE LESSON:Special family memories remain with us, even when our loved ones are no longer there.
6. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Horton the elephant gets coaxed into sitting on the egg of a lazy bird, who fails in keeping her promise to return. But the animal has given his word and will not break it. “I meant what I said and I said what I meant; an elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.”
THE LIFE LESSON:It’s important to keep your promises. Faithfulness has its own rewards.
7. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
Whoever You Are reminds us that children may have different looks, live in different countries, and eat different foods, but they all smile, laugh, and cry.
THE LIFE LESSON:I live in a big, fascinating world–full of children just like me.
8. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
This Caldecott Winner tells the true story of a boy whose passion for studying snowflakes turned into his life’s work.His parents invest their life savings in the needed equipment to take his interest to the next level.
THE LIFE LESSON:Exploring your interests and following your dreams is important.
9. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The lovely little house lives in the country, surrounded by children who play in her peaceful orchard. She feels happy and beautiful.
But over time, roads and lights get closer and closer, until the house finds herself in the middle of the crowded city. She is dilapidated and alone. Eventually the home gets moved to the country where she finds joy again.
THE LIFE LESSON:Advancement isn’t always progress. The natural world is our inheritance.
10. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
While the other bulls fight with each other,Ferdinand loves to sit under a tree and smell flowers. One day, just as a group of men arrive to observe the bulls, Ferdinand happens to sit on a bee. The actions that result lead the men to assume they’ve found the fiercest bull in the pasture.
Imagine their surprise when they get him in the ring!
THE LIFE LESSON:Being who you are is more important than being who others think you are.
And check out 50 Inspiring Children's Books with a Positive Message
- Duck & Goose, Tad Hills
- My Lucky Day, Keiko Kasza
- In the Snow: Who’s Been Here?, Lindsey Barrett George
- Smokey Night , Eve Bunting
- The Stranger, Chris Van Allsburg
- The Art Lesson, Tomie de Paola
- The Story of Ruby Bridges, Robert Coles
- Tough Boris, Mem Fox
- Stellaluna, Jannell Cannon
- The Paper Bag Princess, Robert Munsch
- Is Your Mama a Llama?, Deborah Guarino
- Catwings, Ursula LeGuin
- Wreck of the Zephyr, Chris Van Allsburg
- Sunshine Home , Eve Bunting
- Dandelions, Eve Bunting
- Teammates, Peter Golenbock
- Pink and Say, Patricia Polacco
10 picture books that teach important life lessons from The Art of Simple
1. Henry Builds a Cabin by D.B. Johnson
This sweet story takes its inspiration from the life of Thoreau and his home at Walden Pond. The main character, a bear called Henry, proceeds to build his dream house–a one-room cabin.
THE LIFE LESSON:Simple living is good living. Bigger is not necessarily better.
2. Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Leo can’t do the things his friends can. He can’t read, write, or even eat neatly. His father is worried, but his mother believes he’ll get there when he’s ready.
THE LIFE LESSON:You will shine in your own time and that is more than okay.
3. William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
He has a basketball and a train set, but what William really wants is a doll. The boys and men in his life discourage him, but his grandmother shows a little more insight. She sees the doll as training for when William will have a family of his own.
THE LIFE LESSON:Don’t be limited by gender stereotypes. Nurturing children is a job for everyone in the family.
4. The Little Brute Family by Russell Hoban
This delightful story, from the authors of the Frances books, is a must read. The Little Brutes spend their days feeling miserable about life, and everything seems to go wrong. Then one day Baby Brute discovers a little wandering good feeling, which spreads and transforms the entire family.
THE LIFE LESSON:By focusing on the good in our world we see more of it.The most important aspect of life is your attitude.
5. Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola
Four-year-old Tommy loves visiting his two grandmothers every Sunday. But one day he rushes upstairs to find that his Nana Upstairs is not in her bed as usual. This was one of the first children’s picture books written to deal with the topic of death.
THE LIFE LESSON:Special family memories remain with us, even when our loved ones are no longer there.
6. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Horton the elephant gets coaxed into sitting on the egg of a lazy bird, who fails in keeping her promise to return. But the animal has given his word and will not break it. “I meant what I said and I said what I meant; an elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.”
THE LIFE LESSON:It’s important to keep your promises. Faithfulness has its own rewards.
7. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
Whoever You Are reminds us that children may have different looks, live in different countries, and eat different foods, but they all smile, laugh, and cry.
THE LIFE LESSON:I live in a big, fascinating world–full of children just like me.
8. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
This Caldecott Winner tells the true story of a boy whose passion for studying snowflakes turned into his life’s work.His parents invest their life savings in the needed equipment to take his interest to the next level.
THE LIFE LESSON:Exploring your interests and following your dreams is important.
9. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The lovely little house lives in the country, surrounded by children who play in her peaceful orchard. She feels happy and beautiful.
But over time, roads and lights get closer and closer, until the house finds herself in the middle of the crowded city. She is dilapidated and alone. Eventually the home gets moved to the country where she finds joy again.
THE LIFE LESSON:Advancement isn’t always progress. The natural world is our inheritance.
10. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
While the other bulls fight with each other,Ferdinand loves to sit under a tree and smell flowers. One day, just as a group of men arrive to observe the bulls, Ferdinand happens to sit on a bee. The actions that result lead the men to assume they’ve found the fiercest bull in the pasture.
Imagine their surprise when they get him in the ring!
THE LIFE LESSON:Being who you are is more important than being who others think you are.
And check out 50 Inspiring Children's Books with a Positive Message