Baby, Best Books, Children & Teen, Kids, Parenting, YA (Young Adult)

The Best Children’s Books About Life

“What are the best Children’s books about Life ?” We looked at 92 of the top Kids Life books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 7 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Kids Life ” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 75+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!



Top 7 Best Children’s Books About Life



7 .) Corduroy written by Don Freeman

Corduroy

Lists It Appears On:

  • Shepherds Friendly
  • Spiked Parenting

A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him he finds what he has always wanted most of all.



6 .) Have You Filled a Bucket Today written by Carol McCloud

Have You Filled a Bucket Today

Lists It Appears On:

  • Mothers Niche
  • Shepherds Friendly

Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behaviour as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.



5 .) Oh, The Places You’ll Go written by Dr. Seuss

Oh, The Places You’ll Go

Lists It Appears On:

  • Rhythms Of Play
  • Spiked Parenting

Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion; and being in charge of your actions.



4 .) The Giving Tree written by Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree

Lists It Appears On:

  • Rhythms Of Play
  • Spiked Parenting

“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.” So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk…and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.



3 .) The Kissing Hand written by Audrey Penn

The Kissing Hand

Lists It Appears On:

  • Mothers Niche
  • Spiked Parenting

When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.



2 .) The Way I Act written by Janian Cain

The Way I Act

Lists It Appears On:

  • Mothers Niche
  • Rhythms Of Play

Rhyming text and color illustrations introduce young readers to ways in which children exemplify positive behaviors.



1 .) The Lorax written by Dr. Seuss

The Lorax

Lists It Appears On:

  • Rhythms Of Play
  • Shepherds Friendly
  • Spiked Parenting

“UNLESS someone like you…cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better…It’s not.” Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth’s natural beauty.




The 75+ Additional Best Kids Books About Life and growing up



#BooksAuthorsLists
8A Chair For My MotherVera B. WilliamsSpiked Parenting
9Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayJudith ViorstSpiked Parenting
10All Are WelcomeAlexandra Penfold and Suzanne KaufmanBook Riot
11All the WorldLiz Garton ScanlonRhythms Of Play
12An Awesome BookDallas ClaytonRhythms Of Play
13An Awesome Book of ThanksDallas ClaytonRhythms Of Play
14Baxter’s Backyard Mothers Niche
15Be HappyMonica SheehanRhythms Of Play
16Be KindPat Zietlow Miller and Jen HillBook Riot
17Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your BodyChristine NorthrupRhythms Of Play
18Beautiful HandsBret Baumgarten and Kathryn OtoshiRhythms Of Play
19Beautiful OopsBarney SalzburgRhythms Of Play
20ChrysanthemumKevin HenkesSpiked Parenting
21Cookies: Bite Sized Life Lessons Mothers Niche
22Dancing in the WingsDebbie AllenShepherds Friendly
23Do Unto Otters Mothers Niche
24Don’t Squeal Unless it’s a Big Deal Mothers Niche
25Dreams Do Come True… All They Need Is You!Mike DooleyRhythms Of Play
26ElmerDavid McKeeShepherds Friendly
27Fanny’s Dream Mothers Niche
28Fill a Bucket Mothers Niche
29Giraffes Can’t Dance Mothers Niche
30Good Night MoonMargaret Wise BrownSpiked Parenting
31Gregory The Terrible Eater Mothers Niche
32Guardians of BeingEckhart TolleRhythms Of Play
33Hooway for Wodney Wat Mothers Niche
34How Are You Feeling TodayMolly PotterShepherds Friendly
35How Full Is Your Bucket? For KidsTom Rath and Mary ReckmeyerSpiked Parenting
36I am EnoughGrace Byers and Keturah A. BoboBook Riot
37I Am YogaSusan Verde and Peter H. ReynoldsRhythms Of Play
38I Am: Why Two Little Words Mean So MuchDr. Wayne W. DyerRhythms Of Play
39I Believe in MeConnie BowenRhythms Of Play
40I Just Don’t Like the Sound of No! Mothers Niche
41I think I amLouise L. HayRhythms Of Play
42I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato Mothers Niche
43Incredible You! 10 Ways to Let Your Greatness Shine ThroughDr. Wayne W. DyerRhythms Of Play
44Interrupting Chicken Mothers Niche
45It’s Not What You’ve GotDr. Wayne W. DyerRhythms Of Play
46It’s Time to Start Using Your Words Mothers Niche
47Lacey Walker, Non Stop Talker Mothers Niche
48Lilly’s Purple Plastic PurseKevin HenkesSpiked Parenting
49LOVES Mothers Niche
50MatildaRoald DahlShepherds Friendly
51Mean Jean Recess Queen Mothers Niche
52My Day Is Ruined!: A Story Teaching Flexible ThinkingBryan Smith and Lisa M. GriffinBook Riot
53No Excuses! How What You Say Can Get in Your WayDr. Wayne W. DyerRhythms Of Play
54On My Way to a Happy LifeDeepak ChopraRhythms Of Play
55One of Those DaysAmy Krouse RosenthalRhythms Of Play
56Only One YouLinda KranzRhythms Of Play
57Pete the Cat: I Love My White ShoesJames DeanRhythms Of Play
58Reach for the Stars: and Other Advice for Life’s JourneySerge BlochRhythms Of Play
59See You Later, Procrastinator! (Get It Done)Pamela Espeland and Elizabeth VerdickBook Riot
60Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Brush!Che RudkoBook Riot
61Some Helpful Tips for a Better World and a Happier LifeRebecca DoughtyRhythms Of Play
62Spaghetti in a Hot Dog BunMaria DismondyRhythms Of Play
63Spoon Mothers Niche
64Suppose You Meet a Dinosaur (A First Book of Manners)Judy Sierra and Tim BowersBook Riot
65Swallows and AmazonsArthur RansomeShepherds Friendly
66SwimmyLeo LionniSpiked Parenting
67Sylvester and the Magic PebbleWilliam SteigSpiked Parenting
68The Blessings Jar Mothers Niche
69The Day You BeginJacqueline Woodson and Rafael LopezBook Riot
70The Family BookTodd ParrShepherds Friendly
71The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes Mothers Niche
72The Girl Who Thought In PicturesJulia Finley MoscaRhythms Of Play
73The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain ForestLynne CherrySpiked Parenting
74The Huge Bag of WorriesVirginia IronsideShepherds Friendly
75The Little Engine That CouldWatty PiperSpiked Parenting
76The Little Red Hen Mothers Niche
77The Mixed-Up ChameleonEric CarleSpiked Parenting
78The Most Magnificent ThingAshley SpiresRhythms Of Play
79The Rainbow FishMarcus PfisterSpiked Parenting
80The Runaway BunnyMargaret Wise BrownSpiked Parenting
81The Story of Ferdinand Mothers Niche
82The Thankful BookTodd ParrRhythms Of Play
83The Very Hungry CaterpillarEric CarleSpiked Parenting
84The Way I Feel Mothers Niche
85Unstoppable Me! 10 Ways to Soar Through LifeDr. Wayne W. DyerRhythms Of Play
86What do You do with an IdeaKobi YamadaRhythms Of Play
87What Should Danny Do?Adir Levy and Ganit LevyRhythms Of Play
88Where the Wild Things AreMaurice SendakSpiked Parenting
89Whoever You AreMem FoxRhythms Of Play
90Wilma Jean the Worry Machine Mothers Niche
91You Be YouLinda KranzRhythms Of Play
92You Get What You Get Mothers Niche


5 Best Life Children’s Book Sources/Lists



SourceArticle
Book Riot 8 of the Best Children’s Books About Life Skills
Mothers Niche Children’s Books That Teach Important Life Lessons
Rhythms Of Play Kids Books That Teach Important Life Lessons
Shepherds Friendly Best children’s books that teach important life
Spiked Parenting 20 Classic Children’s Books That Teach Valuable Lessons