7 Beloved Children's Books That Teach Prosocial Virtues

Straight from my home to yours

I usually write about books for adults on Stoicism for Humans, but as the author of a Stoic parenting book I often get asked about book recommendations for kids. I am by no means a children’s book expert (like my friend Leah Goldrick, who is a children’s librarian—see her website Common Sense Ethics for some great book recommendations), but I have spent hundreds of hours reading to my three kids. Since they are now ages 12, 10, and 8, I can confidently tell you which books have been their favorites for the past 10+ years.

Most children’s books come with a built-in learning message, either about being a good friend, overcoming fears, or learning how to solve problems. These books are no exception. I suppose my kids love them because in addition to a very prosocial message, they have appealing illustrations, humor, and sometimes surprise endings. Plus the problems the protagonists encounter are very relatable for children, so the books are wonderful covert teaching tools.

Note that these books are not specifically Stoic; they are just generally about being a good person and learning prosocial virtues. If you’re looking for children’s books that are explicitly based on Stoicism, there are some available: The Stock Horse and the Stable Cat by Phil van Treuren; I’m Not as Fast as a Cheetah by Jeff Rout and Arlene Ouellete; and the Little Stoics series by Jason Valenstein and Margaret Valenstein.

The list below is completely idiosyncratic to our family and is no way a “best of” list. It’s just what happened to find its way to our bookshelf. My mother was a kindergarten teacher, so many of these books had a first life in her classroom in the 2000s and 2010s. So they are not the newest and shiniest, but to me that means they have really stood the test of time. In the images below (which are all photos of our family copies) you will see some of them have been worn ragged from many, many readings. However, they are all still available for purchase online.

So here is my list of 7 prosocial, pro-virtue books my children have absolutely loved, plus one bonus at the end. I hope they find new children to love them!

Elbow Grease

John Cena

Elbow Grease is the lone electric truck at the monster truck rally, and his big brothers always make fun of him for being small and different. But little Elbow Grease has something they all lack: gumption. Even though he doesn’t win the rally, Elbow Grease impresses the big stars and shows everyone how far hard work can take you. This cute and spunky book will win your heart even if you’re not a big fan of monster trucks.

Virtues: perseverance, determination, hard work

Grumpy Cat

Britta Teckentrup

The other cats thought he was a grumpy cat, but really—he was a lonely cat. And when cute, annoyingly endearing Kitten comes into his life, Grumpy Cat learns what it means to be a friend. And honestly, who doesn’t love a grumpy cat?

Virtues: friendship, patience, kindness

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Virginia Lee Burton

This book was originally published in 1939, and part of the fun is seeing what life was like back then—a little nostalgia for a simpler time. But the story rings true for any era. Mike Mulligan takes such good care of his steam shovel, Mary Anne, that even when she becomes obsolete he can’t bear to send her to the junk yard. Instead they head to the hills to a smaller town, where they take a dare and end up changing the town for the better. A tale of loyalty, ingenuity, and staying true to yourself in a world of constantly changing technology.

Virtues: honesty, persistence, loyalty

Not Norman: A Goldfish Story

Kelly Bennett and Noah Z. Jones

The narrator wants a pet dog or cat, but instead his parents give him a fish named Norman. He spends the next week pouting, trying to give Norman away, and wishing he had a different pet. Until one night he hears a scary noise outside and Norman helps him face his fears. He begins to appreciate what he has: one amazing fish!

Virtues: gratitude, appreciation, looking on the bright side

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Peggy Rathmann

Gloria is an amazing police dog who performs tricks to keep children interested in school safety tips. Her partner, Officer Buckle, is delighted that audiences have started paying more attention to his lectures. Until one day he learns that they have all been clapping for Gloria instead of him. But both Officer Buckle and Gloria learn that they work best as a team, and they present their most important safety tip of all: always stick with your buddy!

Virtues: loyalty, friendship, forgiveness

Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep

Joyce Dunbar/Debi Gliori

A sweet little rabbit is having trouble falling asleep, and she asks her older brother to tell her something happy. Her equally sweet and cuddly big brother takes her all around the house pointing out reasons to be happy. A very snuggly (and did I mention sweet?) reminder of all the things we have to be happy about.

Virtues: kindness, love, appreciation

The Chicken Who Couldn’t

Jan Thomas

My kids always dissolve in laughter when reading this book, as a pessimistic chicken learns to have more confidence in himself. When he falls off the farmer’s truck and has to find his way back home on his own, he learns the power of problem-solving and self-belief. We quote lines from this book to each other when someone needs a dose of confidence!

Virtues: self-confidence, determination, helping others

And a bonus book on physics:

Older than the Stars

Karen C. Fox and Nancy Davis

This one is not prosocial because it’s not about society at all. Instead, it’s a very catchy way to introduce the abstract concepts of matter, atoms, the Big Bang, and the solar system to children. With repetition and sing-song rhyming verse, kids will learn about the formation of the universe and how we are all made of stardust. For older kids, there are also scientific explanations of celestial phenomena, but these can be left out for younger children.

So that’s it! For those with young children in your lives, I hope you find this list useful. Let me know if you have any other suggestions in the comments!

Author’s note: I would like to thank my three children for the inspiration and suggestions.

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