Little Books With Big Messages: Six Stories for Tender Little Ears

In my book Canines in the Classroom, I recommended several books that are of great value to those who would like to entertain little ones while imparting a humane message. The following works are sure to please little kids, of course, but parents will find them a delightful read as well. Happy reading!

Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey: Although the book was written in 1941, its message has endured for generations. This is the heartwarming story of Mr. and Mrs. Duck, who are looking for a place to raise their family. They find a little town they like and proceed to indulge their nesting instincts. Trouble arises when Mrs. Duck must march her little ducklings across town. But the entire town cooperates to ensure that the little darlings make their way safely to their home.

The Bookshop Dog, by Cynthia Rylant: This book is one of my absolute favorites. It’s the story of a woman who has a dog named Martha whom she cannot live without. She brings the dog everywhere, including her little bookshop. All the townspeople love Martha and the bookstore and offer to lend a hand when her guardian must go to the one place dogs absolutely cannot go: the hospital for surgery. A kindly man comes to the rescue, and Martha’s guardian later marries him. What makes this book so special is that the woman marries a man of color, someone outside her ethnic circle. It’s an all-around wonderful tale.

How Smudge Came, by Nan Gregory: This is the story of a little girl with Down syndrome who lives in a group home and commutes to her job. On the way to work one day, she discovers a small, homeless puppy. Her attempts to hide the puppy from the people with whom she lives and works are heroic, but in the end, her secret is discovered. The little girl learns that helping and loving a puppy is a good thing when the others in her life demonstrate how they, too, value the animals in their lives.

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst: This story is especially wonderful for any family who has recently lost a family companion animal. Barney is a gorgeous ginger cat who dies, leaving the child who loved him mourning his loss. The child’s mother recommends that they hold a funeral service for Barney and suggests that the child think of 10 good things to say about him at the service. There is a discussion about whether heaven exists and if so, whether animals go there too. This is a story that must be shared with any child mourning the loss of a companion animal.

Night Rabbits, by Lee Posey: This is the story of a little girl who sees rabbits on the lawn at night and fears that her father will hurt them because he is so protective of his lawn. When her father uncharacteristically helps the little girl feed and encourage the rabbits to come, she learns that her father is not such a bad guy after all.

Agatha’s Featherbed, by Carmen Agra Deedy: This is the tale of Agatha, who decides to make a comfortable, cozy bed for herself made of goose feathers. But she is rudely awakened one night by a group of geese who are complaining that they are cold because they no longer have down to keep them warm. Agatha realizes that her actions had terrible consequences, and she works to make things right again.

Sharing books with our kids and grandkids is about the most loving and intimate thing we can do with little ones. Memories are created, and treasured, because books are timeless.

Do you know of any more kids books with a humane message?