If you've been immersed in the world of children's books or seen any at all, most likely you've been less than satisfied. Point blank: they suck. They either teach bad habits/values or nothing at all. Sure, if all you're out to do is entertain your kid, then get any one you want. If you want to have great books that teach good things at the same time, it's a lot harder.
Well luckily for you, I've done all the work. I've spent countless hours researching the best children's books that are not only good but demonstrate good behavior or have a good message. And let me tell you, they're hard to find. But once you know about these books, why buy any other ones? If they're both entertaining and well made, why chose one that encourages your kid to give you a hard time at bed time over one that gets the message across that they should play nicer with their friends? Both have dinosaurs, both enthrall the kid.
About half of these books have God or Christianity in them. Apparently, or so it seems, only Christians care about their kids being honest, kind to others, or thankful. (And considering we have a whole holiday devoted to being thankful, you would think at least Thanksgiving books would talk about being thankful, but if you thought that you would be wrong).
Non Christian
Carl Sommer books for kids
DK Eyewitness Books
Being ... books (E.g. Being Responsible) by either
Jill L. Donahue or Mary Small
Children's World Atlas by DK
The Value of... books (E.g. The Value of Humility: The Story of Mother Teresa) by either Spencer Johnson or Ann Donegan Johnson
Forgiveness: The Story of Mahatma Gandhi by Robin Lawrie
Oxford Children's History of the World by Neil Grant
Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier
Following Isabella by Linda Talley
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Daily Life in a Covered Wagon by Paul A. Erickson
Zen Shorts by Jon Muth
Building Character with Sam, Izzy, & Many Other Dogs: 15 Tips That Help Children Build Character by Danny Wayne Pettry II
Character Building Activities for Kids by Darlene Mannix
The Book of Virtues for Young People by William Bennett
If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do? by Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Children's History of the 20th Century by DK
Children's Illustrated Dictionary by John McIlwain
Chipmonk Family - Lois Brunner Bastian
Fill a Bucket - Kathy Martin
Gershon's Monster - Eric A. Kimmel
I'm Thankful Each Day - P. K. Hallinan
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message - Jake Swamp
Ribbon Rescue - Robert Munsch
Christian
Mommy May I Hug the Fish? By Crystal Bowman
Jake Helps Out by Crystal Bowman
The Rose Princess and the Special Gift - Mike de Vetter
First Virtues for Toddlers books by Mary Manz Simon
A Little Boy After God's Own Heart - Jim George
A Little Girl After God's Own Heart - Elizabeth George
God's Wisdom for Little Girls - Elizabeth George
God's Wisdom for Little Boys - Elizabeth George
The Wonderful Way That Babies are Made - Larry Christenson
Before I Was Born: Designed for Parents to Read to Their Child at Ages 5 Through 8 (God's Design for Sex) by Carolyn Nystrom
If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart by Jill Roman Lord
Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity by Jennie Bishop
Thank You God For Mommy - Amy Parker
Thank You God For Daddy - Amy Parker
My Book of Thanks - B. G. Hennessy
Educational Games
10 Days in [Africa/Asia/etc]
Sum Swamp Addition and Subtraction Game
Learning Resources Money Bags a Coin Value Game
MindWare Logic Links
ThinkFun Clever Castle
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