How to help kids with life’s lessons - tried and true stories for children.

Charlie Brown and Linus have a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer, and the story is told through Linus' point of view. The timeline of the story spans approximately a year, from before her diagnosis through treatment to remission.Over the year, Linus expresses his concern for his friend and the impact of the cancer on the little girl's siblings feels honest in their dialogue about getting less attention.There is a glossary in the back of the book defining the vocabulary surrounding cancer.  For children who have a loved one experiencing cancer treatment, or going through it themselves, it can be comforting to know what these words that they keep hearing actually mean.  This is a long story, told from a child's point of view, and one filled with hope and friendship. Using Jim Hensen’s Muppets, this Sesame Street storybook shows young children how people (and animals, and muppets) can be alike and different at the same time.  The story explains that while creatures may have body parts that are alike in their functions, sensations or purposes, they may look very different at the same time.  Examples are plentiful, from eye and skin colour (Grover being blue), to nose shape (Snuffy).The story also includes a discussion of feelings, and how feelings can be the same and also different.  The lesson that we are unique individuals yet so much alike leads to a message of equality and respect. By the creators of Arthur, this is the ultimate kids ‘how-to’ guide to friendship and social skills, with the pieces of the friendship puzzle broken down, then put back together in illustrated comic-book style examples. As the dinosaurs interact with each other, practical steps for overcoming shyness, sharing, compromise, dealing with bullies etc. are shown in contrast to previous, less positive interactions.  Successful and neutral social outcomes happen naturally, and the reader never feels preached to. This book is lengthy and may be best read over two or more sittings with children under five.View the list »
There are great stories for children that can help to initiate a conversation naturally and to provide proper information.

General Education newsletter

Children are constantly learning, and learning is not confined to time spent inside a classroom. They learn through observation, conversation and from all kinds of media. It isn’t always easy for a parent to ‘check in’ on a child’s perception of a number of issues.

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Reading stories is a natural way to initiate conversations that teach many of life’s more delicate lessons.

There are many great books for children that provide information on issues in age-appropriate language. Stories feel safe and are far enough removed that they don’t invade personal boundaries, yet provide answers to so many questions about life.

When a child experiences a story that shows him a character who is continually left out or a group of children whose classmate has cancer, he realizes he is not alone. If a child is faced with conflicting beliefs about how to react to someone who is different, a book has credibility that be returned to again and again.

Books provide role models who solve complex problems and often model needed vocabulary and scripts that can help children in real life situations.

For examples of three classic, tried and true 'Life Lesson' stories, please continue to the list section of the article to learn about these books:

We’re Different, We’re the Same, How to be a Friend and Why, Charlie Brown, Why?

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View the list
  • By the creators of Arthur, this is the ultimate kids ‘how-to’ guide to friendship and social skills, with the pieces of the friendship puzzle broken down, then put back together in illustrated comic-book style examples. As the dinosaurs interact with each other, practical steps for overcoming shyness, sharing, compromise, dealing with bullies etc. are shown in contrast to previous, less positive interactions.  Successful and neutral social outcomes happen naturally, and the reader never feels preached to. This book is lengthy and may be best read over two or more sittings with children under five.
  • Using Jim Hensen’s Muppets, this Sesame Street storybook shows young children how people (and animals, and muppets) can be alike and different at the same time.  The story explains that while creatures may have body parts that are alike in their functions, sensations or purposes, they may look very different at the same time.  Examples are plentiful, from eye and skin colour (Grover being blue), to nose shape (Snuffy).The story also includes a discussion of feelings, and how feelings can be the same and also different.  The lesson that we are unique individuals yet so much alike leads to a message of equality and respect. 
  • Charlie Brown and Linus have a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer, and the story is told through Linus' point of view. The timeline of the story spans approximately a year, from before her diagnosis through treatment to remission.Over the year, Linus expresses his concern for his friend and the impact of the cancer on the little girl's siblings feels honest in their dialogue about getting less attention.There is a glossary in the back of the book defining the vocabulary surrounding cancer.  For children who have a loved one experiencing cancer treatment, or going through it themselves, it can be comforting to know what these words that they keep hearing actually mean.  This is a long story, told from a child's point of view, and one filled with hope and friendship. 
View the list
Suggested by the author:

, Newmarket Early Childhood Education Examiner

Ida Mae, mother of two and the voice behind the parenting and education blog "A Vision For Our Kids," is an elementary school special education teacher and a graduate of York University’s Faculty of Education. With experience teaching the primary grades and Reading Recovery™, her area of...

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