The Guiding Light: Books That Teach Kids the Quiet Power of Integrity
You know the exact moment it happens.
A toy gets broken, or a small item hides in your child’s pocket.
Consequently, the room gets very quiet.
You look at your child, and they look right back at you.
Most importantly, you both know a hard choice must be made.
Integrity is a very hard idea for a young mind to learn.
It is not just about following rules when a teacher is looking.
Instead, integrity is what you do when the room is totally empty.
Therefore, how do you teach this to a child who really wants an extra cookie?
You cannot force a child to have a clear conscience.
However, you can read them great stories that show them the way.
Books let children practice making hard choices from the safety of your lap.
For instance, they can feel the heavy weight of a lie and the deep relief of the truth.
The Empty Pot by Demi
This is a true classic in children’s books.
Furthermore, the beautiful art stays with you long after the story ends.
What kids notice: Children quickly see how sad Ping feels when his seed fails. They also worry about how he will face the king.
Story snapshot: A king gives seeds to all the kids to see who can grow the best flower. However, Ping’s seed never grows, so he bravely brings an empty pot.
Why this book helps: This book separates the idea of success from the idea of honesty. Most importantly, it shows kids that telling the truth is the biggest win of all.
A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts
This is a very real look at the heavy weight of a hard choice.
Ruben wants a new bike, but his family does not have the money.
What kids notice: Kids notice the shiny bikes that the other children ride. Consequently, they feel Ruben’s deep wish to fit in.
Story snapshot: Ruben finds a dropped hundred-dollar bill and thinks about keeping it to buy a bike. Ultimately, he does the hard work of giving it back to the owner.
Why this book helps: It shows that doing the right thing is not always easy. Furthermore, it gives you a great way to talk about the high value of a clear conscience.
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin
Ruthie loves tiny toys more than anything.
Therefore, when she finds a tiny camera, she tells a lie to keep it.
What kids notice: Children notice how bad Ruthie’s tummy feels. They clearly see that her lie ruins her whole day of play.
Story snapshot: Ruthie claims a lost toy belongs to her, which leads to a big mess at school. However, she finally tells the truth and fixes her mistake.
Why this book helps: This story focuses strictly on how a lie makes your body feel. For instance, you can ask your child how their tummy feels when they tell a fib.
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack
Libby decides she will never tell a lie again.
However, she starts telling harsh truths that hurt her friends.
What kids notice: Kids often laugh when Libby points out silly flaws. Then, they notice how sad her friends become.
Story snapshot: Libby tells the blunt truth to everyone and causes a lot of hurt feelings. Soon, she learns that honesty must always be paired with kindness.
Why this book helps: This book teaches the very hard lesson of tact. Most importantly, it shows kids how to be honest without being mean to others.
Franklin Fibs by Paulette Bourgeois
Franklin the turtle wants to seem cool to his friends.
Consequently, he tells a huge lie about eating lots of flies.
What kids notice: Children love the silly idea of eating seventy-six flies. They also feel Franklin’s deep panic as his friends ask him to prove it.
Story snapshot: Franklin tells a big fib to fit in with the group. Ultimately, he has to admit the truth and show a real trick instead.
Why this book helps: It targets the silly lies kids tell to look cool. Furthermore, it helps parents explain that kids are loved exactly as they are.
Lying Up a Storm by Julia Cook
This book uses the weather to show how guilt feels.
Whenever Levi lies, a dark storm cloud grows over his head.
What kids notice: Kids love watching the storm cloud get bigger and darker. They easily see how Levi’s bad choices ruin his sunny day.
Story snapshot: Levi tells lies to avoid trouble, but his hidden guilt causes a giant storm. Finally, he learns that telling the truth brings the sun back.
Why this book helps: It gives your family a great visual tool. For instance, you can simply ask your child if they have a storm cloud brewing today.
The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot! by Scott Magoon
This is a very funny twist on an old classic.
A little boy loves to trick his town by yelling about Bigfoot.
What kids notice: Children love spotting the real Bigfoot hiding in the art. They also see how mad the boy gets when no one believes him.
Story snapshot: A boy tricks his friends so many times that they stop trusting him. Consequently, when a real Bigfoot shows up, he has no one to help him.
Why this book helps: It clearly shows the long-term cost of lying. Most importantly, it proves that if we lie, our words lose their real value.
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
This book uses humor to talk about making excuses.
The story tells a wild tale about a bear stealing a lunch.
What kids notice: Kids quickly see that the pictures do not match the silly words. Furthermore, they love being in on the secret joke.
Story snapshot: A narrator tells a crazy story about a bear eating a missing sandwich. At the end, we learn a guilty dog is just making up a huge lie.
Why this book helps: It takes the heavy pressure off the topic of lying. Therefore, it gives parents a playful way to talk about making up tall tales.
Put Your Child in the Heart of the Story
Sometimes, the best way to learn is to see yourself in the story.
With Scrively, you can make a custom book for your exact child.
For instance, you can write a story where they face a hard choice and tell the truth.
Consequently, they get to be the brave hero of their own moral journey.
Head over to Scrively today to build a beautiful book about honesty.
Integrity is a quiet virtue, but it is very strong.
When we read these stories, we give our kids a map for life.
Most importantly, you are lighting a lantern they will always carry.
Keep reading to them, and watch their character grow.
