“What are the best Children’s books about Life ?” We looked at 92 of the top Kids Life books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 7 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Kids Life ” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 75+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

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Top 7 Best Children’s Books About Life

7 .) Corduroy written by Don Freeman

Lists It Appears On:

• Shepherds Friendly
• Spiked Parenting

A toy bear in a department store wants a number of things, but when a little girl finally buys him he finds what he has always wanted most of all.

6 .) Have You Filled a Bucket Today written by Carol McCloud

Lists It Appears On:

• Mothers Niche
• Shepherds Friendly

Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behaviour as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.

5 .) Oh, The Places You’ll Go written by Dr. Seuss

Lists It Appears On:

• Rhythms Of Play
• Spiked Parenting

Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion; and being in charge of your actions.

4 .) The Giving Tree written by Shel Silverstein

Lists It Appears On:

• Rhythms Of Play
• Spiked Parenting

“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.” So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk…and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.

3 .) The Kissing Hand written by Audrey Penn

Lists It Appears On:

• Mothers Niche
• Spiked Parenting

When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.

2 .) The Way I Act written by Janian Cain

Lists It Appears On:

• Mothers Niche
• Rhythms Of Play

Rhyming text and color illustrations introduce young readers to ways in which children exemplify positive behaviors.

1 .) The Lorax written by Dr. Seuss

Lists It Appears On:

• Rhythms Of Play
• Shepherds Friendly
• Spiked Parenting

“UNLESS someone like you…cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better…It’s not.” Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth’s natural beauty.

The 75+ Additional Best Kids Books About Life and growing up

5 Best Life Children’s Book Sources/Lists