Books That Build Character in Kids

Many homeschoolers list the ability to guide character education as a top reason for homeschooling, and one of the easiest ways to help kids build character is by reading great books designed to do so.

The good news is there are plenty of books that fit this description to be found!
Whether you go to the library, the local bookstore, or an online library such as LightSail, you are going to find a huge selection of wonderful options. Let’s take a look at some of our very favorites.

1. The Fisherman and His Wife by The Brothers Grimm

First on our list of books that help kids build character, we have The Fisherman and His Wife. This story is short and sweet, making it appropriate for all ages.

In The Fisherman and His Wife, we have a fisherman and his wife (haha). The fisherman catches a magic fish that grants him a wish. He says says he doesn’t need anything and sets the fish free.
His wife, however, is very upset and says he should have wished for XYZ.

The fisherman goes back to get the fish and asks it to grant his wife’s wish.
The fish does, but as the story goes on, the fisherman’s wife is less and less content with her wishes and keeps asking for bigger and better “stuff.” In the end, due to her own choices, the wife ends up with nothing.

This story is great for teaching kids to be grateful for all the things we have and teaches that, while dreaming about a better future is okay, it’s not okay to get greedy and be discontent.

2. The Land of the Blue Flower by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Land of the Blue Flower, though considered a classic by many, is also a book that plenty of homeschooling families have never heard of. This is unfortunate since The Land of the Blue Flower is a phenomenal story that is packed with character building opportunities and lessons.

The gist of this story is about a king who learns how to value wisdom and kindness. As he does so, peace fills his land and all of his people are happy.

If you want your kids to grow up to value kindness and wisdom (not just school smarts, but actual wisdom) then this is a book you need to add to your must-read list.

3. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is a beloved book for many people, and it’s easy to see why. This coming-of-age story follows a young orphan as she finds her place in the world and learns what it means to love and be loved.

Character traits kids learn from this book include:

• How to be a good friend
• How to support family above your own desires
• The importance of forgiveness
• How to be happy in the face of great opposition
• The importance of being yourself, no matter what the world says

Aren’t these traits we all want our kids to develop? The Anne of Green Gables series is a fun and engaging way to learn these character traits along with many more. 

Find More Character Building Children’s Books like These on LightSail

If you’re looking for even more character building books for kids, you are going to love the selection available on LightSail. LightSail has tens of thousands of books available in their library and they add more all the time, including books that build character. Go take a look at the LightSail library today and see what you’ve been missing!