Our Favorite Picture Books -
True Stories
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by: Susan Hood
This is a story about children who lived in a city of garbage who became the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay and how music changed their life forever and gave them hope for a better future. It is such an inspiring story.
by: Candace Fleming
This book is aobut helping those in need. After reading it, McKinley and I both wanted a fun pen-pal and we also wanted to find someone we could come along side and serve.
by: Tanya Lee Stone
A truly inpiring book about Jane Addams-the first american woman to win a nobel peace prize. This is an incredible story about a truly kind, caring, and thoughtful woman that gave everything she had to others to make their life better. She is a true example of “see a need, fill a need.”
by: Chris Van Dusen
This is a fun story about resourcefulness and the importance of community. It uses rhyming and fun illustrations to keep your little reader engaged. If you have a little one that loves cars or trucks, this is a good one.
by: Karen Hesse
We all know that feeling of the scorching heat and the cool relief of a good rainstorm. McKinley and I enjoyed this one because we LOVE dancing out in the rain together!
by: Amy Kavelaris
We love this sweet book. It’s a great book to start the day with hope; reassuring your little ones that God is always with them. We LOVE the illustrations and we love finding the hidden scripture references on each page and then looking them up together in McKinley’s bible.
by: Amy Kavelaris
Cozy up and read this perfect bedtime story. Filling your little one’s heads with prayers and blessings right before they drift off to sleep is the perfect way to end the day. Also, this is such a beautifully illustrated book that McKinley’s Grandma had some illustrations printed for McKinley’s room.
by: Carol McCloud
I read this book at the beginning of every school year when I was teaching. It is all about spreading kindness and how it makes others feel good AND it makes yourself feel good when you share acts of kindness.
by: Jennifer Ward
McKinley and her Grandma love birds so McKinley couldn’t wait to read this one with her and share all the things she learned and the fun birds she can point out and recognize through out the book.
by: Boni Ashburn
This adorable book is about a little girl that has a favorite dress and how she shows creativity and resourcefulness to keep her favorite dress even as she grows out of it.
by: James Herriot
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children – what a true treasure! This book is full of warm and joyful short stories told about a veterinarian’s adventures with adorable animals and his lively community. This is often our first pick when we snuggle up to read.
by: Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright
Lola Dutch is a sweet creative girl who is always coming up with something fun to do. She is a good friend and has great ideas. We love this little 3-book series. Lola Dutch: When I Grow Up is our favorite.
by: Jacy Ruwe
This book delightfully describes the pure and simple joys of homeschooling in everyday life and helps answer that question your homeschooler is bound to ask-“Mama, Why am I Homeschooled?”
by: Corey R. Tabor
A fun story about being courageous EVEN when you are afraid.
by: Barbara Cooney
This is a great spring or summer book and what I love about it is the theme of the book is “doing something to make the world more beautiful”
by: Christie Thomas
This cute story reminds kids that God will always be there for them, whatever happens or wherever they go.
by: Hunter Beless
This is a brand new book (published in April 2022) and it instantly became one of our favorites. The author does an incredible job describing how wonderfully special and vitally inportant the Word of God is. This story uses rhythm and rhyme so it is very engaging and fun to read.
by: Alice McLerran
This book is filled with imagination as the neighborhood children create their own town out of rocks and desert glass-with houses, cars, and even a mayor. Every time we read it, it makes us want to GO OUTSIDE and create our own little safe haven.
by: David Covell
The girls and I would live outside if we could. I love the picture of the sweet, barefooted childhood this book represents.
by: Rachel Williams
Encouraging you to slow down and soak up the little moments happening all around you in nature. After reading, it’s fun to then go out into nature and observe God’s creation.
by: Linsey Davis
Oh, how I wish I could freeze time with my girls and they could “stay this way forever” but alas, I cannot. And yet, with each fading stage a new, joyous adventure takes its place. If I cannot freeze them forever I wish they could keep their childhood giggles, wonder, adventure and bravery forever!
by: Julia Denos
We love this book of wild imagination and color. We love the vibrant illustrations and building the awareness of the beautiful colors all around us.
by: Julia Sarcone-Roach
If you need a quick, fun read that makes you giggle, McKinley and I loved this sweet little story.
by: Georgia Buckthorn
This book will make you want to build your own fairy garden after you are finished reading it. There is even directions on what it take to make a good fairy garden. McKinley, Grandma, and I loved this book.
by: Louise Fatio and Roger Duvoisin
Sometimes childlike faith or seeing things from a child’s perspective can be the sweetest thing of all. In this 1954 children’s book, this happy lion cannot understand why all of his “friends” are so scared to see him outside of his normal habitat–the zoo. It takes the innocence and unconditional love of a child to see the Happy Lion, not in fear, but in love and understanding which makes the lion, the boy, and the other people feel safe, calm, and loving.
by: Tanya Lee Stone
A truly inpiring book about Jane Addams-the first american woman to win a nobel peace prize. This is an incredible story about a truly kind, caring, and thoughtful woman that gave everything she had to others to make their life better. She is a true example of “see a need, fill a need.”
by: Patrice Karst
In this reassuring story, a mother explains the capacity of love and how it connects us all through an “invisible string.” No matter where we are it binds us to the ones we love.
by: Audrey Penn
There is nothing more comforting than a mother’s kiss. Children can find comfort and confidence as they hold onto a mother’s kiss as they face new challenges and experiences.
by: M. H. Clark
This book is a great example of what it’s like to go on a walk with a little one. It’s slower, more magical and you notice so much more in nature from a child’s point of view.
by: Jamie L. B. Deenihan
This book is a breath of fresh air in a world full of screens and technology, this book points to the simpler pleasures in life.
by: Jamie L. B. Deenihan
This book is a breath of fresh air in a world full of screens and technology. It is a good reminder about what is truly important in life (and that Grandpa always knows what’s best).
by: Pat Zietlow Miller
This book was given to us by Auntie Megs when McKinley was born and it’s been one of our favorites. It encourages adventure and building lasting memories through fun and new experiences, while reminding them, you can always come home.
by: Mem Fox
This book touches my soul. If you have an elderly loved one in your life, this is a must read. Building connections and being thoughtful are two great character traits that you see portrayed beautifully in this book.