Values-Based and Educational Books for Children: Summer Reading Picks for Every Home Library

Summer is here, and that means fun in the sun! But it also means plenty of time for reading, and with the right books, your kids will keep learning and combat brain drain over summer vacation.

The summer months are a great time to take your kids to your local library and help them explore books that interest them. However, you’ve probably noticed that not every book is right for every child. Here are some tips to help your kids unearth educational titles that will not only challenge them but draw and keep their attention!

Helping Your Kids Pick the Right Books for Them

It can be tempting for your child to just pick up the books with the most attractive pictures. Indeed, engaging pictures are an important draw for every children’s book, but they don’t tell the entire story.

First, consider your child’s reading level. It’s a good idea to use the “five finger rule.” While you certainly want your kid to read books that expose them to new words, any more than five unknown words per page can be overwhelming. Have your child read one page of the book and see how many words they don’t know to help determine if the book is of an appropriate reading level.

Additionally, be sure to consider their interests to make reading fun. One of the easiest ways to get kids to read is to provide books that pique their interest. While kids may gravitate toward one particular genre, encourage them to explore other genres and styles of books.

It’s also a good idea to look for books that align with family values. Believe it or not, some children’s books are full of propaganda and harmful ideas that don’t align with family values. It can be a challenge to identify values-based children’s books just by looking at the pictures, so you might have to give them a read.

A fun idea is to read a book with your kids so that you can discuss the concepts they present. Set a time each week for discussion about what you’re reading. You don’t necessarily need to read to your kids, especially if they’re old enough to read on their own. The important thing is to read what they’re reading so that you can discuss later.

Some Fun and Exciting Educational Books for Children

While virtually every book has something to offer in the way of helping your kids maintain their reading skills over the summer, some books have more merit in terms of the educational quality. Look for books that wrap lessons into an exciting adventure! Your kids won’t even know they’re learning while they enjoy what they read!

The Tuttle Twins series certainly fits the bill here. These educational books for children teach everything from the free market and economics to history, critical thinking, government, entrepreneurship, and more.

One of the many interesting Tuttle Twins books is The Tuttle Twins and the Education Vacation. Every kid will connect with what the twins experience at school — and learn about some ways the educational system could be made better.

Values-Based Children’s Books

The Tuttle Twins series isn’t just educational. It also contains values-based children’s books to help teach your kids right from wrong while learning about the world. Perhaps the clearest example of a values-based children’s book from the Tuttle Twins series is The Tuttle Twins and the Golden Rule.

The twins plunge into their first summer camp, learning the lesson of the Golden Rule firsthand. Alongside their teammates, they learn the dangers of aggression and revenge — and why it’s so critical that friendship and peace prevail!

One of the best things about the Tuttle Twins books is that they’re a series, so the fun doesn’t have to end — and neither does the education! You’ll find many more values-based and educational books for children in the Tuttle Twins series than just the two mentioned above. Each book in the series transforms the central lesson into an exciting journey that will leave your kids begging for more!

Nanny to Mommy