Picture books illustrating virtues and other spiritual topics for 1st-4th grade

[MercyA]

As I mentioned in another thread, I'll be teaching 1st-4th grade Sunday School in the fall. For the last several years, I've taught mostly Old and New Testament Bible stories. I'd like to shift, for now, to doing topical studies.

Some possible topics (pulling from my spreadsheet here) include: courage, being doers of the word, helping the environment, family relationships, forgiveness, friendship, gentleness, the Golden Rule, happiness, honesty, joy, not judging by appearances, kindness to people and animals, love for enemies, good manners, peace, perseverance, prayer, and service.

I love to use picture books when I teach. Do you have any favorite books or stories illustrating virtues or other spiritual topics? Any genre is fine--non-fiction, stories with animal characters, fairy tales, etc.. 

[ktgrok]

First, there are units of this called character studies, at Beautiful Feet books - I got one, but we haven't used it yet - all the books are for next year. 

Second, I've really liked this one, "Maybe God is Like that Too", about seeing God in the good actions of people around us. https://amzn.to/3i310kk

 

[Gentlemommy]

I loved Value Tales as a kid so much, I have slowly accumulated the entire series for my kids. They aren’t in print anymore, so you may have to eBay them, but they are good!

[EmseB]

The Empty Pot -- Courage and honesty

[MercyA]

You guys rock, thanks! 

[Terabith]

I'm just going to list books with spiritual themes right now.  I'll come back later to give more details. 

Amos and Boris 

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble 

A Chair for My Mother

The Quiltmaker's Gift/ Journey

Have You Filled a Bucket?

The Rag Coat

The Clown of God

Miss Rumphius

Roxaboxen

Hanna's Cold Winter

The Bravest Man in the World/ Junkyard Wonders/ anything by Patricia Polacco

Zen Shorts

Salt in His Shoes

Last Stop on Market Street

The Librarian of Basra

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Story of Ruby Bridges

Brave Girl:  Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

Queen Esther the Morning Star

The Donkey's Dream

The White Ram, if you ever address the story of the Binding of Isaac

Water Come Down - about baptism

Maybe God Is Like That Too

The Saint and His Bees

Saint Felix and His Spider

Patrick:  Patron Saint of Ireland

St. Francis by Brian Wildsmith

 

 

[MercyA]

Thank you, @Terabith! This is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind!

[MercyA]

Thanks to all of you (and those who shared on the resources for teaching about racism thread), I just ordered, put on hold, or requested through interlibrary loan over 20 picture books! I am excited. 🙂 

Here are a few more I found in my own collection or while browsing online:

A Pig Is Moving In (not judging on appearances; this one keeps selling out today--it must be on a popular list somewhere. Out-of-print.)

Mr. Bear and the Bear (not judging on appearances and kindness to animals)

The Bear That Heard Crying (one of my relatives is in this true story; prayer and prophetic dreams)

Dogger (sibling kindness)

Beatrice's Goat (impact of generosity and small gifts)

Be Nice to Spiders (kindness to animals; God created all animals for a purpose)

Just Like Mama (kindness and patience; I find Beverly Lewis a little saccharine, but my daughter and husband like this book a lot)

Monkey for Sale (generosity; kindness to animals; cleverness for a good cause!)

Christmas Day in the Morning (showing love through service)

All Things Bright and Beautiful (God's creation)

Miss Fannie's Hat (happiness through giving)

Down, Down the Mountain (generosity)

Do Unto Otters (good manners)

ETA: a few more:

What If Everybody Did That? (important of following rules meant for the greater good)

Who Is My Neighbor?

God's Very Good Idea: A True Story About God's Delightfully Different Family 

This Is the Church 

Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor, Too (sequel to Maybe God Is Like That, Too)

What Kind of World Would It Be? (kindness, cooperation, generosity, and empathy)

Colorfull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis

Edited June 28, 2020 by MercyA