8 Heartwarming Children’s Books About Respect

This is a wonderful little picture book that teaches children about the importance of standing up for ourselves and each other. Blue is a quiet, shy colour that gets picked on often by Red. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple watch the events unfold, even though it makes them uncomfortable. No one wants to stand up to the bully — that is, until One shows up. One teaches the colours the importance of sticking by each other, and how everyone counts! This book is adorable and heartwarming, while also teaching kids colours and counting.

A Little Respectful Spot teaches kids all about respect. It teaches them how to respect things from handling scissors to taking care of books so they last a long time. It teaches them the rules of respect in places, like avoiding littering and using the sidewalk. Spot shows kids that we can respect people by paying attention to them, respecting their personal space, and more. We learn about the different aspects of respect all while taking a fun-filled journey with a little respectful spot!

Keigan learns about respect as he goes through life. He knows it is important. But what happens when you make a mistake? The way you make a wrong right can be respectful too. When Keigan makes a mistake, he goes to his mom to talk about it. Instead of punishing him, she tries to suggest ways for him to fix this. This teaches kids how to continue to be respectful again even if they stumble along the way.

This children’s book contains an important lesson: respect begins with yourself. Molly Lou Melon stands out among her peers due to her small frame, clumsiness, buck teeth, and a voice that sounds like “a bull-frog being squeezed by a boa constrictor”. But she doesn’t mind, as her grandma teaches her to always stand tall, walk proud, smile big, and sing loud! She follows her grandma’s advice even as she gets picked on by other kids. Her respect for herself and insistence to continue being who she is helps her earn everyone else’s respect too.

This list of children’s books about respect would be incomplete without one that teaches them how to respect different cultures. Lily and Salma are best friends who do everything together. But they find each other’s lunch very strange. Everyday for lunch, Lily gets a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Salma gets a hummus and pita sandwich. One day, they call each other’s food gross and break out into a fight. This continues till they decide to taste each other’s sandwiches and find out that they’re both delicious!

This children’s book teaches kids how to respect personal and physical boundaries, as well as how to set them. Aria has beautiful, soft and bouncy curls that everyone is fascinated by. In their curiosity to know how her hair feels, people often breach her personal space. She can’t escape the prying hands anywhere: in the street, under the sea, in the jungle, or even in space. She states the importance of asking for consent and learns to say “No!”

Lacey Walker loves to talk. She loves it so much that she doesn’t listen to what anyone else has to say. One day, she loses her voice. She has no choice but to listen. As she gets quieter and pays attention, she notices everything she’s been missing out on. She’s surprised to know that her best friend is funny, finishes her homework on time, and ends up watching a movie with her brother. She gets her voice back eventually. She still loves to talk and does it often, but also tries to listen from time to time. This book teaches children that listening to the world around you is one of the highest forms of respect.

Litte CJ takes his weekly bus journey with his nana. He’s disappointed that they can’t drive a car like his friends. His nana makes him see and appreciate the beauty in the people that they meet during their bus ride. She teaches him to respect his place in the world, and people who are different from him. Their bus journey ends at a soup kitchen where they volunteer and give back to the community. CJ’s wise nana says, “Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.” It’s a lesson we can all take with us.