I have a two-year-old boy who is my pride and delight. My father was a fantastic man, and every father dreams that his child will become a better person than him. I’ve been reflecting on all of the things and crucial lessons of life that I want to teach my son. Believe me when I say that, as much as I like to think of myself as a brilliant communicator, finding the correct words may be difficult at times. But what if they’d been written specifically for you?

If you want to teach your child a moral or a life lesson but need a little help, consider using a children’s book. Whatever the subject, there is almost always a children’s book about the subject. The cherry on top is that they approach the issue in a chronologically effective manner. Below you will discover a list of 15 of my son Matthias’s favorites, organized by theme.

1. Matthew and the Money Tree written by Matthew Lynch, the theme of which is ‘Happiness and Its True Meaning’.
2. Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow and My Mouth is a Volcano! by Julia Cook. These books revolve around the tactics of how to communicate effectively.
3. Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney and It’s Mine! by Leo Lionni, the theme of which is Collaboration with Others
4. The Empty Pot by Demi and The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot! by Scott Magoon, based on sincerity.
5. Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller and Rules of the Wild: An Unruly Book of Manners by Bridget Levin, based on Etiquette.
6. Bella’s Rules by Elissa Haden Guest, Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!  By Mo Willems, and David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon. The theme of these books is based on obeying the rules.
7. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, and Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, based on the theme of being generous to others.