Children’s Book on Responsibility
Part of LDS.net’s Series:
Instilling a sense of responsibility in our children is crucial for their future. They learn to be responsible through doing chores and completing homework, which prepares them to finish work assignments in the future as an adult. Completing one’s duties and taking responsibility for actions are crucial skills to develop, and they are taught through these children’s books on responsibility.
Ages 3-5
You Can Count on Me: Learning About Responsibility
You Can Count on Me: Learning About Responsibility by Regina Burch is a story about a girl who says that you can count on her because she is responsible and does what she is told. This book is also accompanied by a CD, so children can sing along while they learn.
Fozzie Bear, Star Helper: A Book About Responsibility
Fozzie Bear, Star Helper: A Book About Responsibility by Bonnie Worth and David Prebenna is a great read if your child is a Muppets fan. Fozzie Bear isn’t very responsible, and because of this, he wreaks havoc in his home. But he learns how to do what he’s supposed to when his mom makes a chart of chores and rewards him with a gold star each time he completes one.
Froggy Gets a Doggy
Froggy Gets a Doggy by Jonathon London and Frank Remkiewicz is about when Froggy gets a pet dog. Froggy thinks it will be easy to take care of his dog, despite his mom’s warnings about all of the responsibilities that come with a pet. But when Froggy has trouble training Doggy, he realizes that it takes a lot of hard work to have a dog, but it is worth it in the end.
Three Bears in a Boat
Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman shows that responsibility isn’t just about what you are supposed to do, but taking blame for your actions as well. When three bears accidentally break their mother’s blue seashell, instead of taking responsibility for their mistake, they go out to search for a replacement. Soon they find themselves in a storm, and only when they accept the blame, can they go home.
The Snooze Brothers: A Lesson in Responsibility
The Snooze Brothers: A Lesson in Responsibility by Cindy Kenney and Doug Peterson is a Veggie Tales book about Laura Carrot and Junior Asparagus, who aren’t very responsible babysitters. They go the library to learn more about responsibility and find a book about the Snooze Brothers, who need to be responsible and wake up on time so they can do their job singing.
Ages 6-8
Molly The Great’s Messy Bed: A Book About Responsibility
Molly The Great’s Messy Bed: A Book About Responsibility by Shelley Marshall and Ben Mahan is about Molly, who loves to pretend to be a superhero with her friend Ben. However, superheroes have chores too, and Molly doesn’t really want to clean her messy bed. Follow Molly on her adventure in becoming responsible.
Do I Have To?: Kids Talk About Responsibility
Do I Have To?: Kids Talk About Responsibility by Nancy Loewen and Omarr Wesley is written like an advice column for kids. It covers the many situations children may go through and the duties they have, showing them how to be responsible and why it is important.
Just Grace Walks the Dog
Just Grace Walks the Dog by Charise Mericle Harper is about Grace, whose parents don’t believe that she is responsible enough to care for a dog. Instead of begging and pleading, Grace decides to prove that she is responsible enough by taking care of a cardboard dog, which she takes on walks and feeds.
Cabin in the Snow
Cabin in the Snow by Deborah Hopkinson and Patrick Faricy is about Charlie, who always forgets to do his chores. But when his father stays in Lawrence, Kansas to defend the town from ruffians, Charlie must drive the wagon home alone and keep his mother, sisters, and baby brother safe in the middle of a blizzard. Will Charlie be able to be responsible enough to protect his family?
Ages 9-12
The Kid Who Ran for President
The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman is about Judd Moon, whose friend Lane convinces him that he should run for president (even though he is only 12). But when Judd starts to gain followers and support for his campaign, he wonders if he can handle all of the responsibilities that come with being president.
The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: Have Wheels, Will Travel
The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: Have Wheels, Will Travel by Anne Mazer and Monica Gesue is about Abby, who is tired of having hand-me-down roller blades and decides to buy a pair of her own. It looks like she will succeed when she starts to earn money. The only problem is that she keeps spending it! Abby soon learns that she needs to be responsible in budgeting in order to get what she wants.
The Secret School
The Secret School by Avi is about Ida, a girl living in 1925 Colorado who wants nothing more than to become a school teacher someday. But when the school board decides to shut down her one-room classroom, and her only hope of becoming a teacher, Ida fights back and opens a secret school, where she must take the responsibilities as a teacher if she wants it to work.
Our children are the future, so they need to learn now how to be responsible people in order to care for it. These books teach kids the importance of doing what they are supposed to and the benefits that will come from being responsible.