Moses the kitten
Picture book · ages 4–8 · grades K–3 · 620L · 1984
Herriot's genuine affection for animals shines through; a cozy, true-to-life story about rescue and patience that doesn't sentimentalize farm life.
For a reader who just finished
Books like Saint Francis of Assisi
after Saint Francis of Assisi by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. · ages 5–8
Picture book · grades K–3 · 600L
A gentle, accessible introduction to a complex historical figure that prioritizes his relationship with animals and the poor over theological nuance.
Same style
What is Given from the Heart
Picture book · ages 4–8 · grades K–3 · 620L · 2019
A quietly powerful picture book about the economics of love—McKissack shows a child discovering that the most meaningful gifts come from hands and hearts, not wallets, and the illustrations anchor every generous moment.
The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred
by Rafael López
Picture book · ages 4–8 · grades K–3 · 580L
A cumulative folktale in picture-book form that treats cultural food and community-building as joyful, unhurried acts — López's illustrations are the star.
Stretch them up
Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland
Picture book · ages 6–10 · grades 1–5 · 750L · 1985
Nic Leodhas is a master of folkloric voice—these Scottish tales are funny, strange, and told with a cadence that makes them feel lived-in; read aloud for maximum enchantment.
Snakes
Picture book · ages 6–10 · grades 1–5 · 800L · 1992
Seymour Simon's photography and clear prose make snakes genuinely fascinating without sentimentalizing them; kids come away understanding predator-prey dynamics and adaptation, not fear.
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library
Picture book · ages 6–10 · grades 1–5 · 780L · 2019
Weatherford's verse and Jamila Rowser's painterly illustrations make Schomburg's archival mission feel urgent and beautiful—kids understand he built something essential, not just collected things.
Complementing on kindness
The Cat Man of Aleppo
by Yuko Shimizu
Picture book · ages 4–8 · grades K–3 · 640L
A true story that introduces children to war's reality without trauma—anchored by one man's quiet act of love, which makes it memorable and age-appropriate.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré
Picture book · ages 6–10 · grades 1–5 · 620L · 2020
A biography that teaches kids why representation matters—Pura's quiet courage to bring Puerto Rican stories into libraries becomes a model for standing up for the overlooked.
Uncle Jed's Barbershop
Picture book · ages 5–9 · grades K–4 · 650L
A genuinely moving portrait of dignity and generational hope — the illustrations anchor the emotional weight, and kids sense immediately that Uncle Jed's dream matters beyond the page.
We'd skip — for now
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White
A step up — ages 8–12 · grades 3–7
Skip it if your child is very young (under 6) or has experienced recent pet loss and needs emotional distance from animal death—Charlotte's death is tender but not avoidable.