Picture Books About Pride and Humility
Teach pride and humility with these great character-building picture books.
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (also includes Gertrude McFuzz, The Big Brag) by Dr. Seuss
Yertle is the king of all turtles, and he knows that his kingdom only expands as far as he can see. So he begins to order his subjects to stack up underneath him, allowing for a better vantage point from which to rule. But his proud and greedy heart eventually brings about his downfall. Also includes two other stories that warn against the dangers of vanity.
The Tower by Richard Paul Evans
A man wants to be the greatest in the land, and to do that, he knows he needs to be able to look down on all other people. So he builds a tower, climbs up to his perch, and realizes that he is alone. Through the wisdom and guidance of some helpful friends, the man decides to come down from the tower and begin to work on humbly meeting others where they are at.
Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted by Barbara Cooney
The proudest animal in the barnyard is Chanticleer the Rooster. Everyday he struts his colorful feathers up and down the grass and crows, trying to impress the others with his beauty and talent. When a crafty fox plays to his pride, Chanticleer learns a powerful lesson about the danger of a haughty heart.
A Green Thumb: A Story About Being Humble by Jacqueline A. Ball
A Disney princess tale starring Sleeping Beauty all about having humility.
Janitor Al and his best friend, a dog named Eddie, live out their days in a small city apartment. They are cramped, uncomfortable, and annoyed with each other when a magical bird offers to give them a life they could only dream of. In the blink of an eye, the two are whisked off to an island paradise, but soon, pride and vanity creep in and begin to threaten their happiness. Al and Eddie begin to wonder if their previous life with so little was actually better after all.
Humble Pie by Jennifer Donnelly
Theo is known for being thoughtless, proud, arrogant, and downright selfish, and he usually gets away with it. But one day, his grandmother decides to bake a giant dessert in the hopes that a slice of humble pie will curb his appetite for misbehavior.
King Hugo’s Huge Ego by Chris Van Dusen
A small king with a pride problem learns an important lesson when a sorceress in disguise causes Hugo’s head to literally swell up. As his head grows larger and larger, Hugo must decide if he will continue to operate with an attitude of superiority or if he will choose a different path and bring his head down to size.
King of the Golden River by John Ruskin
Three brothers live and work a prosperous farm near a lovely river. But two of the brothers are so proud they refuse to do any work, and leave much of the labor to the youngest, Gluck. Gluck is a hard worker with a kind heart, and his humility is soon rewarded when a little kettle begins to work its magic.
The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson
A prideful emperor was so vain that he cared only about his looks. All of his time and money were put towards securing the best and finest pieces for his wardrobe. One day, two tricksters came to town, marketing themselves as master weavers who could make clothing that was visible only to the worthiest of people. Unable to see the fabric but unwilling to admit this, the emperor had a suit made of the invisible cloth and paraded around his kingdom in nothing but his underclothes.
Noddy Goes to School by Enid Blyton
Noddy, a little wooden boy, is starting to get a big head with all of the compliments others are bestowing on him. Big-Ears decides it’s time Noddy learned a lesson in humility, so off to school he goes!
Hare and Tortoise Race Across Israel by Laura Gehl
Friends Hare and Tortoise sit at a train station, and Hare begins to pridefully brag that he could move faster than the train. After a bit of banter, the two decide on a contest–a race to the Dead Sea! Hare thinks he has plenty of time to stop for treats and conversation along the way–but he’s about to learn that he might have taken his bragging a bit too far.
Fool Moon Rising by Kristi and T. Lively Fluharty
The moon notices his own brilliant shine, and soon his vanity begins to make him unbearable. A well-placed ray of sunshine effectively hides the moon, and he is forced to realize that his shine is only a reflection from the source of true brilliance and light.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A small prince appears in the desert one day, next to a pilot whose plane had crashed upon the sand. The prince begins to regal the pilot with stories of his travels throughout the universe, landing on planets inhabited by strange creatures who each wear an undesirable trait almost as a badge of honor. The prince tries to teach them to cast off this weight and rediscover a child-like outlook on life.
A tiny mouse is nearly eaten, until a magic encounter transforms him into a majestic tiger. But soon, the tiger’s pride in his newfound stature and good looks causes him a world of trouble.
Dog is always boasting of his greatness to his friends, and they’re getting annoyed. Dog’s friends decide to help him learn about the value of humility in a kind way.
The Big Boasting Battle by Hans Wilhelm
Horace the lion and Sylvester the snake are so full of pride that they can’t stop boasting–not even to each other. But when they are forced to work together to get out of a sticky situation, a dose of humility is in order for the both of them.
Loudmouth George and the Big Race by Nancy L. Carlson
George knows he’s the fastest rabbit on the block–and he’s made sure that everyone else knows it too! His pride causes him to slack on his training for the big race, and when the day comes, George is in for a surprise!
