Children’s Books About Fairness

Children’s books about character especially fairness are sure to strike up great conversations about equality, fairness, and justice.  Reading books from this list will bring up great talking points to discuss.

““Equal is everyone getting the same thing. Fair is everyone getting what they need to be successful. We will always try to be fair, but it won’t always feel equal.”- Unknown

Here is a sneak peek at what you’ll find in this post.

1. Favorite books that focus on the theme of FAIRNESS including a FREE printable book list.
2. A list of discussion questions/conversation starters about the character strength- FAIRNESS which you can also print.
3. Resources for families to hold a Family Dinner Book Club on the FAIRNESS theme including menu ideas, activities, and a family service project.

FAIRNESS BOOKS

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New Shoes by Susan Lynn Meyer sheds light on the inequalities of the world when a young girl is refused service because of the color of her skin.

One Grain of Rice by Demi is the story of a raja who insisted that the people of India give him all of their rice. He told them that he was storing it for them in case of a famine. That famine arrives and the raja still keeps the rice for himself. Then a girl comes up with a clever plan to get the rice back for the people and teach the raja a lesson about fairness.

In Jamaica Tag-Along by Juanita Havill, Jamaica wants to shoot hoops with her big brother and his friends. But, her brother says she can’t because she is too young. When Jamaica meets a toddler at the park who gets in her way, she realizes that is how her brother feels about her. Jamaica reaches out to the little one because she knows how he feels.

Everyone should have a fair chance for a part in a play is what Grace and her classmates learn in Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman.

There was a time when students were segregated and not allowed to attend the same schools as others. In Separate is Never Equal we learn about Sylvia Mendez and her family’s legal fight for desegregation. This title is the winner of the Pura Belpre Award.

For a simple book to understand and discuss fairness, turn to the Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone.  Hen requests the help of the other animals to help gather the supplies and make the bread but they all refuse.  But when the bread is ready, they are more than ready to eat.  Is it fair that they get to eat the bread if they didn’t help do the work?

In Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, the cows have joined together to make some demands of the farmer about some things they feel are unjust. They use a typewriter to leave Farmer Brown notes to communicate with him.

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki is the story about a group of Japanese Americans being held in an internment camp during World War II. Many conversations of fairness will be stirred with this read-aloud.

How Do You Spell Unfair? by Carole Boston Weatherford is the story of MacNolia Cox and her experience with racism at the National Spelling Bee in the 1930s.  This true story really opens our eyes to unfairness and racism.

This list from Barnes and Noble has some chapter book recommendations.

Get your downloadable printable list of all the books on this list below. Take it to the library or copy it for families.

FAIRNESS DISCUSSION STARTERS

Whether you pick one book to read on the list or many, you can use these conversation starters to talk about the character strength of FAIRNESS. You can also print the list out below.

• Does being fair mean you always treat people equally? Why?
• How can you be a fair person?
• What is the difference between justice and fairness?
• What might you do if you see someone being treated unfairly?
• Should parents try to treat all of their kids in exactly the same way?
• Is it fair to ignore the rules of the game?

PRINT THE FAIRNESS BOOK LIST AND DISCUSSION STARTERS

Print out the book list and discussion starters. Take it to the library or copy it for families. Just click the green button below.

FAIRNESS FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB

This book list and theme make a great start for families to hold their own Family Dinner Book Club.

What is a Family Dinner Book Club?

Each month:

• On the first of each month, we provide all the details for your dinner.
• Sarah from Chef Sarah Elizabeth shares a themed menu to compliment the theme for the month.
• Laura from Sunny Day Family shares an activity and a family service project.
• And, I share a book list that compliments the themes plus conversation starters.

For our theme of  FAIRNESS,  you have found the book list and discussion starters on this page.

Check out the themed menu from Chef Sarah Elizabeth.—> MENU

And, visit Sunny Day Family for a family service project idea and more activities.—> ACTIVITIES

For even more ideas, like our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook Page.