Best Children’s Books About Telling the Truth (2026): 5 Compared

A little lie grows fast: the best children’s books about telling the truth help kids own it early. We compared five by fit, content, value and age guidance, using only what the listings publish.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Teach Your Dragon	9.7/10	Buy
2	Berenstain Bears Truth	9.7/10	Buy
3	Lying Up a Storm	9.7/10	Buy
4	Honesty is my Superpower	9.7/10	Buy
5	Llama Llama's Little Lie	9.7/10	Buy

1

Teach Your Dragon

Steve Herman·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Steve Herman's 42-page Teach Your Dragon to Stop Lying, ages 4-7, 2018.

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Pros

• Book 15 of 68, series start
• 42 pages stated
• Ages 4 - 7 years stated

Cons

• 42 pages, mid length
• 2018, mid recency
• Book 15, mid series

2

Berenstain Bears Truth

Stan Berenstain·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Stan and Jan Berenstain's 32-page Berenstain Bears and the Truth, ages 3-6, 1983.

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Pros

• 1983, classic stated
• Ages 3 - 6 years stated
• First Time Book stated

Cons

• 32 pages, short
• 1983, the oldest here
• Classic, dated art

3

Lying Up a Storm

Julia Cook·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Julia Cook's 32-page Lying Up a Storm, ages 4-9, 2015.

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Pros

• Ages 4 - 9 years stated
• Grade 2-6 stated
• 1st edition stated

Cons

• 32 pages, short
• 2015, mid recency
• Storm, heavy theme

4

Honesty is my Superpower

Alicia Ortego·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Alicia Ortego's 38-page Honesty is my Superpower, ages 5-7, 2022.

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Pros

• Book 6 of 16 stated
• 38 pages stated
• Ages 5 - 7 years stated

Cons

• 38 pages, mid length
• 2022, recent
• Book 6, mid series

5

Llama Llama's Little Lie

Anna Dewdney·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Anna Dewdney's 40-page Llama Llama's Little Lie, ages 3-4, 2023.

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Pros

• 2023, the newest here
• 40 pages stated
• Llama Llama series

Cons

• 40 pages, mid length
• 2023, the newest
• Ages 3-4, narrow

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More picks to compare

• It's True24 pages, 2013, Mayer.Check on Amazon
• Be Honest40 pages, 2007, Meiners.Check on Amazon
• Honesty Stronger30 pages, 2024, Cole.Check on Amazon
• Wigglebottom Truth32 pages, 2010, Binkow.Check on Amazon
• Truth Dragon32 pages, 2024, Clever.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, content, value and age guidance. Age guidance here means the stated reading age. No listing states a warranty. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about telling the truth

Reading age

The Llama Llama is ages 3-4; the Lying Up a Storm is ages 4-9. Match the age. For more picture books, see our picture books.

Series

The Teach Your Dragon is book 15 of 68; the rest stand alone. A series gives more lessons. For train books, see our children’s books about trains.

Length

The Teach Your Dragon has 42 pages; the Berenstain Bears has 32. Longer books give more story.

Before you buy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest?

The Teach Your Dragon has 42 pages, the most here.

Which is the newest?

The Llama Llama’s Little Lie is 2023.

Which is the oldest?

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth is 1983.

Still deciding? Our top pickTeach Your Dragon

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Related lists

See all kids and teens lists. Also see our children’s books about trains.