10 Books About Lying for Kids and Why Telling the Truth Matters

Books about lying for kids help children understand why honesty matters and what can happen when they choose to lie. Lying might seem harmless at first, but it can quickly lead to broken trust and damaged relationships.

Research shows that many children between the ages of 3 and 8 lie to cover up mistakes, and get better at it as they grow. While lying can be concerning, experts note it’s also a sign of developing cognitive skills, such as understanding others’ thoughts [*].

Still, repeated dishonesty can affect a child’s values and social growth. Kids who lie often may feel guilt, anxiety, or have trouble building friendships. They may also struggle to take responsibility for their actions.

Parenting matters too. When parents lie as a way to parent their child, it can lead to more lying from kids and weaken the parent-child relationship [*].

Books offer a simple way to start honest conversations. Through stories, children learn how honesty builds trust and why telling the truth feels better than hiding behind a lie.

10 Books About Lying for Kids

Looking for books that teach kids about truthfulness in a way they understand? These stories help kids see the value of honesty and what they risk when they choose to lie.

1. The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Stan and Jan Berenstain

When Brother and Sister Bear break a lamp, they try to cover it up with a lie. But Mama and Papa Bear see through their story. This classic tale teaches children that truth always comes out, and telling it brings peace of mind.

Price: $5.99 on Amazon

2. Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire by Diane deGroat

Mrs. Byrd announces to the class that they’re doing a play, and Gilbert the opossum was nervous that he would forget his lines. Along the way, he tells a small lie to avoid a mistake. But when his lie affected a classmate, he learns that lying only makes things worse.

This book encourages kids to face their fears and speak the truth, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Price: $6.97 on Amazon

3. Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin

Ruthie finds a tiny camera on the playground and wants to keep it. She claims it’s hers, but the guilt builds until she can’t ignore it anymore.

This story encourages kids to own up to mistakes and choose honesty. Laura Rankin highlights how small lies can spiral and how telling the truth helps make things right.

Price: $10.46 on Amazon, $18.99 on Barnes and Noble

4. The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack

Libby vows never to lie, but soon learns that honesty without kindness can hurt. Children learn that timing, tone, and empathy matter just as much as telling the truth.

The story encourages kids to be honest while also being considerate of others' feelings.

Price: $8.03 on Amazon, $8.99 on Barnes and Noble

5. Sam Tells Stories by Thierry Robberecht

Sam tries to make new friends by telling wild, made-up stories. At first, the kids believe him, but soon, his lies cause problems. After that, he decides to tell the truth to prevent more problems from occurring.

This story teaches that truth builds friendships, while lies can tear them down.

Price: $9.40 on Amazon

6. Tell the Truth, Dragon! by Bianca Schulze

Dragon makes a mistake and blames someone else to avoid getting in trouble. This read-aloud book encourages readers to motivate Dragon to reveal the truth and apologize, even though it’s hard.

The story captures how hard, but important, it is to take responsibility, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Price: $13.99 on Amazon, $13.99 on Barnes and Noble

7. Franklin Fibs by Paulette Bourgeois

When his friends share about the things they could do, Franklin also wanted to share his talents, but he blurts out something that he cannot do. After doing so, he was put in a difficult position. Should he think of ways to complete the impossible task or admit that he lied?

This story shows that lying may give a quick win, but it can create more problems down the road.

Price: $6.99 on Amazon, $6.99 on Barnes and Noble

8. David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

David refuses to admit when he’s wrong. “It’s not my fault!” he insists. But as excuses pile up, he finally says what matters most: “I’m sorry.”

This book shows the power of owning up to mistakes through colorful illustrations and simple text suitable for young readers.

Price: $11.29 on Amazon, $18.99 on Barnes and Noble

9. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Maria loses her mom’s ring while making tamales and tells no one. Thinking that the ring got into one of the tamales, she gathered the kids in the house. She asked them to help find the ring by eating all the tamales.

The story beautifully blends family traditions with a message about honesty and courage. It also shows how family can support you, even when you make a mistake.

Price: $6.71 on Amazon, $8.99 on Barnes and Noble

10. A Big Fat Enormous Lie by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

A little boy tells a lie, and it grows bigger and bigger, until he decides to solve the problem by telling the truth.

This quirky book uses humor to highlight how lies snowball and how the truth will set you free.

Price: $7.99 on Amazon, $7.99 on Barnes and Noble

The Bottom Line

Children's books about lying do more than entertain.

Lying may feel like the easy way out, but it can lead to guilt, strained relationships, and low self-esteem. Stories like these help kids see that telling the truth builds trust, confidence, and character.

Read them together. Talk about the choices the characters make. Use the stories to spark honest, open conversations. When kids understand why truth matters, they’re more likely to make it a habit.

For more resources, check out our Character Education Posters and activities that help reinforce lessons from these books in fun, engaging ways.

References:

• Talwar V, Lee K. Social and cognitive correlates of children's lying behavior. Child Dev. 2008 Jul-Aug;79(4):866-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01164.x. PMID: 18717895; PMCID: PMC3483871.
• Setoh P, Low PHX, Heyman GD, Lee K. Parenting by Lying. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2024 Feb;33(1):51-57. doi: 10.1177/09637214231206095. Epub 2023 Dec 5. PMID: 38343870; PMCID: PMC10849888.