Books About Education, Parenting, Homeschooling, and Kids

If you’re interested in books about education, parenting, homeschooling, kids, money, leadership, self development, or mindset, then you’re in the right place. While you probably understand why we’re talking about the first few subjects, you might be wondering why we’re sharing books about mindset.

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we believe that your mindset as a parent is one of the most important parts of parenting, teaching, educating, and homeschooling your children.

While the books that we share on this page are primarily geared toward parents and educators, near the bottom of the page, we’ve shared some resources to help you find some of the best books for children and teens.

How Our Book Categories are Organized

For your ease, we’ve created various book categories. Please note that many books could easily be categorized into multiple ways. For the most part, each book is only listed once and under one category.

Table of Contents: Book Categories

Click the Links Below to Go Straight to the Book Category You are Looking For

• Homeschooling, Education, and Learning
• Educational System, Schools, and How to Help Children
• Educational Alternatives
• Books to Inspire Homeschooling Parents
• Guide Your Child’s Education
• Calendars & Planners
• Parenting
• Relationships
• Mindset Books & Self Improvement
• Books About Your Brain
• Lifestyle Books: Decluttering and Minimalism
• Leadership & Self-Development
• Financial Books & Money
• Book Award Lists for Children & Teens

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we realize that while education and parenting resources are the first things that parents are looking for on a homeschooling website, that there are other aspects like leadership and finances that can make a tremendous difference in the lives of homeschooling families. That’s why we’re sharing a variety of resources that may interest you.

The HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast

Listen to this podcast episode about the books we share on this page. You can learn more about our international podcast here.

Books About Homeschooling, Education, and Learning: A Broad Perspective

• Curious Unschoolers: Stories of an Unschooling Family by Sue Elvis
• Everything You Need to Know about Homeschooling: A Comprehensive, Easy-to-Use Guide for the Journey from Early Learning through Graduation by Lea Ann Garfias
• Home Education (from The Home Education Series) by Charlotte Mason
• Home Grown: Adventures in Parenting off the Beaten Path, Unschooling, and Reconnecting with the Natural World by Ben Hewitt

More Books About Homeschooling, Education, and Learning: A Broad Perspective

• Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Creative and Comprehensive Homeschool Curriculum by Rebecca Rupp
• Homeschool Bravely: How to Squash Doubt, Trust God, and Teach Your Child with Confidence by Jamie Erickson
• 12 Homeschool Myths Debunked: The Book for Skeptical Dads by Kent Larson
• How Children Learn by John Holt
• How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature by Scott Sampson

Continued: More Books About Homeschooling, Education, and Learning: A Broad Perspective

• Project-Based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners by Lori McWilliam Pickert
• The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids by Sarah Mackenzie 
• Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of Homeschooling by John Holt & Pat Farenga
• Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie 
• The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life  by Julie Bogart
• The Call of the Wild + Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child’s Education by Ainsley Arment
• The Homeschooling Starter Guide: How to Create and Adapt the Best Education Action Plan for Your Needs by Dr. Gina M. Riley
• The Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling by Durenda Wilson

More Books About Homeschooling, Education, and Learning: A Broad Perspective

• THINK HOMESCHOOL: Live & Learn Your Way a HomeSchool ThinkTank Book
• Unschool Yourself First: A Parent’s Gateway to Self-Directed Learning by Mark Beaumont 
• Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom by Kerry McDonald
• The Unschooling Handbook: How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom by Mary Griffith
• Why Are You Still Sending Your Kids to School? The Case for Helping Them Leave, Chart Their Own Paths, and Prepare for Adulthood at Their Own Pace by Blake Boles
• A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill-Building Fun for Every Season by Jane Worrol

Back to Table of Contents: Book Categories

Books About the Educational System, Schools, and How to Help Children

• Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto
• Lost At School: Why Our Kids With Behavioral Challenges Are Falling Through The Cracks And How We Can Help Them by Ross Greene PhD
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
• Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol
• Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto

Books About Education Alternatives

Clearly, all of the books in the “Books About Homeschooling” section could belong in this category as well.

• Free at Last: The Sudbury Valley School by Daniel Greenberg
• Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray
• How Children Learn by John Holt
• The Courage to Grow: How Acton Academy Turns Learning Upside Down by Laura Sandefer
• The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined by Salman Khan

Video: Peter Gray on The Decline of Play

Peter Gray is the author of Free to Learn. Every parent should read this book. It’s available as an ebook, in print, and as an audiobook.

Learn more about other related resources and unschooling here.

Books to Help You Guide Your Child’s Education

• 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy
• Homeschooling the Early Years by Linda Dobson
• Homeschooling the Teen Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 13- to 18- Year-Old by Linda Dobson
• Teach a Child to Read with Children‘s Books by Mark B. Thogmartin PhD and Mary Gallagher MS Ed
• The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12 by Linda Dobson
• The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jesse Wise
• The Young Reader by Margaret Craig

Books to Inspire Homeschooling Parents

• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

Back to Table of Contents: Book Categories

Planners & Calendars

The following planners and calendars are some of our favorites that are available on Amazon. Note that some planners come in various sizes and patterns.

• The Homeschool Planner: Monthly Tabs, To Do List, Goals, Meal Planning & Academic Tools
• 18 Month Wall Calendar July 2022-December 2023 with Twin- Wire Binding and Hanging Hook
• Smaller Weekly and Monthly Day Planner for the 2022-2023 Academic Year
• Larger Weekly and Monthly Day Planner for the 2022-2023 Academic Year

Parenting Books

• Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel Siegel
• Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray
• How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough
• How To Raise an Adult Julie Lythcott-Haims
• How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 (The How To Talk Series) by Joanna Faber and Julie King
• Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids by Mary Cay Ricci, Margaret Lee
• Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell
• Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety by Dr. John Duffy
• Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham
• Raising Resilience by Dr. Christopher Willard
• The Power of Showing Up by Dr. Daniel Siegel

More Parenting Books

• Simple Happy Parenting: The Secret of Less for Calmer Parents and Happier Kids by Denaye Barahona
• The Difficult Child: Expanded and Revised Edition by Stanley Turecki and Leslie Tonner
• The Explosive Child by Ross Greene PhD
• The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired by Daniel J Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
• The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control over Their Lives by Ned Johnson and William Stixrud PhD
• The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
• Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour

Relationship Books

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
• The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively by Gary Chapman
• The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively by Gary Chapman
• Take Back Your Family: From the Tyrants of Burnout, Busyness, Individualism, and the Nuclear Ideal by Jefferson Bethke

Mindset Books & Self Improvement

• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
• High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard
• Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life by Jim Kwik
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck PhD
• Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids by Mary Cay Ricci, Margaret Lee

Back to Table of Contents: Book Categories

Video: Atomic Habits: How to Get 1% Better Every Day with James Clear

More Books About Mindset & Self Improvement

• The Decision:  Overcoming Today’s BS for Tomorrow’s Success by Kevin Hart [Warning: Foul Language]
• The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz Ph.D
• The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) by Hal Elrod
• The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer
• Self Coaching 101 by Brooke Castillo
• Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill

Books About Your Brain

While these books could fall under the mindset category, the books in this section have more detail about how your brain actually works.

• Brain-Based Learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn by Eric P. Jensen and Liesl McConchie
• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman
• How the Brain Learns by David A. Sousa
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
• The Brain: The Story of You by David Eagleman
• 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success by Amy Morin
• Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life by Jill Bolte Taylor

Back to Table of Contents: Book Categories‘

Video: My Stroke of Insight with Jill Bolte Taylor

Brain research scientist Jill Bolte Taylor shares her experience of having a stroke and how she experienced her brain shutting down. She is the author of the captivating book, Whole Brain Living.

Lifestyle Books: Essentialism, Minimalism, Organization

• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown 
• Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
• Simple Happy Parenting: The Secret of Less for Calmer Parents and Happier Kids by Denaye Barahona
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
• The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life by Joshua Becker

Back to Table of Contents: Book Categories

Video: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less with Greg McKeown

Leadership & Self-Development Books

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change Stephen R. Covey 
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John Maxwell
• Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership by John Maxwell
• Row the Boat: A Never-Give-Up Approach to Lead with Enthusiasm and Optimism and Improve Your Team and Culture by Jon Gordon and P.J. Fleck
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Back to Table of Contents: Book Categories

Video: Summary of \ The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Financial Books & Money

• The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Rich by  Thomas J. Stanley PhD, William D. Danko Ph.D.
• Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki
• The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
• Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Ecker
• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

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Video: The 7 Baby Steps Explained by Dave Ramsey

Award Winning Books on Amazon

• Children’s Books – Award Winning
• Books for Teens – Award Winning
• Young Adult Books – Award Winning
• Award Winning Books for Adults
• Caldecott Metal: Award for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
• Michael L Printz Award: Books for teens that are recognized for literary merit.
• Newberry Award Winning Books: Award for American Literature for Children.

Newberry Award Winning Books

• 2-6 Year Old Preschoolers and Kindergarten Age Children
• 6-8 Year Old Kids
• 8-12 Year Old Tweens
• 13-15 Year Old Teenagers
• Classic Newberry Award Winning Books for 9-12 Year Olds

More Book Lists are Forthcoming