the best Vegan Friendly Children's Books for your age and interest

Quickly find the best vegan kid's book for you, with reviews, videos & learning resources.

Neither mislead your vegan child, nor scare them with information they aren't ready for.

Some of these books can be found at your local library, as they are accidentally vegan.  I've also included some books about general nonviolence, and countering stereotypes, as these are things I looked for myself.

Jump to the books.

or visit the book shop

Read with purpose about the world we want to help us imagine and make it.  These books encourage compassion and present farming accurately. Many children's books show farmers as best mates with the animals who they are about to kill, which we know not to be the case.  Books with non vegan themes can be useful discussion starters.  However, keeping some vegan titles at home can help counter inaccuracies we find elsewhere.  Baby can feel part of a vegan movement, even if they don't meet others everyday.  What's more, we can have a lovely cuddle while reading; which will equally help birth the society of the future.

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When my child was a toddler who can't sleep after a frightening book, so I take care with the topics I read them.  This is why I have separated the vegan kids books into age appropriate subject categories below.  However, I am all for reading complicated books to younger children to help them learn language patterns, along with simpler books to help them identify the meaning of words.   

Many of the book articles have links to videos and learning resources, so as you can find out more, and I've noted which books are printed on recycled paper.   Look for other recycled, second hand books in: Preloved or Oxfam.

Jump straight to the Vegan Kids Books

Contents:

Vegan baby books

with thick card pages for easy turning, cleaning and gnawing.  Babies can practice naming animals, making their sounds, and relating to them.  These books have no menacing behaviour, as my child currently copies everything.  One day they will be old enough to discuss that some things are better not copied, and some things are just pretend.  For now, I can only limit what they are exposed to.

Vegan Toddler books to build empathy

Why would a child eat an animal if they can see themselves in it?  Animals in these books have characters for children to get to know, and feel an affinity for.  Use them to hold onto children's natural interest in animals, and build on it by naming what we have in common.  In turn, this helps us connect with other humans; and realise that we are all one big Earthling family, with our origins in the same cosmic dust.  The stories often use rhymes, refrains, alliteration, or just pictures to appeal to younger readers.  We like to add in actions too.

Nonviolent books for critical thinking

In which carnivore creatures convert to herbivorism and stop eating each other.  They allow themselves to pause and think, to expand their circle of compassion beyond the norm; even if it means standing out.  The stories deal with difficult comments from the animal's peers, much like we face in our own lives.  This helps us compose ourselves and prepare factually weighted witty retorts...  The animals live their lives in their own way, without antagonism.  Their grace and commitment sees them through, and sometimes brings others to join them too.

Activist calls to action

Child protagonists saving the day and leading by example!  They are a less toxic type of superhero than most; ones whose kindness is their power.  Kiddie readers learn that you can stand your ground without fighting, and win people over with strength of character.  Unlike flying or freezing people, these are qualities which we can find in ourselves.  We do not need to become supernatural alpha people; just be fully who we are and spring to action from a place of love.

Action stories- real life animal escapes to inform

Many of these books are true stories. They introduce the reality of farming and zoos, but with a happy ending where the animals escape to freedom.  This demonstrates that animals have agency and emotions.  The domesticated farm and pet animals still want to exist in their own right; however paternalistic the human owner may be.  They are more like their wild cousins, or us humans than artificial definitions allow. 

The stories often end with the animals befriending a less controlling human, who has put themself out to help.  This way we maintain the hope in humanity, so needed for social activism.

Information on animal exploitation

These books explain the gory truth about the violence of farming, and other types of animal captivity and exploitation, for children who are able to deal with difficult subjects.  This is generally hidden in children's literature, perhaps as parents are concerned non vegan children wouldn't finish their dinner if they knew.  These books would be useful if children ask why they can't eat what their friends eat.  As children grow older they can engage critically with information and make their own decisions.  For example, I became a vegetarian at 10, and vegan at 17 without my parent's input.  However, I found my toddler aged child thought everything should be copied.

Vegan food cook books for kids

Healthy, vegan cookery books for children, with simple instructions and colourful illustrations.  Also books for vegan kids about diet, nutrition and where food comes from.  Children can take pride in learning to look after themselves.  They can take responsibility for tidying up, as full participants in the communal family unit...

Vegan activity and colouring books, and books with printable learning resources

Vegan children's colouring and activity books, games and apps.  You can find more printable vegan colouring sheets and vegan art materials for children in Vegan Family Guide.

Representative

books which are inclusive of the diversity of vegan children.  Generally, there is an under representation of girls, BAME characters and other minorities.  I can recognise the impact of seeing yourself in the media on my own child and a student I worked with.

Vegan teenage, parenting and teachers books