Our modern world is unfortunately riddled with collectivist rhetoric. So powerful is the sentiment behind these beliefs, that many children’s books are actually catered to fit these ends. Unfortunately for those leaning towards individualism and in turn, the study of free market economics, finding books that focus on liberty can be difficult.
But thanks to the free market, there have never been more resources available to parents who would like to begin teaching their children the precepts of individualism and free market economics.
The following is a list of books that are useful in delivering these principles in a way that can be beneficial to children of different age groups.
An Island Called Liberty
An Island Called Liberty is an essential when teaching younger children about liberty. On Liberty Island, the individual residents are left to their own devices and manage to operate in a happy, helpful, functioning society.
But when arbitrary rules get introduced and the ability to produce widgets is inhibited the citizens start realizing just how important liberty truly is.
Three Lads and the Lizard King
Robert Murphy steps out of his usual role of Austrian economist to writes a delightful book that is both entertaining and educational for young readers. With loveable characters and a fun plot, Three Lads and the Lizard King teaches readers basic economic principles with ease.
Murphy explores the nature of value, money, and trade basics in this story without taking the focus away from the plot. This book is an excellent introduction to the foundations of free market economics.
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie is the tale of a pioneer family who demonstrates hard work and self-sufficiency. Aside from being filled with valuable life lessons that will teach your children how to be more self-reliant, the series was written by Laura Ingalls Wilder with the help of her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.
Lane herself was a lover of liberty and avid supporter of free market economics. Her love of liberty shines through in these classic books.
Tuttle Twins
The Tuttle Twins is a series of books written to explain liberty to a young audience. Since economic liberty is among the most important principles necessary for all other forms of liberty, the Tuttle Twins have several books devoted to the understanding of such.
The Miraculous Pencil explains the beauty of spontaneous order to a younger audience. By taking Leonard Read’s famous I, Pencil essay, the book tells the story of all the different people and resources involved in the making of one single product as seemingly simple as a pencil.
The Road to Surfdom is a play on the F.A. Hayek’s economic classic, The Road to Serfdom. The book simplifies the complexities of a Hayek’s work in a manner that is digestible to a younger audience. By incorporating a fun plot and characters that the readers can relate to, the Tuttle Twins are a great way to build a foundation of economic principles with your children.
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?
The Uncle Eric series by Richard Maybury is one that is essential for all young adults. But what is most surprising, is how much adults can gain from them as well. Written from the perspective of a wise uncle writing to his curious nephew, the Uncle Eric series explains commonly misunderstood historical events and economics principles.
In this installment of the series, Maybury breaks down basic economics lessons from the Austrian perspective, including inflation when he answers the question:“Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?”
