The paper points out that while literature is primarily for enjoyment, this does not exclude concomitant learning of information, attitudes, and appreciations. It indicates that many children's books that are well-written contain an underlying ethic or moral or leave the reader with a feeling of awe and wonder at the natural and created phenomena being considered. The paper then briefly describes more than 40 books and poems for children that help the reader understand problems of life through historical novels; biographies; books of natural history, conservation, and physical science; science fiction; books of fantasy; and poetry. (TJ)