16 best kids' books about wearing glasses

Introduce your child to stories about wearing glasses

Does your child need glasses? Kids’ books about wearing glasses offer a great way to help a child learn about and get used to new glasses.

Check out this list of fun kids’ books about wearing glasses, and open up a whole new perspective on wearing glasses, as well as trips to the eye doctor. These stories just might inspire your child to discuss their feelings on wearing glasses. They might even decide their new eyewear is the first step into an exciting adventure.

This roundup of the best kids’ books about wearing glasses is organized by recommended age. It includes stories about glasses, as well as books with characters who wear glasses. While a few of these classics are no longer in print, you might be able to grab an inexpensive copy at a used bookstore.

Books about getting glasses for babies and toddlers

1. Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg – A story for kids ages 2 to 6 about a shaggy dog who loves to play catch. One day, he realizes he needs glasses when he can no longer see the ball.
2. Glasses to Go by Hannah Eliot and Daniel Roode (illustrator) – This interactive book for kids ages 3 to 5 introduces different types of glasses, from cool shades to a monocle for going to the opera.
3. Douglas, You Need Glasses! by Ged Adamson – Beloved kids book about wearing glasses for kids ages 3 to 7. It features a dog named Douglas whose funny antics — like chasing a leaf he thinks is a squirrel — happen because he needs glasses.
4. Peppa’s First Glasses by Neville Astley – This book for kids ages 0 to 5 features the popular character Peppa Pig and is about glasses. But parents may want to take note before buying the book that Peppa ends up not needing glasses like her glasses-wearing pal Pedro Pony.

Books about getting glasses for preschoolers

1. I Can See Just Fine by Eric Barclay – A book for kids ages 4 to 6 about a little girl who says over and over “I can see just fine,” even though everything looks blurry at school and at violin practice. But she finally goes to the eye doctor, and with her new glasses, she really can see just fine.
2. Arthur’s Eyes: An Arthur Adventure by Marc Brown – In this book for kids ages 4 to 8, the iconic children’s character Arthur the aardvark gets teased by his friends for wearing glasses. The Arthur’s Eyes book teaches kids that the best response to teasing isn’t to get rid of your glasses.
3. The Princess Who Wore Glasses by Laura Hertzfeld Katz and Jacob Duncan (illustrator) – This fun story for kids ages 4 to 8 follows the adventures of a princess who can’t see the beauty of her kingdom until she gets an eye test. Then, a pair of magical eyeglasses help her see flowers, stars and more. The Princess Who Wore Glasses includes questions for young readers and tips for parents.
4. Fancy Nancy: Spectacular Spectacles by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (illustrator) – This tale for kids ages 4 to 8 is part of the Fancy Nancy I Can Read series. In this story, Nancy starts to envy her friend Bree’s new lavender glasses. Nancy goes to the eye doctor hoping to get some snazzy specs of her own.

Books about getting glasses for elementary school kids

1. Glamorous Glasses by Barbara Johansen Newman – This book for kids ages 5 to 7 tells the story of two girls who are best friends: Joanie, who gets glasses and Bobbie, who wishes she could get a pair too. Joanie worries glasses make her different while Bobbie enjoys browsing through cool frames. Kids will love the happy ending for both girls.
2. Luna and the Big Blur: A Story for Children Who Wear Glasses by Shirley Day and Don Morris (illustrator) – This sweet illustrated story for kids ages 5 to 8 follows Luna. She is a young girl who doesn’t want to wear her glasses. But Luna learns to love them after going through life without them for a day.
3. I Really Absolutely Must Have Glasses by Lauren Child – This book about getting glasses for kids ages 5 to 8 tells a story about two friends, Charlie and Lola. In I Really Absolutely Must Have Glasses , Lola goes to the eye doctor to get glasses. Charlie tells her she may not need them, but she insists that she does. Note: Parents should know, Lola ends up not needing glasses.
4. Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert – This book for kids ages 5 to 8 deals with a princess who gets teased for wearing glasses. She tries taking off her specs only to find that life — and doing princessy things — is much harder and not nearly as much fun when she can’t see clearly.

Books with characters who wear glasses for tweens and teens

1. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh – This classic book for kids ages 8 to 12 features Harriet, an 11-year-old who wears glasses and decides to spy on everyone in her neighborhood. While not a book about glasses, this tale puts the spotlight on a cool main character who wears glasses.
2. The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts – This book for kids ages 8 to 12 centers around a very special character who everyone thinks is a little strange. Not only does Katie wear glasses, she has another interesting feature: silver eyes. She also has a special power: the ability to make things happen with her mind. Parents may want to note: Katie states in the book that she doesn’t like wearing glasses.
3. The World Around the Corner by Maurice Gee – This novel for tweens and teens can be hard to find, but it’s worth a mention as one of the few stories specifically about glasses for older kids. This tale of adventure centers on a girl named Caroline who finds a pair of magic glasses that reveal a secret world. Your kid can follow Caroline’s adventures as she tries to hold onto the special glasses and save her newly discovered world from danger.
4. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling – This iconic, magical series for ages 9 to 17 is one of the few classics for teens and tweens that features a main character who wears glasses. Even if your kids have already read the series, they may be inspired to re-read when they need to get glasses too.

Why turn to books to help kids feel comfortable wearing glasses?

Pediatric eye care specialists and teachers alike recommend introducing your child to their new glasses by reading stories about, or even just featuring, characters who wear glasses.

For example, kids really love the book Little Bear Needs Glasses , according to Megan Sumrall Lott, a pediatric optometrist. In the book, Little Bear’s friends, including a dog, a mouse and a pig, all offer him their glasses. The glasses in the book are interactive, reusable stickers. So kids can try the different pairs on Little Bear and help him “choose” his very own glasses.

“It’s a really cute book,” says Dr. Sumrall Lott, founder of Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care in Hattiesburg, Miss. “Kids love trying on all the different glasses.”

Looking for more books about glasses to share with your child? There are so many great stories about glasses (and characters who wear glasses) for preschool and elementary school age groups. Tweens and teens may love YA books with cool characters who wear glasses.

Whatever age your child is when they learn they need glasses, there is a wide variety of books and stories you can read together. A good story may get your child excited (or at least feel normal) about their new eyewear.

READ NEXT: A list of all your child’s favorite book and movie characters who wear glasses