Books for the Purposefull People Character Traits (Lakeshore): Courage

Explore a myriad of ways in which children can be brave, including "Be brave to be scared." Wait, how is that possible?

Wemberly is off to school, but is she too worried to stay there and have a good day?

Germaphobe Scaredy Squirrel never ventures out of his nest; it's just too dangerous. Will he survive when he's forced to leave?

"There are many kinds of courage." So starts this book of ways to show courage.

"When the world feels like a place that you're standing all the way outside of." What happens on the day you bravely begin to share who you are?

Because of the fear of the unknown, a child turns down a chance encounter with a chance; will the chance ever come back? If so, will the child find the courage to take a chance?

As Jabari gets ready to jump off the diving board for the first time, he becomes fearful. Will he be able to show courage and overcome his fears?

Germaphobe Scaredy Squirrel never ventures out of his nest; it's just too dangerous. Will he survive when he's forced to leave?

In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will Ajani and his friends be able to beat them at their own game?

Creativity starts with you! This book inspires students to have the Courage to be free spirited, to have big and little dreams, adn to stay true to who you are.

Enjoy this lively and inspiring book that reminds us that tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.

Little Mae’s Curiosity, Courage, and Perseverance, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young students to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.

Little Blue loved being blue, except when red was around. Can Blue stand up to the hot head?

When she is chosen to compete in the local spelling bee, Stacey learns that, win or lose, her words are powerful, and sometimes perseverance is the most important word of all, in this debut picture book from the iconic voting rights advocate.
Grades K-3

The tale of a little fish who finds his purpose when he discovers the need to work together.

Five elephants learn the power of teamwork from mice that work together to accomplish the goal of getting fruit from a tall tree!

Sisterhood is about more than just sharing a family; sisters can also be those who choose to come together to make the world a better place. Emma is an only child and, though she loves her family and the street where she lives, she wishes dearly for a sister to share them with. One day, Emma gets her wish when two families of sisters move in, and the girls discover that each of their unique skills are even more powerful when they come together.

Where's your creativity? It's the tingle in your toes, or the hop in your step when you have a brand-new idea. It makes you want to do something that hasn't been done before. Where's Your Creativity? is an inspirational picture book for young creatives. The fun and rhythmic text looks at ways children can express themselves creatively each day and sets imaginations alight with ideas. With bold and colorful illustrations, this book explores all areas in which children can express their individual creativity, including dance, music, food, literature and art.

Enjoy this Chinese American retelling of the classic “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” with a surprise ending!

Wanda wants to be brave like her big brother, but she really does not like the Coaster of Doom at the local amusement park--and standing up to peer pressure is also a way to be brave.
Grades K-4

After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty is very afraid of climbing up again, but is determined not to let fear stop him from being close to the birds.

A boy faces unseen and imagined fears with the help of his stuffed toy lion.

Illustrations, hand-lettering, and easy-to-read text reveal a child's bedtime promise to strive the next day to be adventurous, strong, curious, and more.

Presents various situations that exemplify the nature of courage.

Introduces courage through examples of everyday situations where this character trait can be used.

A young bird, safe in its nest, debates whether or not to risk trying its wings.

Help children develop the attitudes and skills of courage and assertiveness in order to make wise choices and work through challenges. Children learn to do what they think is right and be brave, even if it's hard. They learn to distinguish between expectations set by trusted adults and hurtful, wrong, or dangerous things adults or children might pressure them to do. The book also highlights trying new things, taking reasonable risks, and speaking up.

Celebrates everyday courage, including believing in ourselves, speaking out, trying new things, asking for help, and getting back up no matter how many times we may fall. Includes information on how to let go of fear by practicing yoga poses and mindful breathing exercises.

Relates how to find your courage and use it when life seems frightening or you start something new.

Lou and her friends are brave adventurers. They run faster than airplanes. They build mighty fortresses. They rescue wild animals. But one day, when they're looking for a ship to play pirates in, Lou's friend has an idea: Up there! The tree can be our ship! Ummm ... says Lou. This is something new. Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she's sure she can't do it. So she tries to convince her friends to play a not-up-a-tree game. When that doesn't work, she comes up with reasons for not joining them ... her arm is sore, her cat needs a walk, you shouldn't climb so soon after eating. Finally, she tells herself she doesn't want to climb the tree. But is that true, or is this brave adventurer just too afraid to try?

hether Frankie's learning to ride a bike, love her first dog, make new friends (her very first twins), or help out her dad, she discovers that trying new things is how she grows, and that being brave enough to do so is what growing up is all about.

A ... picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world.

aylor, a hedgehog, and his friend Sydney, a skunk, set out from their comfortable burrow under Miss Nancy's potting shed on an expedition to see more of the "Whole Wide World."

fictionalized account of how in 1849 a Virginia slave, Henry "Box" Brown, escapes to freedom by shipping himself in a wooden crate from Richmond to Philadelphia.

It's John's big day at school today--a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins.

When a child has a "bad speech day" at school, his father gives him a new perspective on his stuttering.

...follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.

In this spare, poetic picture book based on author Muon Van's family history and told through a series of wishes, a family packs up everything they own and embarks on a perilous oceanic voyage toward a better life.

When Ruby Bridges was six years old, she became the first African American student to integrate an elementary school in the South. Told in the perspective of her six year old self and based on the pivotal events that happened in 1960, Ruby tells her story like never before. Embracing her name and learning that even at six years old she was able to pave the path for future generations, this is a story full of hope, innocence, and courage.

aizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school.

For Anjali, playing the tabla is something that comes naturally. She loves the feel of the drum beneath her fingers and getting lost in the music. But when a boy in her class gives her a hard time for being better than him, she messes up on purpose. When her teacher announces a contest where the winner will get to perform with him at his next concert, Anjali is distraught. Winning the contest would be a dream for Anjali. But it seems like the better she gets, the meaner some of the kids are.

Sticks is about a popsicle that accidentally melts and becomes just a plain stick. He has a hard time adjusting to his new normal but with the help of some new friends (who happen to be sticks of one kind or another) he realizes that everything happened for a reason and that melting was part of his journey.