CENTRE CITY SCHOOL LIBRARY

WISDOM

LeSieg, T. (1975). Would you rather be a bullfrog? New York: Beginner Books.

By asking a series of "would you rather" questions, this book is a great tool to get young readers talking about making decisions. Recommended preK - 1st gr.

 

Rosenthal, A. (2006). Cookies: Bite-size life lessons. New York: HarperCollins.

Amy Rosenthal gives life wisdom framed within the context of baking cookies, focusing in on character traits such as generosity (offering a second cookie, even if I didn't ask for one) or trustworthiness (you can hand me your cookie and know that you will still have a cookie when you come back). Recommended for Kindergarten  - 3rd gr.

 

HONESTY

Berenstain, S., & Berenstain, J. (1983). The Berenstain bears and the truth. New York: Random House.

Mama Bear catches Brother and Sister Bear in a lie when they try to cover-up a broken lamp. Recommended preK to 1st gr.

 

Bourgeois, P., & Clark, B. (1992). Franklin fibs. New York: Scholastic.

Franklin brags to his friends about how many flies he can eat and then can't follow-through on his exaggerated claim when put to the test. Recommended pre-K to 1st gr.

 

Demi. (1996). The empty pot. New York: H. Holt.

A young boy's integrity is put to the test when he discovers the seed the Emperor gave him will not grow in his flower pot. Recommended for 1st-3rd gr.

 

Hennessy, B., & Kulikov, B. (2006). The boy who cried wolf. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

A shepherd boy cries for his neighbors to come save him from a wolf that isn't there and learns a valuable lesson about integrity in this re-telling of a traditional tale. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd gr.

 

McKissack, P., & Potter, G. (2000). The honest-to-goodness truth. New York: Atheneum Books.

Libby learns that sometimes the truth hurts. A great book for teaching that honesty and kindness go hand-in-hand. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd grade.

 

SELF-CONTROL

Agassi, M., & Heinlen, M. (2000). Hands are not for hitting. Minneapolis, Minn.: Free Spirit Pub.

Encourages young readers to consider all the wonderful things they can do with their hands. Recommended for PreK.

 

Antony, S. (2014). Betty goes bananas. New York: Schwartz & Wade.

Betty gets upset when she cannot peel her banana and needs assistance from Mr. Toucan. Recommended PreK to 1st gr.

 

Berenstain, S., & Berenstain, J. (1988). The Berenstain bears get the gimmies. New York: Random House.

Brother and Sister Bear learn how to navigate the store without wanting everything in sight. Recommended for PreK to 1st gr.

 

Elliott, D., & Ering, T. (2009). Finn throws a fit! Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Finn's behavior gets out-of-control, which makes him feel much better. Or does it? Recommended for Kindergarten to 3rd gr.

 

Harris, R., & Bang, M. (2008). The day Leo said I hate you! New York, NY: Little, Brown and Co.

Leo wants to take his angry "I hate you" back and learns that his mom is willing to forgive and move on. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd.

 

Rosenthal, A., & Lichtenheld, T. (2009). Yes Day! New York: HarperCollins.

What happens when we get everything we ask for? A clever look at the power of YES. Recommended preK to 3rd gr.

 

Vail, R., & Heo, Y. (2002). Sometimes I'm Bombaloo. New York: Scholastic Press.

Katie's mom helps her learn to deal with her powerful temper that sometimes gets out of control. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd gr.

 

Wilson, K., & Chapman, J. (2003). Bear wants more. New York: M.K. McElderry Books.

Bear is ravenous after his long winter's nap, but soon learns that eating everything in sight can give him a bellyache. Recommended preK to 1st grade.

 

FAIRNESS

Hutchins, P. (1986). The doorbell rang. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Every time the doorbell rings, more people show up to share mom's freshly-baked cookies. Will there be enough for everyone? Recommended preK - 3rd grade.

 

Peck, J., & Root, B. (1998). The giant carrot. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Everyone must help to pull a giant carrot from the ground, and everyone gets to share in the bounty. A retelling of the traditional tale, the Enormous Turnip. Recommended for Kindergarten to 3rd gr.

 

Rosenthal, A. (2008). It's not fair. New York: HarperCollins Publisher.

A clever take on why "life isn't fair." Recommended preK-3rd gr.

 

Sturges, P., & Walrod, A. (1999). The Little Red Hen makes a pizza. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

A modern retelling of The Little Red Hen, and this time pizza's on the menu. A twist at the end will get students talking about fairness. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd grade.

 

Willems, M. (2010). Can I play, too? New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Best friends, Elephant and Piggie, learn to include the "new kid," Snake in their game of catch. Recommended preK - 3rd gr.

 

STRENGTH

Coles, R., & Ford, G. (1995). The story of Ruby Bridges. New York: Scholastic.

The first African American to attend Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Ruby Bridges must face great opposition alone. Recommended for 2nd and 3rd gr.

 

Lester, H., & Munsinger, L. (1988). Tacky the penguin. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

Tacky the Penguin outsmarts the hunters and saves his friends just by daring to be different. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd gr.

 

POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Jordan, D., & Jordan, R. (2007). Michael's golden rules. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

After losing their baseball game, Jonathan and Michael understand that winning is all in your attitude. Recommended 1st to 3rd gr.

 

Pitcher, C., & Macnaughton, T. (2008). The littlest owl. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

The youngest of his siblings, the littlest owl remains hopeful that their mother will return to the nest, even though the others are doubtful. Recommended preK to 1st gr.

 

Piper, W., & Long, L. (2005). The little engine that could. New York: Philomel Books.

A little blue engine helps out a stranded train and climbs the steep mountain with sheer determination and the refrain, "I think I can!" Recommended preK - 1st gr.

 

HUMILITY

Heo, Y. (2012). Lady Hahn and her seven friends. New York: Henry Holt.

Seamstress Hahn tries to get ride of her sewing tools when she hears them bragging, but then discovers that she needs them to get a job done. Recommended 1st to 3rd gr.

 

RESPECT

Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt.

An example of self-respect, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on the bus. Recommended 2nd and 3rd gr.

 

Polacco, P. (2001). Mr. Lincoln's way. New York: Philomel Books.

School principal, Mr. Lincoln, creates an atmosphere of respect that the students eventually come to embrace. Recommended 2nd and 3rd.

 

LOVE

Polacco, P. (1992). Chicken Sunday. New York: Philomel Books.

Miss Eula is so loved that the children spend lots of time decorating eggs to sell so they can buy her an Easter hat. Recommended 2nd and 3rd.

 

Rosenthal, A., & Dyer, J. (2009). Sugar cookies: Sweet little lessons on love. New York: Harper.

A follow-up to Cookies, Amy Rosenthal tells us what it means to love and be loved all within the context of baking cookies. Recommended 1st to 3rd gr.

 

Willems, M. (2007). My friend is sad. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Piggie will try to cheer up Elephant. What will it take? Recommended preK-3rd gr.

 

Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. New York: Harper & Row.

A tree gives all that it has to a boy as he grows older and eventually returns to the tree as an old man. Recommended Kindergarten to 3rd gr.

 

HELPING

Galdone, P. (1973). The little red hen. New York: Seabury Press.

A hen tries to recruit the help of her friends in this traditional tale that teaches if you want to reap the benefits, you have to help out. Recommended preK to 3rd gr.

 

Keller, H. (2007). Help!: A story of friendship. New York: Greenwillow Books.

When Mouse falls in a hole he has to be rescued. Recommended Kindergarten to 2nd gr.

 

TEACHING CHARACTER ED: TITLES AND TOOLS

Knowles, E., & Smith, M. (2006). Character builders books and activities for character education. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.

 

Igniter Media. (2009). The marshmallow test: a study in self-control.