Trustworthiness
K-2
- The Empty Pot by Demi
- The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia McKissack
- Liar, Liar Pants on Fire by Diane deGroat
- A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting
3-5
- Sun and Spoon by Kevin Henkes
- Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Ricky Sticky Fingers by Julia Cook
- Winners Take All by Fred Bowen
Respect
K-2
- Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen
- Through Grandpa’s Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan
- The Bicycle Man by Allen Say
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
3-5
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
- Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Responsibility
K-2
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
- The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
- The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
3-5
- Seedfolk by Paul Fleischman
- Rocky Road by Rose Kent
- Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson
- See You In the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
Fairness
K-2
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Dawalt
- New Shoes by Susan Lynn Meyer
- One Grain of Rice by Demi
- Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
3-5
- Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez
- Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Curtis
- Baseball Saved Us by Kevin Mochizuki
- Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
Caring
K-2
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip CV.
- Stead I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët
- Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
- The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth
3-5
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
- Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Citizenship
K-2
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
- Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi
- Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
- Is There Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis
3-5
- Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams
- Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
- When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
- What’s the Big Deal About Freedom by Ruby Shamir
Learn more about character education.
Summer Reading List (K-5)