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

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Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love With the Process of Becoming Great by Joshua Medcalf
Medcalf, and his sometimes-writing partner Jamie Gilbert, have written several simple books about self-development, transformational leadership, goal achievement, and other topics. The books are short, the chapters shorter, and their arguments easy to process and learn. High school and many middle school students would be able to take something away from this book.

The Hard Hat and The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
Jon Gordon is the author of many books that provide simple lessons in leadership or personal development. Each book is formatted as a parable. His stories are short, exceptionally simple, and the lessons clear and evident. High school and many middle school students could read and appreciate these books. The Hard Hat and The Energy Bus were the most highly recommended of his work.

The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor
Most of us live by the formula, “if I work hard, I will be successful, and if I’m successful, theyn I will be happy.” In The Happiness Advantage, Achor argues that this formula backward; happiness fuels success, not the other way around. Achor writes that when we are positive our brains are more creative, engaged, and productive, which ultimately leads to success. He provides several strategies that can help train our brains to look for the positive in our lives and enjoy a happiness advantage. This is a very easy read and could be enjoyed by students and adults alike.

Smart and Good High Schools: Integrating Excellence and Ethics for Success in School, Work, and Beyond by Matt Davidson and Thomas Lickona
Based on a significant research initiative and report, Smart and Good High Schools not only reveals the data from the study, but illustrates the best practices used by schools to teach and practice character with high school students. This book is intended for educators, and would probably not be meaningful to most students. A free digital copy of the book can be found at: https://www2.cortland.edu/centers/character/high-schools/SnGReport.pdf

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
One of the most widely read cited books of the last decade, Dweck’s Mindset argues that everyone has either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. A fixed mindset is one in which you view your talents and abilities as unchanging. On the other hand, a growth mindset, is one in which you believe that you can grow and improve. The good news, is that mindsets can be changed. This book is a scholarly work, but approachable and readable. Select high school students may enjoy the book.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
According to Duckwork, grit is the demonstration of passion and perseverance towards a long-term goal, and her research argues that one’s grit is an important predictor of success, more so than talent, IQ, and other indicators. Duckworth is a professor and researcher, but her book, like Mindset, is not a difficult read. Select high school students may enjoy the book.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink
In his book, Drive, Daniel Pink argues that much of what we believe about motivation is wrong. The carrot-and-stick approach used by many schools, businesses, and individuals is, Pink argues, is flawed for the 21st century. Instead, real motivation comes from:

*Autonomy—the desire to direct our own lives
*Mastery—the urge to get better and better at something that matters *Purpose—the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves

This book is primarily written for those in leadership in positions: teachers, coaches, managers, parents, etc. This may not be the best book for students.

InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives by Joe Ehrmann
Joe Ehrmann’s book provides a persuasive argument for the power of transformational coaching. Ehrmann is a former football coach and NFL player, and thus his writing sometimes focuses on males (his work focuses on developing boys into men). However, the principles of transformational coaching can be applied to students of either gender. Like Drive, InSideOut Coaching is written for those in leadership positions and may not be as meaningful to students.

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Dewey Doo-It Helps Little Owlie Fly Again by Brahm Wegner and Alan Green

Good for grades: K – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0974514314

When Dewey Doo-it’s kite becomes lodged in a tree, the protagonist and his siblings ask renowned flyer Owlie for assistance, but they find the owl in a wheelchair after an accident. He shows the Doo-its how he can paint with his beak and use a special computer despite his disability.

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Zoom! by Robert Munsch

Good for grades: 1 – 3

ISBN-13: 978-0439523493

Lauretta’s mother takes her to buy a new wheelchair, but Lauretta isn’t satisfied with a regular five-speed or ten-speed model. No, she insists on the 92-speed, black, silver, and red dirt-bike wheelchair. When she gets a speeding ticket during a one-day tryout, her parents insist that the chair be returned to the store . . . until Lauretta’s older brother has an accident and only one person can whisk him to the hospital on time–Lauretta, in her amazing wheelchair!

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Stone Fox by John Gardiner

Good for grades: 2 – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0545548229

Based on a Rocky Mountain legend, Stone Fox tells the story of Little Willy, who lives with his grandfather in Wyoming. When Grandfather falls ill, he is no longer able to work the farm, which is in danger of foreclosure. Little Willy is determined to win the National Dogsled Race—the prize money would save the farm and his grandfather. But he isn’t the only one who desperately wants to win. Willy and his brave dog Searchlight must face off against experienced racers, including a Native American man named Stone Fox, who has never lost a race.

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Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier

Good for grades: 3 – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0439317917

Sage has misheard and misunderstood one of Mrs. Page’s weekly vocabulary words. Her error leads to a humbling catastrophe: a momentous tragedy, in front of the entire class. Can Sage turn her vocabulary disaster: an event bringing great misfortune, into a triumph: a true success? 
Anyone who has ever been daunted: discouraged or disheartened, by a mere word in the dictionary will cheer wildly: in a manner lacking all restraint, as Sage transforms embarrassment into victory in Debra Frasier’s touching story of loving–and mistaking–our glorious language.

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By My Brother’s Side by Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber

Good for grades: 3 – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0439802062

Tiki and Ronde were each other’s best friends. Together from the start, these twins might not have been the strongest or the tallest, but they were fast and worked hard at what they loved. And they loved sports, especially football. Then one day Tiki badly hurt his knee in a biking accident, and he was sure he’d never be able to play again. Their mother had always told them, “You are each other’s best friends. Stick together, believe in yourselves, and you can do anything.” They kept her words in their hearts and never gave up. Based on the childhood of National Football League superstars Ronde and Tiki Barber, this inspiring book about the values of family, hard work, and determination is the story of what it takes to be a champion.

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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coeer

Good for grades: 3 – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0439168243

Two-year-old Sadako Sasaki was living in Hiroshima when the atom bomb was dropped. Sadly, ten years later, she was diagnosed with leukemia, also known as “atom bomb disease.” There is a Japanese legend that says that if a sick person folds 1,000 paper cranes, the gods will make her well again. Sadako spent long hours in bed, folding those paper cranes, and never giving up that hope. When Sadako had folded six hundred and forty-four cranes, and they hung above her bed on strings, her classmates folded the rest.

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Kavik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey

Good for grades: 6 – 8

ISBN-13: 978-0140384239

When Andy Evans stumbles upon the snow-covered wreckage of a small plane, he’s shocked to find a survivor. Should he put the gravely injured dog out of his misery? The look in the animal’s eyes says he’s not ready to die. It turns out that Kävik’s a champion sled dog, and soon he makes a full recovery. When his rightful owner finds out Kävik is alive, he wants the dog back. But Kävik has other ideas.

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Tankworld by S.R. Martin

Good for grades: 9 – 12

ISBN-13: 978-0439105675

Edie and Zac find themselves in a strange world where children live underground, men ride huge dogs, and feral pigs hunt everyone. A fast-paced and unusual trilogy about teenagers fighting for survival in a world of genetic mutation and warring scientists.

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The Principal’s New Clothes by Stephanie Calmenson

Best for grades: PreK – 3

ISBN-13: 978-0590447782

In this version of the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, the vain principal of P.S. 88 is persuaded by two tailors that they will make him an amazing, one-of-a-kind suit that will be visible only to intelligent people who are good at their jobs.

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Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Best for grades: K – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0698114128

Christmas Eve started out so perfectly for Maria. Snow had fallen and the streets glittered. Maria’s favorite cousins were coming over and she got to help make the tamales for Christmas dinner. It was almost too good to be true when her mother left the kitchen for a moment and Maria got to try on her beautiful diamond ring . . . This is the story of a treasure thought to be lost in a batch of tamales; of a desperate and funny attempt by Maria and her cousins to eat their way out of trouble; and the warm way a family pulls together to make it a perfect Christmas after all.

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The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Stan Berenstain

Best for grades: K – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0394856407

Mama knows no cubs are perfect all the time, but she thinks Brother and Sister can usually be trusted to tell the truth, until one lazy day when her favorite lamp is broken. The broken lamp turns into the biggest whopper Brother and Sister have ever told. Will they learn their lesson about telling the truth?

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Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin

Best for grades: K – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0545075442

Ruthie loves little things — the smaller, the better. When she finds a teeny tiny toy on the school playground, she can hardly believe her luck. There’s just one problem: It belongs to somebody else! Ruthie insists the toy is hers, but deep down, she knows better. How could one little toy turn into such a great big problem?

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A Big Fat Enormous Lie by Marjorie Sharmat

Best for grades: K – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0140547375

An empty cookie jar and a small boy with a problem lead to one big fat enormous lie. In this easy reader by a popular illustrator, the boy’s little lie comes alive in the form of a little monster that grows and grows until the boy finds the only way to make it go away — by telling the truth.

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The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Best for grades: K – 3

ISBN-13: 978-0140544510

The big bad wolf has spent ten years in pig prison for the destruction of the three little pigs, and he has quite a story to tell that just might prove his innocence! Alexander T. Wolf writes his own account of this infamous meeting, and insists that he was railroaded in the classic fairytale. After all, it was only an innocent sneeze (he had a bad cold), and all he wanted was to borrow a cup of sugar from one of the pigs. Why is he now the bad guy?

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Edward Fudwupper Fibbed Big by Berkeley Breathed

Best for grades: 1 – 4

ISBN-13: 978-0316144254

Fannie Fudwupper’s big brother, Edwurd, spends his time cooking up big fibs full of phooey and letting them rip. But one day, Edwurd tells such a whopping lie that the army, the air force, and the dogcatcher are called to reverse the damage. 

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Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna

Best for grades: 3 – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0439622790

Mr. Peabody is a beloved elementary school teacher and baseball coach in 1949 Happville, USA, who one day finds himself ostracized when rumors spread through the small town. Mr. Peabody silences the gossip with an unforgettable and poignant lesson about how we must choose our words carefully to avoid causing harm to others.

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That Was Then, This Is Now by S. E. Hinton

Best for grades: 9 – 12

ISBN-13: 978-0670697984

When Bryon finds himself falling in love with Cathy, his friendship with Mark begins to change. The two boys had been like brothers. Will their friendship survive the changes that are happening in Bryon’s life?

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The Red Hen by Rebecca Amberley and illustrated by Ed Emberley

In this version of a classic tale, Red Hen finds a recipe for a Simply Splendid Cake and asks her friends the cat, the rat, and the frog to help with the preparations. But it seems as though her friends want no part in the cake until it’s ready to eat. Will they decide to pitch in, or let Red Hen do all of the hard work?

Grade Level: PreK – 2
ISBN-10: 1596434929

Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother, Ami, insists that she bring her little sister along. Rubina is mortified, but she can’t convince Ami that you just don’t bring your younger sister to your friend’s party. So both girls go, and not only does Sana demand to win every game, but after the party she steals Rubina’s prized party favor, a red lollipop. What’s a fed-up big sister to do?

Grade Level: PreK – 3
ISBN-10: 0670062871

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Chloe and her friends won’t play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she’d shown a little kindness toward Maya.

Grade Level: K – 3
ISBN-10: 0399246525

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles and illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

Friendship defies racism for two boys in this story of the “Freedom Summer” that followed the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Joe and John Henry are a lot alike. They both like shooting marbles, they both want to be firemen, and they both love to swim. But there’s one important way they’re different: Joe is white and John Henry is black, and in the South in 1964, that means John Henry isn’t allowed to do everything his best friend is.

Grade Level: PreK – 3
ISBN-10: 1481422987

The Little Hummingbird by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

This children’s book is based on a South American indigenous story about a courageous hummingbird who defies fear and expectations in her attempt to save the forest from fire. The illustrated story is supplemented by a natural and cultural history of hummingbirds, as well as an inspiring message from Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai.

Grade Level: K – 5
ISBN-10: 1553655338

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Check out some of our favorite books that can help teach kids the value of friendship!

 

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel 

Best for grades: PreK – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0064440202

From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be.

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Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

Best for grades: PreK – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0439921855

Against pastel backgrounds, in vibrant, colorful images, an African-American boy and a white boy meet on the street. Their one- and two-word exchanges on each spread lead to a tentative offer of friendship, sealed as both boys jump high in the air and yell “Yow!”

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The Recess Queen by Alexis O’neill and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

Best for grades: PreK – 3

ISBN-13: 978-0439206372

A fresh & original twist on the common issue of bullying. Kids will relate, & parents & teachers will appreciate the story’s deft handling of conflict resolution (which happens without adult intervention).

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Hunter’s Best Friend at School by Laura Malone Elliott and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger 

Grade level: K – 2

ISBN-13: 978-0060753191

Hunter and Stripe are best friends. This young raccoon pair loves to do everything together, like dress in striped sweaters, read the same stories, and even eat the same lunch — a crawfish sandwich, huckleberries, and milk. But when Stripe arrives one day at school in a mischief-making mood and starts stirring up trouble in Mr. Ringtail’s class, should Hunter follow along?

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My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe 

Grade level: 2 – 5

ISBN-13: 978-0152061975

As Ida May begins fourth grade, she is determined never to make another best friend–because her last best friend moved away. This is a doable plan at first. Thanks to bratty, bossy Jenna Drews, who hates Ida, no one in class has ever really noticed her before.

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate  and illustrated by Patricia Castelao

Grade level: 3 – 7

ISBN-13: 978-0061992278

Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.

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11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass 

Grade level: 3 – 7

ISBN-13: 978-0545052405

It’s Amanda’s 11th birthday and she is super excited—after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she’s shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven’t shared together.

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We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sharon Draper 

Grade level: 6 – 8

ISBN-13: 978-0142406274

Growing up on the rough streets of Newark, New Jersey, Rameck, George, and Sampson could easily have followed their childhood friends into drug dealing, gangs, and prison.  But when a presentation at their school made the three boys aware of the opportunities available to them in the medical and dental professions, they made a pact among themselves that they would become doctors.

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Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Best for: PreK – 2
ISBN-13: 978-0763642648

Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him: as wide as he can reach and as far as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare, who can reach farther and hop higher, loves him back just as much. Well then Little Nutbrown Hare loves him right up to the moon, but that’s just halfway to Big Nutbrown Hare’s love for him.

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The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Best for: PreK – 3
ISBN-13: 978-1933718002

School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary.

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Olivia and the Perfect Valentine by Natalie Shaw

Best for: PreK – 2
ISBN-13:978-1442484849

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Olivia is determined to make the very best possible valentines for all of her friends and family. Each valentine
is made with extra special care and is personalized just for its recipient.

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Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney
Best for: PreK – 2
ISBN-13: 978-045146981

In Llama Llama I Love You, little llama shows his friends and family how much he loves them with heart-shaped cards and lots of hugs. What could be sweeter than Llama Llama on Valentine’s Day?

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How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen

Best for: PreK – 3
ISBN-13: 978-0545143141

Parents and children can never have enough ways to say “I love you”–and now, America’s favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime, storytime, anytime. Even when little dinosaurs are naughty, it’s important to remind them that no matter what they do, they are always loved.

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I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Best for: PreK – 3
ISBN-13: 978-0439634694

The imaginative son turns himself into a meat-eating dinosaur, a swamp creature and much, much more before being satisfied with the fact that no
matter how stinky he is or how slimy of a creature he could possibly be, he is loved and nothing will change that.

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Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse
Best for: PreK – 4
ISBN-13: 978-0811821315

This beloved story of a child testing the limits of her independence, and a mother who reassuringly proves that a parents love is unconditional and everlasting is a perfect first book for toddlers.

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Never Too Little for Love by Jeanne Willis 
Best for: PreK – 2 
ISBN-13: 978-0763666569

Tiny Too-Little loves someone who’s very, very tall, and Tiny wants a kiss. What if he stands on his tiptoes on top of a thimble? What if he stands on his tiptoes on top of a matchbox on top of a thimble?

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The Shape of My Heart by Mark Sperring
Best for: PreK – 1
ISBN-13: 978-1599909622

From sun up to sun down, from our hands and our feet, to animals, cars, food, and teddy bears, the world is alive with endless shapes to identify. With its gently reassuring text and vivid illustrations, The Shape of My Heart invites readers to look beyond the obvious, and explore the world in a whole new way.

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Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Best for: Grades K-2
ISBN-13: 978-0689863776
My fellow Americans: It is our pleasure, our honor, our duty as citizens to present to you Duck for President. Here is a duck who began in a humble pond. Who worked his way to farmer. To governor. And now, perhaps, to the highest office in the land. Some say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he is a duck. We say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he will be the next president of the United States of America. Thank you for your vote.

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A Very Important Day by Maggie Rugg Herold
Best for: Grades K-3
ISBN-13: 978-0688130657
On a snowy New York City morning, families who have journeyed to the United States from many different countries take the oath of citizenship at a downtown courthouse.

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My Fellow Americans: A Family Album by Alice Provensen
Best for: Grades 2-6
ISBN-13: 978-0152766429
Alice Provensen creates an album that reveals the words and deeds of fellow Americans in elegant pictures brimming with lively detail. An eclectic sampling of Americans is represented-from Pocahontas to Henry Ford, Sojourner Truth to Jim Henson, and Al Capone to Dr. Seuss. By showing us the myriad personalities who have influenced our lives, Mrs. Provensen provides remarkable insight into what it means to be a part of the American family.

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A World in Our Hands: In Honor of the 50^th Anniversary of the United Nations by Young People of the World Staff
Best for: Grades 4-6
ISBN-13: 978-1883672317
The only official United Nations’ Fiftieth Anniversary book written and illustrated entirely by children from around the world explores the mission of the UN and what role kids can play in making the world a better place.

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Thunder at Gettysburg by Patricia Lee Gauch
Best for: Grades 4-6
ISBN-13: 978-0553159516
Fourteen-year-old Tillie is sent to accompany a neighbor to Weikert’s farm when the fighting at Gettysburg gets too close to home, but finds herself trapped in the battle that raged for three days, from July 1-3, 1863.

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The Girl-Son by Anne E. Neuberger
Best for: Grades 6-8
ISBN-13: 978-1575050775
A story based on the life of Induk Pahk, a Korean educator, whose widowed mother disguised her as a boy at the age of eight in order for her to attend school, a choice forbidden to girls in the early twentieth century in that country.

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You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? by Jean Fritz
Best for: Grades 6-8
ISBN-13: 978-0698117648
With her trademark humor and anecdotal style, the Newbery Honor Award-winner and preeminent biographer for young people turns her attention to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the lively, unconventional spokeswoman of the woman suffrage movement. Convinced from an early age that women should have the same rights as men, Lizzie embarked on a career that changed America.

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With a variety of books to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find books to help teach character. Here’s a list of a few book suggestions to start conversations about creating friendships and the value of them.

The Loudest Roar by Thomas Taylor 
Best for: PreK
ISBN-10: 043950130X
ISBN-13: 978-0439501309
Clovis loves roaring and making a lot of noise! But the other animals are sick of being roared out of their peace and so they devise a strategy to show Clovis that it takes more than being the best to get along with others.

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A Bargain for Frances by Russel & Lillian Hoban
Best for: Grades K – 2
ISBN-10: 006444001X
ISBN-13: 978-0064440011
Thelma always seems to get Frances into trouble. When she tricks Frances into buying her tea set, it’s the last straw. Can Frances show her that it’s better to lose a bargain than lose a friend? Follow Frances through the trials of friendship in A Bargain for Frances.

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A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Best for: Grades K – 2
ISBN-10: 1596434023
ISBN-13: 978-1596434028
Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee’s case, all sorts of species, too! But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they paid him a visit!

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Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Best for: Grades 3 – 7
ISBN-10: 0064400557
ISBN-13: 978-0064400558
E. B. White’s Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, family, and adventure that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

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Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane DeGrout
Best for: Grades 3 – 5
ISBN-10: 0688152201
ISBN-13: 978-0688152208
Gilbert has 15 blank Valentine cards just waiting for him to fill with nice Valentine poems for his classmates. But how can he write a nice poem for the boy who tweaked his nose or the girl who made fun of his glasses?

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Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker
Best for: Grades 3 – 5
ISBN-10: 0439301807
ISBN-13: 978-0439301800
Stuart’s got problems. It’s raining. He’s bored. And worst of all, he’s new in town, so he’s got a lot to worry about. But what does a kid like Stuart need in order to have an adventure…and to stop worrying? A cape, of course!

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The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Best for: Grades 7 – 12
ISBN-10: 0060757353
ISBN-13: 9780060757359
Meet Mr. Pignati, a lonely old man with a beer belly and an awful secret. He’s the Pigman, and he’s got a great big twinkling smile. When John and Lorraine, two high school sophomores, meet Mr. Pignati, they learn his whole sad, zany story.

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Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Best for: Grades 9 – 12
ISBN- 10: 1442413344
ISBN-13: 9781442413344
This extraordinary tale from a rare literary voice finds wonder in the ordinary and illuminates the hope of second chances.

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With thousands of books to choose from, it can be an overwhelming task to find books to help teach courage. Here’s a few book suggestions to start those conversations.

Sheila Rae, The Brave by Kevin Henkes
Best for: Grades PreK-2
ISBN-10: 0688147380

ISBN-13: 978-0688147389

“I am very brave,” Sheila Rae said, patting herself on the back. She wasn’t afraid of anything—not thunder, not lightning, not the big black dog at the end of the block. And when she wanted to walk home a new way and Louise wouldn’t, she called her sister a scaredy-cat and set out alone. But all the bravado in the world failed to help when Sheila Rae found herself lost. Luckily, her sister was not far behind.
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The Wildest Brother by Cornelia Funke

Best for: Grades PreK-3

ISBN-10: 0439828627

ISBN-13: 978-0439828628

Brave as a lion, strong as an elephant, Ben is a fearless young boy. When it comes to protecting his big sister, Anna, nothing can stand in his way! Gallantly he spends his day battling moldy green ghosts, slime-belching monsters, and all sorts of ferocious beasts. But when the day is over and darkness falls, Ben suddenly doesn’t feel quite so brave. Sometimes, he realizes, it’s the big sister who does the protecting.
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I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem by Jamie Lee Curtis 

Best for: Grades PreK-3

ISBN-10: 0060287616

ISBN-13: 978-0060287610

Celebrate liking yourself! Through alternating points of view, a girl’s and a boy’s, Jamie Lee Curtis’s triumphant text and Laura Cornell’s lively artwork show kids that the key to feeling good is liking yourself because you are you.

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Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine

Best for: Grades PreK-5

ISBN-10: 043977733X

ISBN-13: 978-0439777339

Henry Brown doesn’t know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves’ birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday — his first day of freedom.

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The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

Best for: Grades 2-5

ISBN-10: 0439472261

ISBN-13: 978-0439472265

The year is 1960, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. When a judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school, Ruby must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her.

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Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker

Best for: Grades 3-5

ISBN-10: 0439301815

ISBN-13: 978-0439301817

Stuart’s got problems. It’s raining. He’s bored. And worst of all, he’s new in town, so he’s got a lot to worry about. But what does a kid like Stuart need in order to have an adventure…and to stop worrying? A cape, of course! Sara Pennypacker’s story captures the daily dilemmas that every child must face. Her words are perfectly complimented by illustrator Martin Matje’s combination of weirdness and wit.

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The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

Best for: Grades 3-7

ISBN-10: 0064410323

ISBN-13: 978-0064410328

Thirteen-year-old Sophie hears the sea calling, promising adventure and a chance for discovery as she sets sail for England with her three uncles and two cousins. Sophie’s cousin Cody isn’t sure he has the strength to prove himself to the crew and to his father. Through Sophie’s and Cody’s travel logs, we hear stories of the past and the daily challenges of surviving at sea as The Wanderer sails toward its destination—and its passengers search for their places in the world.

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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 

Best for: Grades 5-7

ISBN-10: 0547577095

ISBN-13: 978-0547577098

As the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.

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Wringer by Jerry Spinelli 

Best for: Grades 6-8

ISBN-10: 0064405788

ISBN-13: 978-0064405782

Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he’s dreaded the day he turns ten — the day he’ll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he’ll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn’t want to be a wringer. It’s one of the first things he learned about himself and it’s one of the biggest things he has to hide. In Palmer’s town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son. Palmer can’t stop himself from being a wringer just like he can’t stop himself from growing one year older, just like he can’t stand up to a whole town — right? Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli’s most powerful novel yet is a gripping tale of how one boy learns how not to be afraid.

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