I absolutely LOVE picture books; here’s a list of my favorite books that tackle traits.
| A Castle on Viola Street by DyAnne DiSalvo (citizenship, volunteerism) |
| A Little Spot of Empathy by Diana Alber (empathy, perspective-taking, kindness) |
| A Small Kindness by Stacy McAnulty (kindness, empathy, pay it forward) |
| A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner (justice, equality, respect for differences) |
| A Thousand NO’s by DJ Corchin (growth mindset, resilience, creativity) |
| ABBS by Melisa Hayes (respect for differences, belonging, connection) |
| Agate by Joy Morgan Dey (celebrating differences, respect for self) |
| All The Lost Things by Kelly Canby (curiosity, generosity, hope) |
| America Is Her Name by Luis J. Rodriguez (compassion, empathy, confidence, pride) |
| America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven (heroes, citizenship, honor) |
| Annie’s Plan by Jeanne Kraus (personal responsibility, self-discipline) |
| Armando and the Blue Tarp School by Edith Hope Fine and Judith Pinkerton Josephson (culture, compassion, goal-setting) |
| Anika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis (caring, compassion, culture) |
| Because by Mo Willems (inspiration, work ethic, stakeholders) |
| Be Brave, Little One by Marianne Richmond (courage, bravery, strength) |
| Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller (empathy, kindness, friendship) |
| Bedtime For Superheroes by Katherine Locke (superheroes, kindness, healthy habits) |
| Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds (identity, empowerment, self-awareness) |
| Birdie & Mipps by Barbara Gruener (nicknames, respect, kindness, friendship) |
| Blabber Mouse by True Kelly (loyalty, trustworthiness) |
| Brave Every Day by Trudy Ludwig (anxiety, fear, bravery) |
| But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook (responsibility, taking ownership, choices) |
| Carla’s Glasses by Debbie Herman (acceptance, empathy, friendship) |
| Carla’s Sandwich by Debbie Herman (respect for differences, acceptance) |
| Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krause Rosenthal (character values) |
| Crow Boy by Taro Yashima (respect for differences) |
| Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller (friendship, manners) |
| Draw The Line by Kathryn Otoshi (conflict, feelings, friendship) |
| Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (caring, including new students, kindness ripples) |
| Earth Day – Horray! by Stuart J. Murphy (recycling, teamwork, conservation) |
| Ellison the Elephant by Eric Drachman (respect for differences, self discovery) |
| Elmore by Holly Hobbie (celebrating differences, friendship) |
| Evie’s Field Day by Claire Noland (sportsmanship, empathy, compassion) |
| Fair Is Fair by Sonny Varela (fairness, equity, equality) |
| Finding Messi by Trevor Ostfled (pets, loss, empathy) |
| Flight School by Lita Judge (mindset, empathy, compassion, kindness) |
| Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed (fairness, friendship, caring) |
| Getting To Know Ruben Plotnick by Roz Rosenbluth (respect, caring, friendship) |
| Gifts from the Enemy by Trudy Ludwig (empathy, compassion, kindness) |
| Good News Nelson by Jodi Moore (problem solving, being a change agent, service learning) |
| Grandfather’s Wrinkles by Kathryn England (intergenerational connections, caring) |
| Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo (caring, compassion, empathy) |
| Happy Dreamer by Peter Reynolds (growth mindset, dream big, creativity) |
| Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud (attitude, kindness, appreciation) |
| Heartprints by P.K. Hallinan – (caring, kindness, compassion) |
| Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose (respect, golden rule, peer pressure) |
| How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer (kindness) |
| I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes (identity, empowerment, pride) |
| I Got This! by Julia Cook and Dr. Michele Borba (perseverance, resilience, grit) |
| I Promise by LeBron James (affirmations, empowerment, leadership) |
| If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover (responsibility, self-control, stakeholders) |
| Imogene’s Last Stand by Candace Fleming (patriotism, civic duty, heroes) |
| Invisible Jerry by Adam Wallace (kindness, friendship, hope) |
| Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein (self control, not interrupting) |
| It’s Not Fair by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (equality v. equity) |
| Jacob’s Eye Patch by Beth Kobliner Shaw and Jacob Shaw (respect for differences) |
| Josias, Hold The Book by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren (responsibility, problem solving, Haitian culture) |
| Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor (celebrating difference, courage, confidence) |
| Just Snow Already! by Howard McWilliam (patience, mindfulness, humor) |
| KiKi’s Hats by Warren Hanson (caring, kindness, generosity) |
| Knit Back Together by Barbara Gruener (grief, loss, compassion, connection, service) |
| Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth (citizenship, knitting for service) |
| Looking After Louis by Lesley Ely & Polly Dunbar (respect for differences, fairness) |
| Mine! by Kevin Luthardt (fairness, sharing, taking responsibility) |
| Mindset Matters by Bryan Smith (mindset, perseverance, grit) |
| Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban (managing feelings, self-control) |
| Mr. Quigley’s Keys by Barbara Gruener (empathy, perseverance, gratitude) |
| Off to Serve by Richard Galentino (service, volunteerism, citizenship) |
| One by Kathryn Otoshi (respect, tolerance, anti-bullying message) |
| One Drop Of Kindness by Jeff Kubiak (kindness, friendship, connection) |
| One Grain of Rice by Demi (fairness, trustworthiness, great math extension!) |
| One Smile by Cindy McKinley (kindness, caring, compassion, stakeholders) |
| One Thousand Tracings by Lita Judge (caring, compassion, empathy) |
| Our Friendship Rules by Peggy Moss and Dee Dee Tardif (trustworthiness, negotiation, cooperation) |
| Pete The Cat’s Groovy Guide To Kindness by Kimberly and James Dean (kindness) |
| Penguin Flies Home by Lita Judge (dream big, growth mindset, friendship) |
| Penelope Perfect by Shannon Anderson (perfectionism, growth mindset) |
| Pink Tiara Cookies For Three by Maria Dismondy (triangle friendship, loyalty, kindness) |
| Rabbit’s Gift by George Shannon (sharing, generosity, friendship) |
| Race To Kindness by Orion Jean (empathy, compassion, kindness ripples) |
| Raj The Bookstore Tiger by Kathleen T. Pelley (the power of words, friendship) |
| Rock What Ya Got by Samantha Berger (identity, empowerment, growth mindset) |
| Rotten and Rascal by Paul Geraghty (fairness, greed “eats you alive”) |
| Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin (trustworthiness, honesty, loyalty) |
| Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn (Chinese New Year, compassion, generosity) |
| Shhh! by Jeanne Willis (perseverance, listening, respect, peace/non-violence) |
| Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney (non-violence, racial equality) |
| Sloth To The Rescue by Leanne Shirtliffe (empathy, compassion, mindfulness) |
| Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli (caring, stakeholders) |
| Something Else by Kathryn Cave (respect, diversity, friendship) |
| Sometimes We Were Brave by Pat Brisson (patriotism, service, courage) |
| Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy (respect for differences, kindness, courage) |
| Super Manny Stands Up! by Kelly DiPucchio (empathy, kindness, upstanding) |
| Squawking Matilda by Lisa Horstman (responsibility, perseverance, caring) |
| Stand In My Shoes by Bob Sornson (empathy, compassion, understanding) |
| The Band-Aid Chicken by Becky Rangel Henton (justice, empathy, acceptance) |
| The Boy Who Changed The World by Andy Andrews (stakeholders, helping others, The Butterfly Effect) |
| The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by Linda Ravin Lodding (the over-scheduled child, purposeful play) |
| The Colors of Us by Karen Katz (diversity, celebrating differences) |
| The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (friendship, courage, celebrating differences) |
| The Earth Book by Todd Parr (conservation, citizenship) |
| The Empty Pot by Demi (trustworthiness, honor, problem solving) |
| The Fiesta Dress by Caren McNelly McCormack (cultural awareness and celebration) |
| The Forgiveness Garden by Lauren Thompson (forgiveness, healing, friendship) |
| The Giant King by Kathleen T. Pelley (kindness, dignity, law of attraction) |
| The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper (respect, diversity, caring) |
| The Heart And The Bottle by Oliver Jeffers (grief, emotions, hope) |
| The Hard-Times Jar by Ethel Footman Smothers (trustworthiness, taking responsibility) |
| The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (kindness, imagination, friendship) |
| The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown (caring, compassion) |
| The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley (empathy, compassion, sharing, caring) |
| The Mitten Tree by Candance Christiansen (empathy, generosity, kindness) |
| The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires (mindset, perseverance |
| The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (respect for differences, cultural awareness, compassion) |
| The Only One Club by Jane Naliboff (respect, celebrating culture and diversity) |
| The Orange Shoes by Trinka Hakes Noble (caring, problem-solving, love) |
| The New Bear at School by Carrie Weston (acceptance, respect for differences, friendship) |
| The Peanut-Free Cafe by Gloria Koster (respect for peanut allergies, flexibility, friendship) |
| The Power Of One by Trudy Ludwig (empathy, compassion, kindness) |
| The Quickest Kid In Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller (dreams, determination, friendship) |
| The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (empathy, compassion, grit) |
| The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros (family illness, memories, legacy) |
| The Sandal Artist by Kathleen T. Pelley (empathy, compassion, sensitivity) |
| The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania (cultural diversity, respect, friendship) |
| The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy (gossip, integrity, promise keeping) |
| The Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson (citizenship, compassion) |
| Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts (empathy, caring, sharing) |
| Three Pebbles and a Song by Eileen Spinelli (responsibility, accountability, teamwork) |
| What Does It Mean To Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio (kindness, caring, empathy) |
| What if Everybody Said That? by Ellen Javernick (kindness, empathy, friendship) |
| What James Said by Liz Rosenberg (friendship, mindset, trustworthiness) |
| Winston of Churchill: One Bear’s Battle Against Global Warming by Jean Davies Okimoto (citizenship, conservation, responsibility) |
| Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal (power of words, kindness, caring) |
| Year of the Jungle by Suzanne Collins (heroism, courage, citizenship) |
| You Can Be A Friend by Tony and Lauren Dungy (friendship, loyalty, trust) |
| You’re Mean, Lily Jean by Frieda Wishinsky (respect, caring, kindness) |
| Zero by Kathryn Otoshi (self-worth, value, perfect for math integration!) |
Barbara Gruener 