10 Books about Confidence, Courage, and Character

One of the coolest parts of my job is reading books to kids. Some of our books are funny. Some are serious. All relate to the core values of CARE Actor: Confidence, Courage, and Character. You hear about kids not wanting to read. Well, the kids in our classes love stories. In my last class, I actually had to hide the books so the kids wouldn’t start reading before story time! And when I asked about their favorite stories and characters, they wouldn’t stop talking.
 
That’s the power of storytelling, whether it’s for the page, stage, or screen. My favorite kind of story shares a compelling message, but is also fun to read. It’s great to learn and laugh at the same time.
 
With this in mind, we’re sharing a list of 10 picture books (many of which we read and act out classes) that illustrate our core values of confidence, courage and character.

1. Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andrea
Confidence and Individuality

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Gerald the Giraffe wants to dance at the annual Jungle Dance, but he is intimidated by the other animals’ dancing abilities. The other animals laugh him off the stage. But he learns to find his own music and his own style.

“ ‘We can all dance,’ he said. ‘When we find music that we love.’ ”

2. Mirette on the High Wire, by Emily Arnold McCully
Courage and Friendship

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A young girl in early 20th century Paris befriends a tight rope walker who has retired because he is afraid of failing. As he trains her in the art of tight rope walking, the girl inspires him to try his art again. When he almost fails in his comeback, she joins him on the tight rope.

“ ‘Once you have fear on the wire, it never leaves,’ Bellini said. “But you must make it leave!’ Mirette insisted.”

3. Odd Velvet, by Mary E. Whitcomb. Illustrated by Tara Callahan King
Individuality, Confidence, and Tolerance

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The kids at school think Velvet is “odd,” but when they get to know her, they learn these differences aren’t bad at all. Velvet is unique, and she isn’t afraid to be herself. She ends up inspiring the other kids to try new things.

“Little by little, the things that Velvet said, and the things that Velvet did, began to make sense.”

4. The Sandwich Swap, by Kelly DiPucchio. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa
Friendship and Diversity

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Two friends from different cultural backgrounds learn to celebrate their differences rather than judge each other or be afraid of things that seem strange or wrong.
 
“Finally, Lily got up the courage to speak. ‘Would you like to try a bite of my peanut butter and jelly?' "

5. Flight School, by Lita Judge
Confidence and Inspiration

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A penguin who believes he has the soul of an eagle learns to fly because he is confident, determined, and inspires friends to find an ingenious solution.
 
“Penguin was right. He did have the soul of an eagle.”

6. The Brave Beast, by Chris Judge
Courage and Tolerance

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When a group of islanders are terrified of a “monster,” they ask a Beast to help them get rid of the monster. The Beast overcomes his own fears and learns that the monster isn’t scary or bad after all.
 
“The Beast felt very scared. But he decided to be brave and help the islanders.”

7. Dream Something Big, by Dianna Hutts Aston. Collages by Susan L. Roth
Creativity, Hard Work, and Individuality

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The true story of Simon Rodia, known to friends and neighbors as Uncle Sam. He spent 34 years collecting “jewels” that other people viewed as trash. Using basic tools, he assembled his jewels into fountains, a ship, towers over six stories high, and more. The Watts Towers are now recognized as a National Landmark.
 
“People no longer call Simon Rodia foolish and crazy. They call him a man of genius who built ‘a gigantic flower of folk art.’ ”

8. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
The Beauty of Imperfection

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Beatrice Bottomwell is so determined to be perfect that she’s known in town as the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes. This all changes when her talent show performance goes terribly wrong and she learns to embrace imperfection.
 
“Now, people no longer call her the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes. They just call her Beatrice.”

9. Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein, by Don Brown
Confidence and Ingenuity

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This is the true story of physicist Albert Einstein’s youth. Most people discounted Einstein when he was young, because he was different and not a model student. But he believed in his intellect and his unique mind, becoming one of our greatest scientists.
 
“For the world, Einstein comes to mean not fat baby, or angry child, or odd boy, but great thinker.”

10. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown
Individuality, Courage, and Acceptance

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All the animals in town are very proper, but Mr. Tiger feels wild. He flees to the wilderness, but he misses his friends. When he returns, he discovers that his friends are ready to accept his differences.
 
“Now Mr. Tiger felt free to be himself. And so did everyone else.”