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Character Development

Books that teach values and character traits

23 books in this theme

View details for Ada Twist, Scientist
Ada Twist, Scientist book cover

Ada Twist, Scientist

by Andrea Beaty Illustrated by David Roberts

Ages 5-8 years

Ada has a boundless imagination and an insatiable curiosity about everything around her. When her experiments don't go as planned, she learns that questions are more important than answers. An inspiring story that encourages scientific thinking and celebrates the joy of discovery.

STEAM Problem Solving Persistence Courage and Bravery Creativity Growth Mindset
View details for After the Fall
After the Fall book cover

After the Fall

by Dan Santat

Ages 4-8 years

Humpty Dumpty is afraid of heights after his fall, but he must overcome his fear to pursue his dream of flying. A story about resilience and facing your fears.

STEAM Problem Solving Persistence Courage and Bravery Resilience Emotions Responsibility
View details for Circle
Circle book cover

Circle

by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Ages 3-7 years

Circle and Square are friends, but when Circle tells Square about a scary shape-shifter, they decide to investigate. This gentle story explores friendship, truth-telling, and facing fears together.

Friendship Numeracy Courage and Bravery
View details for Country
Country book cover

Country

by Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Lawson Illustrated by Cheryl Davison

Ages 4-8 years

An exploration of what Country means for First Nations people through beautiful artwork and words. This book shares the deep connection between Indigenous Australians and the land, celebrating storytelling, song, and our shared responsibility to care for Country.

Australia Environment and Sustainability Indigenous Themes, Authors and Illustrators Responsibility Self Identity
View details for Extra Yarn
Extra Yarn book cover

Extra Yarn

by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Ages 4-8 years

Annabelle finds a box of colourful yarn and begins knitting sweaters for everyone in her gray town. This magical story celebrates creativity, generosity, and how one person's actions can transform an entire community.

Empathy and Kindness Creativity Family and Community
View details for Here We Are
Here We Are book cover

Here We Are

by Oliver Jeffers

Ages 3-8 years

A father's letter to his newborn child, sharing gentle wisdom about life on Earth. A beautifully illustrated guide that teaches children about kindness, curiosity, and caring for our planet and each other.

Environment and Sustainability Family and Community Empathy and Kindness Adventure and Exploration Growth Mindset Self Identity
View details for I Am One - A Book of Action
I Am One - A Book of Action book cover

I Am One - A Book of Action

by Susan Verde Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Ages 4-8 years

When a small child wonders how they can make a difference in such a big world, a wise bird shares the secret of starting with just one—one seed, one step, one stroke of paint, one note. A reminder that even the smallest among us can create meaningful change.

Family and Community Growth Mindset Responsibility Self Identity
View details for Kind - A Call to Care for Every Creature
Kind - A Call to Care for Every Creature book cover

Kind - A Call to Care for Every Creature

by Jess McGeachin

Ages 4-8 years

Every creature on Earth deserves our awe and compassion. This book celebrates the diversity of animal life from tiny beetles to majestic whales, inspiring children to become caring stewards of the natural world.

Animals Empathy and Kindness Environment and Sustainability Responsibility
View details for Lost and Found
Lost and Found book cover

Lost and Found

by Oliver Jeffers

Ages 3-7 years

There once was a boy and one day a penguin arrives on his doorstep. The boy decides the penguin must be lost and tries to return him. A touching story about friendship, understanding, and discovering that sometimes what we think others need isn't what they actually need.

Friendship Empathy and Kindness Animals Problem Solving
View details for Owl Babies
Owl Babies book cover

Owl Babies

by Martin Waddell Illustrated by Patrick Benson

Ages 2-6 years

Three owl babies wake up to find their mother gone and must comfort each other while waiting for her return. This gentle story addresses separation anxiety and provides reassurance about parental love and return.

Family and Community Emotions Resilience Courage and Bravery Animals
View details for Rosie Revere, Engineer
Rosie Revere, Engineer book cover

Rosie Revere, Engineer

by Andrea Beaty Illustrated by David Roberts

Ages 5-8 years

Rosie dreams of becoming an engineer and learns that the best way to figure out what you can do is through trial and error, persistence, and learning from failure. An inspiring story about following your dreams, embracing failure as learning, and the importance of perseverance in achieving your goals.

STEAM Problem Solving Persistence Courage and Bravery Creativity Growth Mindset
View details for Somebody Swallowed Stanley
Somebody Swallowed Stanley book cover

Somebody Swallowed Stanley

by Sarah Roberts Illustrated by Hannah Peck

Ages 4-8 years

Stanley is a plastic bag who gets mistaken for a jellyfish and eaten by a whale. This important environmental story teaches children about plastic pollution in our oceans and the impact on marine life.

Environment and Sustainability Responsibility Animals
View details for Stanley Paste
Stanley Paste book cover

Stanley Paste

by Aaron Blabey

Ages 4-7 years

Stanley Paste is small. Really small. And he hates it. But when a new girl arrives at school, Stanley learns that perhaps being small is not so bad after all. A touching story about self-acceptance and discovering that our perceived weaknesses can actually be strengths.

Self Identity Friendship Empathy and Kindness
View details for Strictly No Elephants
Strictly No Elephants book cover

Strictly No Elephants

by Lisa Mantchev Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Ages 4-8 years

When a boy's tiny pet elephant is banned from Pet Club Day, he discovers that being left out can lead to creating your own inclusive space where everyone belongs. A story about friendship, acceptance, and standing up for what's right.

Animals Empathy and Kindness Friendship Self Identity
View details for The Colour Thief
The Colour Thief book cover

The Colour Thief

by Gabriel Alborozo

Ages 4-8 years

A greedy thief steals all the colors from the world, leaving everything gray and dull. When he realises what he has done, he must learn about sharing and generosity to restore color and beauty to the world.

Empathy and Kindness Emotions Friendship Responsibility
View details for The Great Paper Caper
The Great Paper Caper book cover

The Great Paper Caper

by Oliver Jeffers

Ages 4-8 years

When branches start disappearing from the forest, the animals must solve the mystery. A story about taking responsibility for your actions and environmental stewardship.

Problem Solving Honesty and Integrity Animals Environment and Sustainability
View details for The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig book cover

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

by Eugene Trivizas Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Ages 4-8 years

A clever twist on the classic fairy tale where three little wolves try to build houses safe from the big bad pig. This reversed tale explores themes of conflict, escalation, and the power of kindness to transform situations.

Problem Solving Animals Empathy and Kindness
View details for The Very Brave Bear
The Very Brave Bear book cover

The Very Brave Bear

by Nick Bland

Ages 3-7 years

Boris the bear thinks he's very brave until he encounters something that truly scares him. A reassuring story about true bravery and the support of friendship in overcoming our fears.

Animals Courage and Bravery Emotions
View details for The Waterhole
The Waterhole book cover

The Waterhole

by Graeme Base

Ages 4-10 years

A counting book that follows various animals as they visit a waterhole during a drought. As the water level drops, fewer animals can be sustained, teaching both counting and environmental concepts about water scarcity.

Animals Environment and Sustainability Responsibility
View details for This is Not My Hat
This is Not My Hat book cover

This is Not My Hat

by Jon Klassen

Ages 3-8 years

A small fish steals a hat from a big fish and tries to convince himself (and readers) that everything will be fine. A sophisticated story that uses dark humour and visual storytelling to explore themes of honesty and consequences.

Animals Honesty and Integrity
View details for This Moose Belongs to Me
This Moose Belongs to Me book cover

This Moose Belongs to Me

by Oliver Jeffers

Ages 4-8 years

Wilfred believes he owns a moose named Marcel, but the moose has other ideas about independence and freedom. This humourous story explores themes of friendship, respect, and understanding that some things cannot be owned.

Responsibility Friendship Animals
View details for We Found a Hat
We Found a Hat book cover

We Found a Hat

by Jon Klassen

Ages 3-8 years

Two turtles find a hat that looks good on both of them, but there's only one hat. This story explores friendship, fairness, and doing the right thing even when it's difficult.

Friendship Honesty and Integrity Animals
View details for We're Going on a Bear Hunt
We're Going on a Bear Hunt book cover

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

by Michael Rosen Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Ages 2-7 years

A family goes on an exciting bear hunt, encountering various obstacles along the way. This interactive story with repetitive text and sound effects encourages participation and explores themes of adventure, courage, and family bonding.

Literacy Adventure and Exploration Family and Community Emotions Courage and Bravery