Book to inspire courage
The 5 layers of courage and the read alouds that inspire kids to tap into their own bravery.
Kids and teens are growing up in a world where they’re being compared to others’ abilities, test scores, and talents. They are typically not taught that behind every success is failure, rejection and resilience and courage. For many, courage needs to be cultivated as it is not always what it seems. What sometimes seems brilliant, impressive and powerful is often linked to fear, risk and self-doubt.
There are 5 layers of courage that we’ve chosen to highlight this month. They are Physical Courage, Emotional Courage, Intellectual Courage, Social Courage and Moral Courage. We’ve included some recommended read alouds that can be used to help teach children to foster these different types of courage.
Physical Courage
Physical Courage is feeling the fear, yet choosing to act. Think running into burning buildings, facing an enemy, climbing a mountain, or protecting others.
Fireboat: The True Heroic Adventures of the John Jay Harvey by Maira Kalman: The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboat of its time, but by 1995, the city didn't need old fireboats anymore. So, the Harvey retired, until a group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap. Then, one sunny September day in 2001, something so horrible happened that the whole world shook. And a call came from the fire department, asking if the Harvey could battle the roaring flames. In this inspiring true story, Maira Kalman brings a New York City icon to life and proves that old heroes never die.
The Thing That Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires With humor and endearing artwork, Spires sensitively portrays Lou procrastinating, making excuses, imagining alternatives and denying she cares. Ultimately, Lou faces her fear, and although she fails, the effort empowers her, encouraging a growth mindset. All the while, Lou’s friends model compassionate friendship by offering to teach her how to climb and then moving the game. This book makes a perfect choice for a character education discussion about courage or resilience, or a life-skills lesson on facing challenges.
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall: Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.
Emotional Courage
Emotional courage is following your heart, or when you take risks that make you feel things. Examples of emotional courage are facing your fears, expressing your passion, or showing your vulnerability.
After the Fall by Dan Santat: Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's poignant tale follows Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall―that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear?
Bravo Anjali by Sheetal Sheth: This book about courage shows that sometimes being brave is hard because others don’t want you to shine. Anjali loves drumming on her tabla. But when her friend Deepak accuses her of showing off, Anjali is hurt. She makes a mistake on purpose, but that doesn’t stop Deepak from telling people Anjali is only getting attention is tabla class because she’s a girl. Anjali is furious and hurt at the same time. She wants to win the upcoming music contest, but if she does will Deepak tease her even more? Anjali has to decide whether to “dim her light” or to shine like the star that she is.
Antonio’s Card/La tarjeta de Antonio by Rigoberto González. Antonio loves words, because words have the power to express feelings like love, pride, or hurt. Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether — or how — to express his connection to both of the special women in his life.
Intellectual Courage
Intellectual courage involves expanding your horizons, letting go of the familiar, or recognizing that your idea may be justified when society thinks it is absurd.
What do you do with a problem? by Kobi Yamata: This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn't so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than expected. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who has ever had a problem that they wished would go away. It's a story to inspire you to look closely at the problem and to find out why it's here. Because you might discover something amazing about your problem... and yourself.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes: A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.
Last to Finish: A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class by Barbara Esham: This positive math story for kids is perfect for anyone who has ever struggled with learning by memorization. Readers of all ages will discover that struggles don't always mean you're bad at something, but that maybe you just learn differently from others.
Social Courage
Social courage is being yourself in the face of adversity, to not conform to the expectations of others, and being able to take risks and be yourself in the face of social scrutiny.
Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade by Rob Sanders: Blaine’s a boy who loves to shine . . . well actually, he loves to sparkle. Whether it's his uniform, his book bag, or even his baseball cap, Blaine’s all about the bling. But when his bling rubs some people the wrong way, and the bullying begins, Blaine—along with the entire school—starts to lose his shine. Can Blaine's friends bring back his glimmer and gleam by glittering up their own wardrobes? This delightful story proves that anyone can love bling, and that happiness comes when allies band together to throw glitter—not shade.
Flight School by Lita Judge. A young penguin may not have exactly the right body for flight, but he has the "soul of an eagle." Eager to enroll in flight school and learn what it takes to soar, he is not discouraged. Fortunately, the other birds are so taken with his determination they do what it takes to make his dreams come true.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles: 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. Told with Robert Coles' powerful narrative and dramatically illustrated by George Ford, Ruby's story of courage, faith, and hope continues to resonate more than 60 years later.
Moral Courage
Moral courage is standing up for what is right. Think: helping someone shovel out of a snowbank even if they’re running late for work. Moral courage is doing what is right even if it means going against pressure to do otherwise.
Runs with Courage by Joan M. Wolf: Ten-year-old Four Winds is a young Lakota girl caught up in the changes brought about by her people's forced move to the reservation. Set in the Dakota Territory, it is the year 1880. Four Winds has been taken away from her family and brought to a boarding school run by whites. It is here she is taught English and learns how to assimilate into white culture. But soon she discovers that the teachers at this school are not interested in assimilation but rather in erasing her culture. On the reservation, Four Winds had to fight against starvation. Now she must fight to hold on to who she is.
Daredevil Duck by Charlie Adler: Despite his name, Daredevil Duck happens to be afraid of everything. Everything. But one day Mole requests Duck's help retrieving a balloon. Daredevil Duck overcomes his fears to help, and in doing so makes a new friend. I love how duck needed to be brave in order to help someone else, instead of proving his bravery for a self-serving reason.
The Pink Hat by Andrew Joyner: Written in a gentle and age-appropriate tone for 4 to 8-year-olds, this book is a great springboard for discussion about topics like diverse communities, activism, and women’s equality. The Pink Hat symbolizes solidarity and change and is a reminder to readers that they’re never too young to start shaping the future they want.