Below is a list of picture story books that can be used to model each of the Character Strengths. There are so many more and I would love to add to this list, so please let me know of any ideas you might have! Thank you.
| Courage | I am brave and I do the right thing even when I feel scared.
The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon Aaron Blabey Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey Brave Irene by William Steig The Dot by Peter Reynolds A Bus called heaven by Bob Graham The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson Floods 10 by Colin Thomson Lost Karnak by Colin Thomson Ahn Do Weirdo by Anh Do The Lorax by Dr Seuss Fearless by Colin Thomson Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph Stellaluna Say Something by Peggy Moss The Little Stowaway by Vicky Bennett The Three Billy Goats Grugg by Nick Bland The Very Brave Bear by Nick Bland The journey trilogy by Aaron Becker I Am Courage by Susan Verde Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall There Migh Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi What do you do with a chance by Kobi Yamada Lottie & Walter by Anna Walker I am courage, a book of resilience by Susan Verde |
| Enthusiasm | I do everything with excitement and energy.
Olivia Ian Falconer Our Daft Dog Danny Pamela Allen Olga the Brolga Rod Clement The Magnificent Tree Nick Bland The Old Woman who loved to read John Winch And Kangaroo played his didgeridoo Nigel Gray Mr Macgee books Pamela Allen The boy who changed the world Andy Andrews A Nice Walk in the Jungle Nan Bodsworth Cleversticks Bernard Ashley Too Loud Lily Sofie Laguna Winnie Allfours Babette Cole |
| Honesty | I always tell the truth and show how I feel.
I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! Jill Esbaum, Edward the Emu Rod Clement The Boy Who Cried Wolf Horton hears a Who Dr Seuss My Big Lie Sam tells stories Chicken Sunday Be Who You Are by Todd Parr |
| Persistence | I work hard to finish what I start. I don’t give up.The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee MacLean Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull The Day of Ahmed’s Secret Florence Parry Not a Nibble Elizabeth Honey Prudence wants a pet Cathleen Daly Amazing Grace Mary Hoffman The Most Magnificant Thing Ashley Spires If You Want to see a whale The Curious Garden Rosie Revere Engineer The Hairy Nosed Wombats Find a New Home Jacqui French Ten Birds The Girl and the Bicycle Flight School The Carrot Seed The tortoise and the hare Mila and the missing Lions by Celeste Hume No Excuses by Dr Wayne Dyer |
| Friendship | I am a good friend to others and understand that my friends have thoughts and feelings.
Possum Magic – Mem Fox, Julie Vivas (1983) Amy and Louis – Libby Gleeson and Freeya Blackwood (2006) A Sick Day for Amos McGee P&E Stead Banjp and Ruby Red Libby Gleeson How Full is your bucket Tom Rath & Mary Reckmayer John Brown, Rose and the midnight cat Jenny Wagner The Very Best of Friends Margaret Wild Sharing a shell Julia Donaldson The Invisible Boy Trudy Ludwig Pearl Barlwy and Charlie Parsley Aaron Blabey Can I Join Your Club? John Kelly One Kathryn Otashi Thank you Mr Falker Patricia Polaco Fletcher and the Falling Leaves The Day Everything Went Wrong by Moritz Petz The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh Enemy Pie by Derek Munsen A Sick Day for Amos McGee Philip Stead A Campfire Tail by Sarah Glenn Marsh |
| Kindness | I do and say things to make others happy.
Suri’s Wall Lucy Estela Celia and Nonna Victoria Land Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge Mem Fox The Three Questions Jon Muth Sebastian lives in a hat Thelma Catterwell Stone Soup Jon Muth Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed Emily Pearson The Quiltmaker’s Gift Jeff Brumbeau Kind by Alison Green The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld If you plant a seed by Kadir Nelson Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson The Monster Who Lost his Mean by Tiffany Haber Pass it on by Sophy Henn |
| Love | I value the people that I love and show that I care.
The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein My Dad Anthony Browne My Mum Anthony Browne The Heart and the Bottle Oliver Jeffers The Potato People Pamela Allen I Love you stinky face Lisa McCourt Queenie the Bantam Bob Graham Noisy Nora Rosemary Wells The Velveteen Rabbit The Little Stowaway Vicky Bennett |
| Fairness | I treat everyone equally. I give everyone a fair chance.
Chyrsanthamum Stanley Paste Aaron Blabey One Step at a time Jane Jolly The Last Dragon Susan Miho Pumpkin Soup Cooper Smile, Crocodile, Smile An Vrombaut You and Me, Murrawee Kerri Hashmi Masai and I Virginia Kroll Beauty and the Beast Jan Brett The Wall Eve Bunting Oliver Button is a Sissy Tomie dePaola Now One Foot, Now the Other Tomie dePaola Through Grandpa’s Eyes Patricia MacLaclan Annie and the Old One Miska Miles Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale M Pfister Grandfather’s Journey Allen Say The Quilt maker’s Gift Jeff Brumbeau Say Yes by Jennifer Castles |
| Leadership | I am good at being a leader. I can organise my group and make everyone feel included.
The Lost Thing Shaun Tan The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore William Joyce King Pig Nick Bland Green Eggs and Ham Dr Seuss Oh, The places you’ll go Dr Seuss The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans The Little Engine that could Watty Piper Click clack Moo Cows that type Doreen Cronin The Very Busy Spider Eric Carle The Carpet Boy’s Gift The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier |
| Teamwork | I am a great team mate, I do my share and get people to work well together.
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell Wombat Stew Marcia K Vaughan Who Sank the boat? Pamela Allen The Day the Crayons Quit Drew Daywalt The Little Red hen Stone Soup Sail Away Mem Fox Stellaluna Janelle Canon The Ant Bully John Nickle The Araboolies of Liberty Street Sam Swope Up The Creek by Nicholas Oldland |
| Prudence | I think carefully and make good choices.
A Fine, Fine School Sharon Creech Farmer Duck Martin Waddell Rose Blanche Ian McEwan 9+years Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten Bob Graham This is Our House Michael Rosen When Jessie Came Across the Sea Amy Hest Uno’s Garden Graeme Base Honesty Counts Marie Bender Pinky Promise Vanita Brava Arthur and the true Francine Marc Brown Liar, liar, pants on fire Diane De Groat Abdullah’s Butterfly Janine Fraser for older children. I Can Tell the Truth Jenette Guntley Jamaica’s Find Juanite Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Kevin Henkes Trustworthiness Emily Lauren The Koala Who Could Rachel Bright & Jim Field Sarah, Plain and Tall Patricia MacLachlan Secrets in the Fire Henning Mankell I know you cheated Valjean Lenighan Is That True? Pamela Nettleton Milo and the Magical Stones Marcus Pfister Marcus. Chicken Sunday Patricia Polacco Honesty Lucia Raatma Walter the Wolf Marjorie Weinman A Penny’s Worth of Character Jesse Stuart Honesty Thoennes Keller, Kristin. The Empty Pot |
| Self-Control | I can control my emotions, thoughts and actions. I think carefully about how I behave.Mr Huff Alma Walker
Be Patient Pooh by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld I Can’t Wait by Elizabeth Crary Soon, Baboon, Soon by Dave Horowitz Noah Dreary Aaron Blabey I will not ever never eat a tomato Lauren Child Diary of a Wombat Jackie French Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day Judith Viorst The Paper bag Princess The very cranky bear Nick Bland The Day the Whale Came In Eve Bunting The Big Angry Roar by Jonny Lambert Listening with my heart by Gabi Garcia Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Really Angry When Sophie’s Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt by Molly Bang Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers Noah Dreary by Aaron Blabey You get what you get and don’t get upset by Heath McKenzie Pig Rebel by Aaron Blabey Temper Tabitha by Jackie Hosking & Leah Russack |
| Forgiveness | I forgive people who hurt me and give people a second chance. I put my sadness behind me and move forward.
Officer Buckle and Gloria Peggy Rathmann Fox – Margaret Wild Tiddalick The Frog Who Caused a Flood Robert Roennfeldt The Paper bag Princess Milton’s Secret Eckart Tolle |
| Modesty | I don’t show off. I know my strengths and weaknesses.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Humble Pie Jennifer Donelly A Children’s Book about showing off Joy berry The Lamington Man Kel Richards A Year On Our Farm Penny Matthews Pig the Star by Aaron Blabey |
| Gratitude | I am thankful for the good things that happen to me. I thank others often.
Belonging by Jeannie Baker hardback Queenie the Bantam Bob Graham The Ugliest Dog in the World Bruce Watley Sam and the Lucky Money Karen Chinn All the world by Liz Garton Scanlon An Awesome book of thanks by Dallas Clayton Andy and the Lion by James Henry Daugherty Bear says thanks by Karma Wilson Did I Ever Tell you how lucky you are? By Dr Seuss Gratitude Soup by Olivia Rosewood The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood Splat says thank you! By Rob Scotton Thanks a million by Nikki Grimes (Poetry) The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson The Ant and the Elephant by Bill Peet Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes All The World by Liz Garton Scanlon When Gradma Gives You Lemons by Jamie Deenihan Slow Down World by Tai Snaith |
| Hope | I look forward to the future and believe that good things will happen.
The Dance Teacher Simon MilneLittle Louie by Kathryn Finney Someday by Eileen Spinell Hope for Haiti by Jesse Joshua Watson The Little Refugee books Anh Do How To Heal a broken wing Bob Graham Arthur Amanda Graham The Great Escape from City Zoo Toby Riddle The Three Billy goats Gruff Oh the places you’ll go Dr Seuss Stellaluna Emma Wendy Kesselman Edwina the Emu Sheena Knowles & Rod Clement Oh, The Places You’ll Go Dr Seuss What If? Anthony Browne Peace begins with you Katherine Scholes When you wish upon a star by Judy Collins What do you do with a chance by Kobi Yamada Emmanual’s Dream Lost and Found Cat Doug Kuntz & Amy Shrodes |
| Humour | I like to laugh and be funny and I like making others smile or laugh.Piranas Don’t Eat Bananas Aaron Blabey
Our Granny Margaret Wild Don’t let the pidgeon drive the bus Mo williiams Room on the broom Julia Donaldson Green Eggs and Ham Dr Seuss Pig the Pug Aaron Blabey |
| Appreciation of beauty and excellence | I notice and enjoy the beauty, skill and excellence involved in things around me.
Salmon Forest by David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis The Hero of Little Street – Gregory Rogers Animalia – Graeme Base Hugo The Happy Liebermann, Suzy. Happy Belonging Jeannie Baker Grandpa and Thomas Pamela Allen Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs Tomie de Paola One World Michael Foreman We Are Best Friends Aliki Mulberry Feelings by Aliki Dear Brother by Asch, Frank. Arthur’s Birthday by Brown, Marc. Do You Want to be my Friend? by Carle, Eric. Bagels for Benny by Davis, Aubrey. Corduroy by Freeman, Don. Chrysanthemum by Henkes, Kevin. Best Friends for Frances by Hoban, Russell. Pet Show! by Keats, Ezra Jack. Peter’s Chair by Keats, Ezra Jack. A Letter to Amy by Keats, Ezra Jack. Frog and Toad are Friends by Lobel, Arnold. Thank you, Mr. Falker by Polacco, Patricia. The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein, A Friend Like Ed Karen Wagner A New Coat for Anna Harriet Ziefert Mick Harte Was Here. Barbara Park The Lucky Shack Apsara Baldovino |
| Self-Belief | I know what I believe in and I wonder about the world I live in.
Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban Possum Magic Mem Fox Mr Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown Diary of a Wombat Jackie French Henry and Amy Stephen King Too Loud Lily Sophie Lagua A Bad Case of Stripes David Shannon Thelma the unicorn Aaron Blabey Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley Aaron Blabey Billy the Punk Jessica Caroll Diary of a Wombat Jackie French Too Loud Lily Sophie Lagua The Naked Penguin Kyn Lardner Odd Dog Out Rob Biddulph Milton’s Secret Eckhart Tolle There’s Only One You Kathryn Heling Et. Al I Like Myself Karen Beaumont All The Ways To Be Smart Davina Bell Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Patty Lovell Perfectly Norman Tom Percival Rock What Ya Got Samantha Berger The Name Jar Yangsook Choi Sulwe Lupita Nyong’o Zero Kathryn Otashi Ordinary Oscar by Laura Adkins A Stack of Alpacas by Matt Cosgrove I am enough by Grace Byers Lovely by Jess Hong The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf Sully The Seahorse by Natalie Pritchard Tug of War by Naomi Howarth Wilma Rudolph by Isabel Sanchez Vegera Michael Jordan (Little People, Big Dreams series) |
| Creativity | I like thinking of new ways to do things.
A Child of Books Oliver Jeffers The Terrible Suitcase Emma Allen Imagine: Alison Lester Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey Window Jeanie Baker Magic Beach Alison Lester Tashi books Anna Fienberg Just another Ordinary Day Rod Clement Drac and the Gremlin Allan Bailie There’s no such thing as a dragon What do you do with a kangaroo? The Great escape from city zoo Toby Riddle Journey by Aaron Becker |
| Curiosity | I want to explore and find out new things.
Mr Archimedes’ Bath Pamela Allen The Waterhole Graham Base Animalia Graham Base Edward the Emu Sheena Knowles Where the wild things are Maurice Sendak Where is the green sheep? Pamela Alen Dear Greenpeace Simon James A Nice Walk in the Jungle Nan Bodsworth Salmon Forest by David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis Tokyo Friends – Tokyo no Tomodachi Betty Reynolds The Secret Footprints Julia Alvarez Madeleine. Ludwig Bemelmans, The Mitten. Jan Brett Going home. Eve Bunting, Eve Are There Any Questions? Denys Cazet Small Green Snake. Libba Gray The Heart and the Bottle Oliver Jeffers Grandpa’s face. Eloise Greenfield, Eloise The Waterhole Graham Base Are we there yet? Alison Lester Bamboozled David Legge Hugo The Happy Starfish Suzy Liebermann, Suzy Counting on Frank Rod Clement Mr Archimedes’ Bath Pamela Allen The Day of Ahmed’s Secret Florence Parry Heide More Than Anything Else Marie Bradby Odd Boy Out; Young Albert Einstein Don Brown Verdi Janell Cannon, Janell Are You My Mother? Eastman, P.D. Olivia …. and the Missing Toy Ian Falconer Around the World- Who’s Been Here? Lindsay Barrett George, Lindsay Barrett The Librarian Who Measured the Earth Kathryn Lasky Why Explore? Susan Lendroth What the Animals Were Waiting For Jonothon London Curious George Visits the Library Margret Rey Curious George. H.A Rey On a beam of light-A story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne |
| Love of Learning | I enjoy learning new things.Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
Chameleons Are Cool by Martin Jenkins Amaing Grace by Mary Hoffman If I Built A Car by Chris Van Dusen Perfect Square by Michael Hall Can We Save the Tiger by Martin Jenkins The Wump World by Bill Peet Counting on Frank by Rod Clement Ernie Dances to the Didgeredoo Alison Lester The Boy who loved words |
| Open mindedness | I think carefully before making a decision. I can adapt my decision when things change.
Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham The Wrong Book Nick Bland Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon Aaron Blabey Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair Green Eggs and Ham Dr Seuss Pog Lyn Lee Charlie and Lola-I will never eat a tomato I Wanna New Room The Wonderful Things You Will Be Charlie and Lola: I wish I could draw more like you Yobbos Do Yoga Phillip Gwynne Voices in the Park Anthony Brown Green Eggs and Ham Dr Seuss The Most Magnificent Thing Greetings from Sandy Beach Bob Graham The Wrong Book Nick Bland Rose Meets Mr Wintergarden Bob Graham Crusher is Coming Bob Graham Bad Boris Mem Fox Charlie Star by Terry Milne Wolfie Hey Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose Little Light by Kelly Canby The Sneeches (Dr Seuss) All Are Welcome Here |
| Wisdom | My friends think that I am wise. I understand what is important in life.
Drawing from Memory by Allen Say Mr McGee and the Biting Flea Pamela Allen Mirror Jeannie Baker Sunday Chutney Aaron Blabey Couting on Frank Rod Clement Shake A Leg by Boori Monty Pryor illustrated by Jan Ormerod The Name of the Tree Celia Barker Lottridge Wilfred Gordan McDonald Partridge Mem Fox Last Stop on Markey Street by Matt De La Pena Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts The Lorax by Dr Seuss To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat |
UPSTANDERS
I walk with Vanessa by Kerascoet
One by Kathryn Otashi
Say Something by Peter Reynolds
Hattie and Hudson
The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sorns
Sprakle Boy by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Maria Mola.
Something Good by Marcy Campbell, illustrated by Corinna Luyken.
Red and Green, Blue and White by Lee Wind, illustrated by Paul O.
Super Manny Stands Up by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Speak Up by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchevby, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
We Are Water Protectors. …
Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock. …
The Recess Queen. …
Desmond and the Very Mean Word. …
Those Shoes.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Judgmental Flower by Julia Cook
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Same, same but different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric
Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor
Safron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh
EMPATHY
Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long
You, Me and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders
Most People Michael Leannah
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Come with me by Holly M. McGhee
All are welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Save me a seat Gita Varadarajan
I am Human by Susan Verde
A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz
Bluebird by Bob Staake
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
I’m Here by Peter H. Reynolds
Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate
Malala, A Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, A Brave Boy from Pakistan by Jeanette Winter
Mogie: The Heart of the House by Kathi Appelt and Marc Rosenthal
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed
Red – A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
GENDER & IDENTITY
Dolls and trucks are for everyone
My Shadow is Purple
CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES
One by Kathryn Otashi
We’re all wonders PJ Palaco
Chocolate Milk Por Favor by Maria Dismonty
Uniquely me by Trace Wilson
All are welcome by Alexandra Penfold
A family is a family is a family by Sara O’Leary
Lailah’s Lunchbox A Ramada Story by Reem Faruqi
Different is awesome by Ryan Haack
Little Light by Kelly Canby
MINDFULNESS
The Sloth Who Came To Stay Margaret Wild
A World of pausabilities by Frank Sileo
I am peace by Susan Verde
Breath like a bear by Kira Willey
Crab and Whale by Mark Pallis
Breathe and Be by Kate Coombs
I am a warrior goddess by Jennifer Adams
My Magic Breath by Nick Ortner
Belly Breathe
My Body is a Rainbow
Too Many Bubbles
Alphabreaths
Rachel’s Day in the Garden
The Lemonade Hurricane by Licia Morelli
CONFIDENCE
A Little Spot of Confidence Diane Adler
Dear Girl Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Bob The Artist by Marion Deuchars
GENDER STEREOTYPING AND EQUALITY
Horace and Morris mostly Dolores James Howe
Ballerinas don’t wear glasses Ainslie Manson
The Story of Ruby Bridges
SUSTAINABILITY
The Great Kapok Tree Lynn Cherry
Prince William Gloria Rand
NON TRADITIONAL FAMILIES
And Tango Makes Three Justin Richardson
MEANING/VOICE/ASPIRATIONS
Remarkably You Pat Zietlow Miller
STRENGTHS (general wellbeing)
Superheroes Club by Madeleine Sherak
Just Feel by Mallia Chopra
The Girl Who Though In Pictures (about Temple Grandin)
I walk with Vanessa by Kerascoet
GROWTH MINDSET
How to Catch A Star by Oliver Jeffers
I can Do hard Things by Gabi Garcia
Tilda Tries Again by Tom Percival
A Thousand No’s by DJ Corchin
Imani’s Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood
The Power of Yet by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Trying by Kobi Yamada
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak
Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
A Whale of a Mistake by Ioana Hobai
Even Superheroes Make Mistakes by Shelly Becker
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein
Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE
Say Yes by Jennifer Castles
Black Fella, White Fella
Papunya School
When I was Little Like You by Mary Malbuna
Our home, our heartbeat
Wilam, A Birrarung Story by Aunty Joy Murphy & Andrew KellyHello and Welcome
Respect our Place by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson
Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and
My Country by Sally Morgan & Ezekiel Kwaymullina
