In the elementary school classroom, fostering perseverance is key to helping young learners develop a growth mindset and tackle challenges head-on. But how can you effectively introduce this concept to your students? Look no further than the engaging world of picture books!
With vibrant illustrations and relatable stories, picture books provide a powerful platform to teach children about the importance of never giving up. From overcoming obstacles to achieving dreams, these books offer a wealth of opportunities to spark discussions and inspire your students to embrace perseverance on their own educational journeys.
I’m sharing all of these books on video as well! Check out the Perseverance Books on my Youtube channel.
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Perseverance Books for Kids
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 and perseverance that they do what it takes to make his dreams come true. Utterly delightful.
When Langston Dances by Kaija Langley
This is a delightful book about a boy who, after seeing the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform, longs to dance. He twirls through the streets and joins a dance class as the only boy in the room. Even though some people tell him that boys don’t dance that way, Langston stays true to himself and finds joy in dancing however he wants to.
Langston likes basketball okay, but what he loves is to dance—ever since he saw the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform. He longs to twirl into a pirouette, whirl into a piqué. He wants to arabesque and attitude, grand battement and grand jeté. When he walks, the whole street is his stage.
With his neighborhood cheering him on, will Langston achieve his dream?
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
With the help of her assistant dog, a “regular girl” decides she is going to invent a most MAGNIFICENT thing. She has a lot of false starts. Nothing seems to be turning out the way she wants and it’s so frustrating for her!
However, she takes a walk, comes back and looks at her inventions afresh, and finally figures things out. I adore the “lesson” in the book, that success comes only after “failure” You know: trial and error.
Get the interactive read aloud lesson for The Most Magnificent Thing here!
Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling
Learning to ride is no easy feat! But with a little courage, a guiding hand from her dad, and an enthusiastic bark from her pup, one brave girl quickly learns the freedom that comes from an afternoon spent outside on a bike.
Experience the fear, the anticipation, and the delight of achieving the ultimate milestone in this energetic, warm story that celebrates the precious bond between parent and child.
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Alexander’s tribute to Black American is a stunning poem. This moving and lyrical journey through the ways African-Americans have shaped, persevered and responded to events in history will inspire meaningful conversations with your children. A treasure trove of historical information about the figures depicted in the illustrations can be found in an extensive endnote.
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Grace’s favorite thing to do is act out her favorite stories (and aren’t all children natural actors during pretend play?). She wants to play the role of Peter Pan in the school production, but her friends tell her she can’t because Peter is a boy, and not black. Her grandmother, however, shows Grace that she can be anything she wants, if she puts her mind to it. It so happens that Grace makes a delightful Peter Pan.
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
Girls cannot be drummers.
Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule—until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.
Inspired by a true story, a young girl refuses to accept the societal rule that girls don’t play drums. She dreams of becoming a drummer and sharing her talent with the world. The young girl perseveres until that dream finally comes true.
Get the perseverance lesson for Drum Dream Girl here!
A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
Vera Williams tells of a young girl who, along with her waitress mother, saves coins in a big jar in hopes that they can someday buy a new chair for their apartment, the kind of chair her mother deserves after being on her feet all day in the Blue Tile Diner.
There hasn’t been a comfortable place to sit in the apartment since a fire in their previous apartment burned everything to “charcoal and ashes.” Friends and neighbors brought furniture to their new apartment downstairs, but no one brought anything big or soft or comfortable. Finally the jar is full, the coins are rolled, and mother, daughter, and Grandma search until they find the chair they’ve been dreaming of at last. An inspirational story about family, community, and perseverance.
Listen on the Podcast
Save these Perseverance Books for Kids
Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to these perseverance books for kids when you are ready to read them aloud with your students.
