Perseverance, or grit, means to keep trying, even when you feel like giving up. Here are 5 books that teach the importance of perseverance in reaching your goals!
We recommend pairing these books with any or all of our character development video lessons on perseverance. They can be found and streamed on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, aspire for the impossible, and persist with childlike imagination.
Max and Marla by Alexandra Boiger
Two fearless Olympians sled to victory in this delightful new picture book. Max and Marla are best friends. And aspiring Olympians! With their eyes on the prize, they know exactly what it’ll take to reach sledding success: preparation, practice, and perseverance. So, when rusty blades, strong winds, and difficult slopes get in their way, Max and Marla realize true joy lies not in winning but in friendship. Obstacles turn into victories! With delightful illustrations and charming text, Alexandra Boiger brings to life the story of two unstoppable pals—true Olympians who never give up!
Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is making a flying machine in his backyard! “It’ll be easy. I don’t need any help,” he declares. But it doesn’t work! Jabari is frustrated. Good thing Dad is therefor a pep talk and his little sister, Nika, is there to assist, fairy wings and all. With the endearing father-child dynamic of Jabari Jumps and engaging mixed-media illustrations, Gaia Cornwall’s tale shows that through perseverance and flexibility, an inventive thought can become a brilliant reality.
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
For the early grades’ exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl’s frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it’s okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment.
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
Sometimes being small can have its advantages. If you’re a little cloud like Cloudette, people call you cute nicknames, and you can always find a good spot to watch the fireworks. But what about when you want to do something big, like help a giant garden grow, or make a brook babble? Cloudette discovers the power of perseverance as she sets out to achieve big things!
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