Friendship

Brothers by Florence B. Friedman
Hebrew legend of two brothers who share with each other in a time of need.

How to Lose all Your Friends by Nancy Carlson
A funny book that goes through the different situations that are sure to make you unpopular.

Bootsie Baker Bites by Barbara Bottner
Bootsie does not want to play with her friend who is bullying her. This is a humorous look at how to handle the problem of a bully.

Crow Boy by Taro Yashima
Crow Boy is not understood or appreciated by his classmates. In fact he is often ridiculed until they discover his special talent.

Pink and Say by Patrica Pollaco
The true story of two boys, one black, one white, during the civil war, especially good for 4th and 5th graders.

Hard Work

Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree Mitchell
Uncle Jed works long and hard to earn the money for his barber shop. Through the years he gives up much of his hard earned money for family members in need. In the end he is rewarded.

Vision of Beauty by Katherine Lasky
The biography of Sara Breedlove Walker who, though born in poverty, pioneered in hair and beauty care products for black women and became a great financial success. Her motto "Lifting as we climb", became inspirational.

Work Song by Gary Paulsen
Pictures and rhyming text depict people doing all kinds of work. Wonderful illustrations.

Kindness

The Good Hearted Youngest Brother: a Hungarian folktale. Translated by Papp Severo

Cooperation

Swimmy by Leo Lionni
A little black fish in a school of red fish figures out a way of protecting all from their natural enemies.

Patience

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
A little boy waits patiently for his carrot seed to grow.

Respect

Talking Eggs: A Folktake from the American South by Robert D. San Souci
A wonderful picture book that retells the theme of respect. A little girl, kind and polite to an old woman is rewarded, while her mean step sisters are punished.

Helpfulness

Soap Soap, Don't forget the Soap by Tom Birdseye
A humorous story about a boy who wants to be helpful but makes matters worse.

Peacefulness

Sharing

Stone Soup (any version)
The classic story about a soldier who persuades a village to share with him their food, making something out of nothing.

Truthfulness

Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
When several children are accused of harassing an old man, they come up with a plan to make it right and to prove that they are innocent.

Wisdom

Courage

St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges
Both Una and George display courage in facing a dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside. This book beautifully retells the segment from Spensers the Faerie Queene.

Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her grandmother's boarding house. During the process she is able to help Monsieur Bellini, the worlds greatest tight rope walker confront his own fears.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
This true account of Ruby Bridges, who was the first African American to attend an all white elementary school in Little Rock. Norman Rockwell has painted a very famous picture of Ruby, dressed in white, head held high, being escorted to school by two Federal Marshalls.

Excellence

Mirabella's Suitcase by
Mirabella kindly helps a feathered friend who doesn't want to fly south for the winter. As a result she ends up building a prize winning hat!

Forgiveness

The Summer my Father was Ten by Pat Brisson
A baseball game that gets out of hand results in the destruction of a garden. It takes awhile for the main character to realize how much he has hurt his neighbor and so when he finally asks for forgiveness he is ready to put actions behind his words.