Children’s Books That Build Character

This list of books for young people, originally compiled by Kate Harrington of the Albuquerque Public Library, indicates which of the Six Pillars of Character is most strongly emphasized and what kind of book it is. Of course, this list is not exhaustive. Check these websites for other titles:

trst=Trustworthiness, rspt=Respect, rspn=Responsibility, fair=Fairness, care=Caring, citz=Citizenship

Author

Title

Pgs.

Type of Book

Focus Pillar

Adler, C.

Get Lost, Little Brother

144

children's fiction

rspt

Adler, C.

In Our House, Scott Is My Brother

125

teen's fiction

trst

Aliki

Two of Them

 

children's storybook

rspt

Anglund, J.

Friend Is Someone Who Likes You

 

children's storybook

rspt

Armstrong, W.H.

Sounder

116

teen's fiction

rspt

Asch, F.

Pearl’s Promise

152

children's fiction

rspn

Avi

Night Journeys

143

children's fiction

trst

Babbitt, N.

Knee-Knock Rise

117

children's fiction

care

Bargar, G.

Life Is Not Fair

174

teen's fiction

care

Baylor, B.

Hawk, I’m Your Brother

55

children's fiction

citz

Beckman, D.

My Own Private Sky

154

children's fiction

rspt

Berenstain, S.

Berenstain Bears and the Truth

 

children's storybook

trst

Berenstain, S.

Berenstain Bears’ Trouble at School

 

children's fiction

rspn

Beskow, E.

Pelle’s New Suit

15

children's storybook

trst

Bianco, M.

Velveteen Rabbit

33

children's fiction

rspt

Bishop, C.

All Alone

95

children's fiction

rspn

Bishop, C.

Twenty and Ten

75

children's fiction

trst

Blos, J.

Old Henry

 

children's storybook

citz

Bohlken, R.

Listening to the Mukies...

104

children's fiction

rspt, fair

Bonsall, C.

Case of the Double-Cross

64

children's storybook

fair

Brandenberg, F.

Nice New Neighbors

56

children's storybook

fair

Brink, C.

Bad Times of Irma Baumlein

134

teen's fiction

trst

Brown, M.

Once a Mouse: A Fable Cut in Wood

 

children's storybook

rspt

Brown, M.

Arthur’s Eyes

27

children's storybook

rspt

Brown, M.

Arthur’s Nose

 

children's storybook

rspt

Bruce, D.

Manners I. Care

32

children's storybook

rspt

Buck, P.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

80

children's fiction

rspn

Bulla, C.

Shoeshine Girl

84

children's fiction

rspn

Bunting, E.

Clancy’s Coat

 

children's storybook

rspt

Burch, R.

Christmas with Ida Early

157

children's fiction

care

Burch, R.

Ida Early Comes over the Mountain

145

children's fiction

care

Burch, R.

Queenie Peavy

159

teen's fiction

rspt

Burch, R.

Renfroe’s Christmas

 

children's fiction

rspt

Burton, V.

Katy and the Big Snow

36

children's storybook

rspn

Burton, V.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

48

children's storybook

trst

Byars, B.

18th Emergency

126

children's fiction

rspt

Byars, B.

After the Goat Man

126

children's fiction

trst

Byars, B.

Glory Girl

121

children's fiction

rspt

Byars, B.

Night Swimmers

131

teen's fiction

rspn

Byars, B.

Pinballs

136

children's fiction

rspt

Byars, B.

Summer of the Swans

142

teen's fiction

rspn

Caines, J.

Daddy

 

children's storybook

rspt

Carle, E.

Grouchy Ladybug

41

children's storybook

rspt

Carlson, N.

Brother for the Orphelines

100

children's fiction

rspn

Carlson, N.

Family under the Bridge

99

children's fiction

rspn

Carrick, C.

Climb

 

children's storybook

trst

Carrick, C.

Some Friend!

112

children's fiction

trst

Carrick, C.

What a Wimp!

89

children's fiction

rspn

Caudill, R.

Pocketful of Cricket

 

children's storybook

rspt

Chambers, A.

Present Takers

156

children's fiction

citz

Charlip, R.

Harlequin and the Gift of Many Colors

 

children's storybook

care

Chorao, K.

Molly’s Lies

32

children's storybook

trst

Christopher, M.

Fox Steals Home

178

children's fiction

fair

Church Mice Adrift. Unp.

My Dad Is Really Something

 

children's storybook

rspt

Cleary, B.

Henry and the Clubhouse

192

children's fiction

rspn

Cleary, B.

Henry and the Paper route

192

children's fiction

rspn

Cleary, B.

Henry Huggins

 

children's fiction

rspn

Cleary, B.

Ramona the Brave

190

children's fiction

rspt

Clifton, L.

Everett Anderson’s Friend

 

children's storybook

fair

Clifton, L.

My Friend Jacob

 

children's storybook

rspt

Clymer, E.

Get-away Car

149

children's fiction

rspn

Clymer, E.

Horse in the Attic

87

children's fiction

rspn

Clymer, E.

My Brother Stevie

76

children's fiction

rspn

Coatsworth, E.

Marra’s World

83

children's fiction

rspt

Cohen, B.

Molly’s Pilgrim

32

children's fiction

care

Cohen, B.

Thank You, Jackie Robinson

125

teen's fiction

fair

Cohen, M.

Best Friends

32

children's storybook

rspt

Cohen, M.

See You Tomorrow, Charles

 

children's storybook

care

Cohen, M.

So What?

32

children's storybook

rspt

Collier, J.

My Brother Sam Is Dead

224

teen's fiction

trst

Conford, E.

Felicia the Critic

145

children's fiction

rspt

Coutant, H.

Gift

 

children's fiction

care

Crofford, E.

Stories from the Blue Road

 

children's fiction

rspt

Cropsey, S.J.

Tinker's Christmas

59

children's storybook

rspt

Cunningham, J.

Flight of the Sparrow

144

teen's fiction

trst

Dalgliesh, A.

Courage of Sarah Noble

54

children's fiction

trst

Dana, B.

Zucchini

122

children's fiction

rspt

Danner, P.

Andre, Angel in a Poodle Suit

32

children's storybook

care

Danziger, P.

Cat Ate My Gymsuit

147

teen's fiction

rspt

Danziger, P.

Pistachio Prescription

154

teen's fiction

rspt

DeAngeli, M.

Bright April

88

children's fiction

care

DeClements, B.

Nothing’s Fair in 5th Grade

137

children's fiction

rspt

DeJong, M.

House of Sixty Fathers

189

children's fiction

citz

DeJong, M.

Journey From Peppermint Street

242

children's fiction

rspn

DePaola, T.

Andy (That’s My Name)

 

children's storybook

rspt

DePaola, T.

Oliver Button is a.Sissy

 

children's storybook

care

Delton, J.

Backyard Angel

107

children's fiction

rspn

Delton, J.

Two Good Friends

32

children's storybook

care

Doty, J.

If Wishes Were Horses

125

teen's fiction

rspn

Drury, R.

Champion of Merrimack County

199

children's fiction

care

Duvoisin, R.

Veronica

 

children's storybook

rspt

Eige, L.

Kidnapping of Mister Huey

153

teen's fiction

rspn

Estes, E.

Hundred Dresses

81

children's fiction

care

Estes, E.

Moffats

290

children's fiction

rspn

Estes, E.

Rufus M.

320

children's fiction

rspn

Ets, M.

Play With Me

31

children's storybook

rspt

Fatio, L.

Happy Lion

 

children's storybook

rspt

Fife, D.

Who’ll Vote for Lincoln

63

children's fiction

trst

First, J.

Move Over, Beethoven

121

teen's fiction

rspn

Fisher, L.

Rachel Vellars, How Could You?

155

children's fiction

rspt

Fitzgerald, J.

Great Brain Reforms

165

children's fiction

trst

Fitzgerald, J.

Me and My Little Brain

137

children's fiction

rspt

Flournay, V.

Twins Strike Back

32

children's storybook

rspt

Foe, P.

Portrait of Ivan

131

children's fiction

rspt

Fox, P.

One Eyed Cat

216

children's fiction

rspn

Fox, P.

Stone-faced Boy

106

children's fiction

rspt

Freeman, D.

Come Again, Pelican

44

children's storybook

rspt

Freeman, D.

Corduroy

32

children's storybook

care

Gackenbach, D.

King Wacky

32

children's storybook

citz

Gaeddert, L.

Your Former Friend, Matthew

75

children's fiction

rspt

Gardiner, J.

Stone Fox

85

children's fiction

rspn

Garrigue, S.

Between Friends

160

children's fiction

rspt

George, J.

My Side of the Mountain

178

children's fiction

citz

Gerson, C.

Tread Softly

133

children's fiction

trst

Gerson, C.

How I Put My Mother Through College

136

teen's fiction

rspn

Godden, R.

Mr. Mcfadden’s Halloween

127

children's fiction

trst

Gramatky, H.

Little Toot

 

children's storybook

rspn

Greene, B.

Get On Out of Here, Philip Hall

150

children's fiction

rspt

Greene, B.

Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon

 

children's fiction

rspt

Greene, B.

Summer of My German Soldier

230

teen's fiction

trst

Greene, C.

I and Sproggy

155

children's fiction

rspt

Greene, C.

Leo the Lioness

118

children's fiction

rspt

Greene, C.

Unmaking of Rabbit

125

children's fiction

rspt

Greenwald, S.

Will the Real Gertrude Hollings

 

children's fiction

rspt

Griffith, H.

Alex and the Cat

55

children's storybook

rspt

Haas, D.

Tink in a Tangle

136

children's fiction

rspt

Hall, L.

Uphill All the Way

121

teen's fiction

trst

Hamilton, V.

Willie Bea & the Time the Martians ...

208

teen's fiction

care

Hansen, J.

Gift-Giver

118

children's fiction

rspt

Hautzig, D.

Handsomest Father

47

children's storybook

rspt

Heyward, D.

Country Bunny & the Little Gold Shoes

 

children's storybook

trst

Hoban, L.

Arthur’s Penpal

62

children's storybook

fair

Hoban, R.

Bargain for Frances

62

children's storybook

trst

Hoban, R.

Best Friends for Frances

31

children's storybook

fair

Hoban, R.

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas

 

children's storybook

trst

Holland, I.

Alan and the Animal Kingdom

190

teen's fiction

rspn

Hoog, M.E.

The First Growing Field Adventure

32

children's storybook

care

Hoose, P. & H.

Hey, Little Ant

28

children's storybook

rspt

Humphrey, S.M.

If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do?

 

children's storybook

rspn

Humphrey, S.M.

MORE--If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do?

 

children's storybook

rspn

Humphrey, S.M.

Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives

 

children's storybook

rspn

Hunt, I.

William: A Novel

188

teen's fiction

rspn

Hurwitz, J.

Aldo Applesauce

 

children's fiction

rspt

Hurwitz, J.

Law of Gravity: A Story

192

children's fiction

rspt

Hurwitz, J.

Rabbi’s Girls

158

teen's fiction

care

Hurwitz, J.

Superduper Teddy

80

children's fiction

rspt

Hutchins, P.

Best Train Set Ever

55

children's storybook

care

Iwamura, K.

Ton and Pon: Two Good Friends

52

children's storybook

fair

Jarrell, R.

Animal Family

180

teen's fiction

care

Jones, R.

Madeline & the Great (Old) Escape Artist

88

teen's fiction

care

Jordan, J.

New Life: New Room

52

children's fiction

care

Keith, H.

Rifles for Watie

322

teen's fiction

trst

Kerr, J.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

191

teen's fiction

care

Kerr, M.

Gentlehands

183

teen's fiction

trst

Kerr, M.

Is That You, Miss Blue?

170

teen's fiction

trst

Kerr, M.

Little Little

183

teen's fiction

care

King-Smith, D.

Magnus Powermouse

120

children's fiction

rspt

Klein, N.

Visiting Pamela

 

children's storybook

rspt

Konigsburg, E.

Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth

 

children's fiction

rspt

Korschanow, I.

Foundling Fox

48

children's storybook

care

Kullman, H.

Battle Horse

183

teen's fiction

care

Langton, J.

Fragile Flag

224

children's fiction

trst

Lasker, J.

Nick Joins In

32

children's storybook

rspt

Lawrence, L.

Dram Road

218

teen's fiction

rspn

Lawson, R.

Rabbit Hill

128

children's fiction

rspt

Lenski, L.

Strawberry Girl

 

children's fiction

trst

Levy, J.

Alley Oops

32

children's storybook

rspt

Lexau, J.

I Hate Red Rover

 

children's storybook

rspt

Lexau, J.

Striped Ice Cream

95

children's fiction

trst

Lionni, L.

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

 

children's storybook

care

Lionni, L.

Swimmy

 

children's storybook

trst

Lionni, L.

Tico and the Golden Wings

 

children's storybook

care

Lipsyte, R.

Contender

182

teen's fiction

rspt

Little, J.

Look Through My Window

258

teen's fiction

care

Little, J.

One to Grow on

140

children's fiction

trst

Lobel, A.

Frog and Toad All Year

64

children's storybook

rspt

Lobel, A.

Frog and Toad Are Friends

64

children's storybook

rspt

Lobel, A.

Frog and Toad Together

64

children's storybook

rspt

MacLachlan, P.

Arthur for the Very First Time

117

children's fiction

rspt

MacLachlan, P.

Cassie Binegar

120

children's fiction

rspt

Mann, P.

Street of the Flower Boxes

71

children's fiction

rspn

Marshall, J.

George and Martha

46

children's storybook

rspt

Marshall, J.

George and Martha One Fine Day

46

children's storybook

rspt

Marshall, J.

George and Martha Encore

46

children's storybook

rspt

Martin, C.

Summer Business

 

children's storybook

citz

Mason, A.

Dancing Meteorite

214

teen's fiction

trst

Mason, M.

Middle Sister

160

children's fiction

trst

Mathis, S.

Hundred Penny Box

47

children's fiction

rspt

McDonnell, C.

Lucky Charms & Birthday Wishes

84

children's fiction

rspt

McHugh, E.

Karen and Vicki

150

teen's fiction

rspn

McHugh, E.

Karen’s Sister

149

teen's fiction

rspn

McHugh, E.

Raising a Mother Isn’t Easy

156

teen's fiction

rspn

McPhail, D.

Sisters

 

children's storybook

rspt

Miles, B.

Maudie & Me & the Dirty Book

144

children's fiction

trst

Miles, B.

Secret Life of the Underwear Champ

117

children's fiction

care

Miles, M.

Gertrude’s Pocket

 

children's fiction

rspt

Mitchell, S.K.

What Great Thing Can Patches Do?

35

children's storybook

care

Moeri, L.

Downwind

121

teen's fiction

rspn

Monjo, F.

Drinking Gourd

62

children's storybook

trst

Moskin, M.

Toto

 

children's fiction

trst

Myers, W.

Young Landlords

197

teen's fiction

rspn

Ness, E.

Sam, Bangs & Moonshine

 

children's storybook

trst

Neufeld, J.

Edgar Allan

95

teen's fiction

care

Neville, E.

Berries Goodman

178

teen's fiction

care

Newman, N.

That Dog!

47

children's storybook

care

Oakley, G.

Church Mice Adrift

 

children's storybook

rspn

Pascal, F.

Hand-Me-Down Kid

172

teen's fiction

rspt

Paterson, K.

Jacob Have I Loved

215

teen's fiction

rspt

Peck, R.

Father Figure: A Novel

192

teen's fiction

rspn

Peet, B.

Cowardly Clyde

38

children's storybook

trst

Perl, L.

Tybee Trimble’s Hard Times

143

children's fiction

care

Perrine, M.

Salt Boy

31

children's storybook

rspn

Pfeffer, S.

Courage, Dana

160

children's fiction

trst

Piper, W.

Little Engine that Could

 

children's storybook

trst

Platt, K.

Brogg’s Brain

123

teen's fiction

rspt

Rhoads, D.

Corn Grows Ripe

88

children's fiction

rspn

Roberts, W.

Don’t Hurt Laurie!

166

teen's fiction

care

Robinson, B.

Best Christmas Pageant Ever

80

children's fiction

care

Ross, P.

Meet M and M

41

children's storybook

rspt

Rylant, C.

Miss Maggie

32

children's storybook

rspt

Sachar, L.

Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher’s House

 

children's fiction

rspn

Sachar, L.

Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl?

 

children's fiction

care

Sachar, L.

Marvin Redpost: Why Pick on Me?

 

children's fiction

trst

Sachs, M.

Call Me Ruth

134

children's fiction

trst

Sarnoff, J.

That’s Not Fair

32

children's storybook

fair

Sauer, J.

Light at Tern Rock

62

children's fiction

rspn

Schaefer, J.

Old Ramon

102

teen's fiction

trst

Selden, G.

Cricket in Times Square

160

children's fiction

rspt

Sharmat, M.

Bartholomew, the Bossy

32

children's storybook

rspt

Sharmat, M.

Big Fat Enormous Lie

32

children's storybook

trst

Sharmat, M.

Gladys Told Me to Meet Her Here

32

children's storybook

care

Sharmat, M.

I’m Terrific

 

children's storybook

rspt

Sharmat, M.

Mooch the Messy

61

children's storybook

care

Sharp, M.

Bernard the Brave

128

children's fiction

trst

Shreve, S.

Family Secrets: 5 Very Important Stories

56

children's fiction

trst

Shreve, S.

Flunking of Joshua T. Bates

82

children's fiction

care

Shura, M.

Barkley Street Six-Pack

159

children's fiction

trst

Shyer, M.

Adorable Sunday

182

teen's fiction

rspt

Shyer, M.

Welcome Home, Jellybean

153

teen's fiction

rspn

Skolsky, M.

Carnival and Kopeck

74

children's fiction

care

Skurzynski, G.

Honest Andrew

32

children's storybook

trst

Smith, A.

The Halloween Misfits

24 + CD

children's storybook

rspt

Smith, A.

The Mischievous Bugs

30 + CD

children's storybook

rspt

Speare, E.

Sign of the Beaver

135

teen's fiction

rspn

Sperry, A.

Call It Courage

95

children's fiction

trst

Stanek, M.

Growl When You Say R

32

children's storybook

rspt

Steig, W.

Amos & Boris

32

children's storybook

rspt

Steig, W.

Caleb & Kate

 

children's storybook

rspt

Stevenson, J.

Wilfred the Rat

32

children's storybook

rspt

Stolz, M.

Bully of Barkham Street

194

children's fiction

rspt

Stolz, M.

Dog on Barkham Street

184

children's fiction

rspn

Stolz, M.

Edge of Next Year

195

children's fiction

rspn

Stolz, M.

Noonday Friends

182

children's fiction

rspt

Sussman, S.

There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush

48

children's fiction

care

Todd, L.

Best Kept Secret of the War

165

children's fiction

trst

Treffinger, C.

Li Lun, Lad of Courage

96

teen's fiction

trst

Turkle, B.

Adventures of Obadiah.

 

children's storybook

trst

Turkle, B.

Thy Friend Obadiah

37

children's storybook

rspt

Uchida, Y.

Journey Home

131

teen's fiction

care

Uchida, Y.

Journey to Topaz

149

teen's fiction

care

Ungerer, T.

Three Robbers

 

children's storybook

rspt

Viorst, J.

Rosie and Michael

 

children's storybook

care

Voight, C.

Dicey’s Song

196

teen's fiction

rspn

Voight, C.

Homecoming

312

teen's fiction

rspn

Walsh, E.

Brunus and the New Bear

 

children's storybook

rspt

Ward, L.

Biggest Bear

84

children's storybook

rspn

Weiss, N.

Maude and Sally

 

children's storybook

rspt

White, E.B.

Charlotte’s Web

184

children's fiction

trst

White, E.B.

The Trumpet of the Swan

224

children's fiction

citz

Winthrop, E.

Belinda’s Hurricane

54

children's fiction

care

Wittman, S.

Special Trade

 

children's storybook

rspt

Wooden, J.

Inch and Miles

39

children's storybook

rspn

Wright, B.

Dollhouse Murders

149

children's fiction

care

Yashima, T.

Crow Boy

37

children's storybook

trst

Yep, L.

Child of the Owl

217

teen's fiction

rspt

Yep, L.

Sea Glass

213

teen's fiction

rspt

Zolotow, C.

May I Visit

32

children's storybook

care