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Courage

From the February 3, 2008 Pigeon Post essay of the same name.
We will be doing a later essay on courage and heroism. While there are a few such stories thrown into the mix below, the primary focus of this list of books emphasizing courage are stories wherein the protagonist confronts decisions and actions they need to take that are more in the ken of children of today.
What books might you recommend?

This book list is divided into three sections:
(1) Picture Books
(2) Books for Independent Readers
(3) Books for Young Adults

The list begins below with Picture Books, but you can use one of the following links to skip directly to either of the other two sections.
Go to books for Independent Readers
Go to books for Young Adults


Picture Books

Lou Gehrig by David A. Adler and illustrated by Terry Widener Suggested
The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright by Stan Berenstain Suggested
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and illustrated by George Ford Recommended
The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Henri Sorensen Highly Recommended
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest and illustrated by P. J. Lynch Recommended
The Leaf Men by William Joyce Recommended
I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King and illustrated by a variety of artists Recommended
Hansel and Gretel by Rika Lesser and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky Recommended
Jack And the Beanstalk by Edith Nesbit and illustrated by Matt Tavares Suggested
Little Red Caboose by Marian Potter and illustrated by Tibor Gergely Recommended
Kate Shelley Bound for Legend by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Max Ginsburg Suggested
Pappy's Handkerchief by Devin Scillian and illustrated by Chris Ellison Highly Recommended
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small Recommended
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss Recommended
The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward Recommended


Independent Reader

Turn Homeward, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty Suggested
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and illustrated by Tasha Tudor Highly Recommended
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard Recommended
The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds and illustrated by Paul Lantz Suggested
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes and illustrated by Lynd Ward Recommended
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George Highly Recommended
Belles on Their Toes by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey Recommended
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and illustrated by Pauline Baynes Highly Recommended
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan Recommended
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean Suggested
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman Suggested
A Family Apart by Joan Lowery Nixon Suggested
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell and illustrated by Ted Lewin Recommended
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park Suggested
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen Recommended
Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman Recommended
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney Suggested
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare Recommended
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry Recommended
The Cay by Theodore Taylor Recommended
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and illustrated by Alan Lee Highly Recommended
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and illustrated by Barry Moser Highly Recommended
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and illustrated by Steven Kellogg Highly Recommended
Mary on Horseback by Rosemary Wells Highly Recommended
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Garth Williams Highly Recommended


Young Adult

Watership Down by Richard Adams Recommended
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley Suggested
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane Recommended
Lord of the Flies by William Golding and illustrated by Ben Gibson Recommended
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer Highly Recommended
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Highly Recommended

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