Ten Picture Books That Spark Courage

Please welcome author and illustrator Gaia Cornwall with her list of ten picture books that spark courage. She took the jump from illustrator to author with her first picture book, Jabari Jumps, a charming story about a boy who wants to dive for the first time but finds it a little scary.

We are giving away 3 copies of Jabari Jumps! Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter. How about you? What picture books that spark courage do you recommend? Thanks for sharing!

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is ready to jump off the diving board for the first time!… Right after he does some stretches. And thinks about what kind of jump to do. Actually, everyone else can go first… With the help of his supportive dad, Jabari figures out how to deal with his fear and tackle a new challenge. [ages 2 and up]

Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is back and this time he’s making a flying machine but he wants to do this by himself. His sister, Nita, wants to help and his dad persuades him to take on a partner. It’s not easy and Jabari gets frustrated but in the end, he preserves. It’s great to see Jabari demonstrate the design process of an engineering project! The illustrations are a visual treat in this beautifully designed book. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

10 Picture Books That Spark Courage!

1. Lucia the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

Lucia is fearless and awesome, but when classmates tell her that girls “can’t be superheroes” she loses some of her pluck. With the help of her grandmother, she explores her family’s Luchadora heritage and claims her place. Great messages of being strong, and sticking up for yourself, with an anti-bullying story. Fast-paced and super fun!  [picture book, ages 3 and up]

2. The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires

Lou is brave and fast and mighty! She’s never climbed a tree before, but she doesn’t want to anyway. Kids will relate to Lou as she struggles with finding the courage to try something new. [ages 2 and up]

3. Small by Gina Perry

A little girl realizes that maybe being small is just a state of mind. Perry’s beautiful illustrations set us in a city full of all kinds of people and sites. Little readers will find the story relatable and empowering! Look for Small in August! [picture book, ages 3 and up]

4. I am (not) Scared! by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant

A silly, fast-paced read-aloud about friends braving the amusement park together. (These two remind me of Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie– but for a younger crowd.) A great text to encourage younger children to explore and identify their feelings. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

5. Little Red Rolls Away by Linda Whalen, pictures by Jennifer E. Morris

Change can be hard and scary. But with the help of his friends, Little Red gets through it! The perfect read for when your family is moving, or for a child dealing with circumstances out of their control. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

6.  Brave by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Monsters under the bed? Going to the hospital? A diverse group of kids explores what it means to be brave in various relatable scary situations. This read provides a great jumping-off point to discuss developing courage while dealing with feelings of fear. Look out for Brave coming this October! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

7. Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan, illustrated by Grace Zong

Mrs. McBee is leaving her school and as her class grapples with the emotions on their last day, she helps them face their fears and process their sadness. This sweet story goes beyond the surface and really explores complicated concepts in a gentle, understanding way. A great book to help deepen a young reader’s emotional literacy. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

8. Renato and the Lion by Barbara DiLorenzo

Beautiful watercolors perfectly illustrate this World War II refugee story told from a child’s point of view. Educators and parents will find this sensitive, timely book a wonderful jumping-off point to discuss current events. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

9. Martí’s Song for Freedom / Martí y sus versos por la libertad by Emma Otheguy, pictures by Beatriz Vidal

Older readers will enjoy this bilingual biography of José Martí who fought for Cuban independence. This beautifully illustrated text explores themes of standing up for your own beliefs,– even if it means making your family and friends angry, and finding strength and inspiration in nature. Coming in July! [picture book, ages 7 and up]

10. The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

The wrenching true story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, the youngest known marcher to be arrested at a civil rights march in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963. For an older reader, Levinson and Brantley-Newton shine a light on perhaps a little known part of our United States history. Audrey’s story explores what it means to stand up for what you believe in the face of danger. She is the epitome of courage. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

Jabari Jumps 3 Book GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away 3 copies of Jabari Jumps to three winners! Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses due to the high cost of shipping.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gaia Cornwall is an illustrator who loves making patterns for surface design, illustrating for children, & writing picture books. To learn more about her, please check out her website, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

p.s. Related posts:

Picture Books for Finding Courage

10 Books to Encourage a Love of Science in Babies & Toddlers

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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• • • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
    • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
    • Starred review from School Library Journal
    • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
    • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
    • Green Earth Book Award longlist
    • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

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