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- I have an Idea.
- Chester's Masterpiece.
- Going places.
- Imagination According to Humphrey.
- Yasmine the Builder.
- Cool painting: the art of creativity for Kids!
- The good garden: how one family went from hunger to having enough
- Girls think of everything: stories of ingenious inventions by women
- Biblioburro: a true story from Colombia
- The magic fan
- The village that vanished

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- Being responsible
- I am Responsible.
- أنا مسؤول.

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- Ruby's Wish
- Deep in the Sahara.

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The Most Magnificent Thing - this site has related books as well.

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The Most Magnificent Thing Activities and Comprehension Questions

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The Most Magnificent Thing Activities and Comprehension Questions

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The Most Magnificent Thing promotes perseverance, self-management and a growth mindset. Click for activities and comprehension questions.

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The Most Magnificent Thing Activities and Comprehension Questions

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A list of books about goal setting

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What goals do your students have? Do they understand the importance of setting goals and working hard to reach them? I love using read alouds to introduce this skill to my class. Here is a list of my favorite picture books about setting goals!
This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
Ruby is unlike most girls in old China. She doesn't aspire to get married, but instead has a goal to attend university when she grows up. An inspiring and thought-provoking story!

If you stay true to yourself, you can be whatever you want to be! Grace loves stories and she loves to act them out. When her teacher tells the class that they will be performing a play about Peter Pan, Grace knows she wants to be Peter. But can she be Peter if she doesn't look anything like him?

An inspirational story about the importance of believing in yourself and loving you for exactly who you are. It encourages love and happiness for everyone as a way to make the world a better place.

Michael wants to be a basketball player, but he feels too small to play with the older boys. He becomes frustrated and asks his mother for help. She tells him to put salt in his shoes and he will grow. His father, however, reminds him that practice and persistence will help him reach his goals.

A wordless picture book about persistence and reaching your goals. A little girl has plans to earn enough money to buy the bike she sees in the store window. Determination and patience shine through on every page!
Grab the interactive read alouds for Social Emotional Learning!
Want more book titles? Check out this blog post for picture books about self management skills!

What are some other picture books about setting goals that you read aloud in your classroom?

Want to save this list for later? Pin the image below!

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Picture Books about Setting Goals for the Elementary Classroom

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What goals do your students have? Do they understand the importance of setting goals and working hard to reach them? I love using read alouds to introduce this skill to my class. Here is a list of my favorite picture books about setting goals! This post contains affiliate links.

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Some double ups, but other books about goal setting.

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Student goal setting is a powerful way to kick off the school year. It sets the tone that you believe your students can achieve anything and that you are there to help them along the way.

That is why I set time aside the first few weeks of school to meet with students individually, help them set attainable SMART goals, create a plan of action, and teach them how to self-progress monitor the goals that they set.

Goal setting is also an important component in classroom communities that focus on a growth mindset. When your students set their own goals, they take ownership of their learning, and persevere to reach their goals; setting new ones frequently.

Start your goal setting lessons with these picture books to get your students invested in their own learning and set individual learning goals to help them stretch and grow AND grab the free goal setting printables at the bottom of this post that you can use with any of these books!

This book is probably the most borrowed book from my extensive collection. Teachers of all ages love reading this book to their students. Jeremiah Learns to Read tells the story of an elderly man who wants to go back to school to learn to read. Jeremiah ends up setting his goal, discussing it with his wife, and then attending school to achieve something he never thought was possible. This book sends two powerful messages: you are never too old to learn something new and every goal is attainable.

This book tells the story of Humpty Dumpty and what he does after his fall. I love the message about getting back up again, dusting yourself, and trying again. The surprise ending will have your students remembering this book and its message for a long time. This is perfect for goal setting lessons as Humpty sets a goal, collects ideas, and perseveres as he puts it all into action.

This true story about the childhood of Michael Jordan is both a crowd-pleaser and inspirational. In this book, we meet young Michael who has big dreams but does not believe in himself. He sets up an action plan, gets to work, and with a little help from his loving family, he sees the power in himself. I read this book the second day of school every year and each year it sparks such meaningful discussions about goal setting and growth mindset. This is a must to add to your classroom library.

Ruby's Wish written by Shirin Yim Bridges

Ruby's Wish is a true story written about the author's grandmother, making it extra special to read during goal setting lessons. Young Ruby wants nothing more than to be able to learn and attend a university like her male cousins. It takes bravery and courage for Ruby to reach her goal. this book lends itself to amazing conversations about much more than just goal setting.

Because written by Mo Willems

Anything by Mo Willems is a home run, but this will be your new favorite! Because works backward telling the story of a successful orchestra conductor's start to where she is now. This book lends itself perfectly to explain the why and how of setting and accomplishing goals.

This book is especially powerful for goal setting lessons because it is an autobiography. This book follows Trisha as she struggles to learn how to read. After connecting with a very special teacher, she learns that she has dyslexia. This helps her to realize that she needs to learn a different way and set goals with specific strategies for herself. This book will support your discussions of how important having a growth mindset is the learning process, the use of different strategies, goal setting, and perseverance.

When it comes to back to school activities, make sure that student goal setting is at the top of your list. It is well worth the time spent setting individualized SMART goals with your students to set the tone for a meaningful year ahead.

Love these ideas? Pin to save for later!

*affiliate links: "Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon." (source: Section 5)

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6 Picture Books to Help Teach Goal Setting with Students

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Student goal setting is a powerful way to kick off the school year. It sets the tone that you believe your students can achieve anything and that you are there to help them along the way.

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Are you ready to try goal setting with your students this year, but not sure how to start? Grab an inspiring picture book to help set the tone! Here are some picture books for goal setting that might just inspire your students to dream big!

You can click on any of the covers below to learn more about these Picture Books for Goal Setting or find all of these books on my Amazon page.

we are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Picture Books for Goal Setting

Here are some of my favorite picture books for goal setting along with a few recommendations from my teacher friends. These picture books will help your kids learn about overcoming obstacles, perseverance, a growth mindset, how it's okay to make mistakes, and more!

The North Star

by Peter H. Reynolds
Ask yourself where it is you want to go. . . .
It is often said that life is a journey, and it's true. But sometimes it's hard to know which path to follow, when signs point in so many directions. In this beautifully illustrated book, Peter H. Reynolds once again encourages readers to observe, to wonder, and to consider diverging from the well-worn path-to pursue their dreams.

by Eileen Spinelli
Someday I am going to be a great artist. Today I am off to help my dad paint the shed.
It's hard to be content with the present moment when you are little. The future has infinitely more possibilities! This book lets us enter the mind and heart of a little girl whose dreams reach well beyond today.

The Little Engine That Could

by Watty Piper

The story of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill.

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution

by Pat Miller

Squirrel knows that New Year's Day is a great day for making resolutions! But what does it mean to make a resolution, anyway? As she makes visits around the forest she learns about New Year's resolutions and helps her friends get started on theirs. If only she can think of a resolution of her very own. You can find some resources to pair with this book here.

Salt in His Shoes

by Delores Jordan

Michael Jordan. The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams, all because he feared he'd never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That's when his mother and father stepped in and shared the invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a champion - patience, determination, and hard work.

Whistle for Willie

by Ezra Jack Keats

If Peter could only learn to whistle, than his dog, Willie would hear him and come running. But nothing Peter does seems to help. It's not until Peter least expects it that his wish comes true, and he blows a whistle that brings Willie running.

Amazing Grace

by Mary Hoffman

Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be.

Rosie Revere, Engineer

by Andrea Beaty

Rosie Revere dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends. Hot dog dispensers, helium pants, python-repelling cheese hats: Rosie's gizmos would astound-if she ever let anyone see them.

Afraid of failure, she hides them away under her bed. Until a fateful visit from her great-great-aunt Rose (AKA Rosie the Riveter!), who shows her that the first flop isn't something to fear-it's something to celebrate. And you can only truly fail, if you quit.

by Mo Willems

This book is a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage.

Ruby's Wish

by Shirin Yim Bridges

Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family. This is the portrait of a young girl who's full of ambition and the family who rewards her hard work and courage.

Giraffe's Can't Dance

by Giles Andreae

Gerald the giraffe wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend. You can find some resources to pair with this book here.

She Persisted

by Chelsea Clinton

Throughout American history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what's right, even when they have to fight to be heard. This book celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted. She Persisted is for everyone who has ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who has ever tried to reach for the stars but was told to sit down, and for everyone who has ever been made to feel unworthy or unimportant or small.

After the Fall

by Dan Santat

Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? This book follows Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall―that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear?

Thanks for the Feedback...I Think?

by Julia Cook

This story follows RJ as he goes about his day doing the things he enjoys, such as blowing bubbles, playing soccer, and hanging out with friends. But when a couple of friends give him compliments, he just isn't sure how to respond! As RJ continues through the day, he hears from his teacher and parents that while there are many things he's doing very well, there are also some things he needs to work on. His first reaction is to argue and make excuses instead of accept constructive criticism. RJ learns what it means to receive positive and negative feedback, and how to respond appropriately to that feedback.

I Can Do Hard Things

by Gabi Garcia

What we tell ourselves matters! This is just as true for kids as it is for adults. Help your child tap into their inner strength and find the encouragement they need to navigate their daily environments. Mindful affirmations can help your child tune out the streams of messages they get about how they should be in the world.

The Oldest Student

by Rita Lorraine Hubbard

Imagine learning to read at the age of 116! Discover the true story of Mary Walker, the nation's oldest student who did just that!

In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read.

Thank You, Mr. Falker

by Patricia Polacco

Trisha could paint and draw beautifully, but when she looked at words on a page, all she could see was jumble. It took a very special teacher to recognize little Trisha's dyslexia: Mr. Falker, who encouraged her to overcome her reading disability.

A Chair for My Mother

by Vera B. Williams

After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother, and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy.

by Mary Nhin

When friends invite Lazy Ninja to some outings, he turns them down and opts to play games and watch TV. He just can't find the motivation or simply put, he's stuck in a rut! But then, a friend pays him a visit and helps him see what he's missing out on. Find out what happens in this comedic book about setting goals and finding motivation.

I've got big plans, BIG PLANS I say! A little boy sits in the corner of a classroom, plotting his future. He's got plans...and have you heard? They're BIG. With the help of a mynah bird and lucky stinky hat, he'll find a quarter...boss around some muckety-mucks...become the mayor-or even the president! And while he's at it...fly to the moon! This story is perfect for any child who is ready to dream BIG. Are you in?

Goal Setting Resources

Now that you have some picture books about goal setting share with your students, you're ready to take the next step. Here are some resources to help you get started:
Classroom Goals Resources
Do you have a favorite that didn't make the list? Let me know so I can check it out!

You might also enjoy these book lists:

Growth Mindset Books for Kids
Children's Books about Bravery and Courage

I hope your students dream big and work hard this year!

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Are you ready to try goal setting with your students this year, but not sure how to start? Grab an inspiring picture book to help set the tone! Here are some picture books for goal setting that might just inspire your students to dream big!

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Not a Box and Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis

A box is just a box and a stick is just a stick... Until they're not. And at that moment when they transform, you transform, too, as your imagination carries you away into new, magical worlds. These two books are perfect creative inspiration for the youngest audiences! Ages 0-4.

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg

Do your young children have a tough time with artistic creativity because mistakes paralyze their creative process? Then you need this book in your home or classroom library! Saltsberg shows all sorts of ways that artists could turn their "oops" moments into magic! Ages 3-8. (For a similar book for older audiences, check out The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken below).

Sector 7 by David Wiesner - I'm a HUGE fan of David Wiesner's wordless wonders, and this gem will definitely spark your imagination! Have you ever looked for shapes hidden in the clouds in the sky? What if there was a cloud factory that could actually design the shapes that you might see in the clouds? Now imagine floating on a cloud up to this factory and secretly designing an ocean in the sky, and you've got Sector 7! Ages 4-7, and definitely older.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López - A terrific companion for older children to The Bear's Garden, Maybe Something Beautiful is based on the true story of the transformation of the East Village neighborhood in San Diego from gray and drab to a walkable work of art. Maybe Something Beautiful is a wonderful testament to the impact that art can have on a neighborhood and may inspire you all to do something to being visual joy to your own neighborhood. Ages 4-7.

Katie's Sunday Afternoon by James Mayhew (and the rest of his Katie series)

Though we adore Mayhew's whole Katie series in our house, my girls would tell you Katie's Sunday Afternoon is their favorite. In each book, Katie goes on special adventures through art, actually jumping into the paintings. Katie's Sunday Afternoon focuses on adventures though post-Impressionist paintings by artists such as Seurat and Pissarro. Ages 4-8.

Journey by Aaron Becker

My daughters astutely realized this one is a neat combination of Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon and John Rocco's Blackout. A stunning wordless wonder, Journey is the story of a girl who seems to have nothing to do and no one to play with, until she finds a red crayon on her floor. Turn out, much like Harold, her red crayon takes her on many magical adventures. Ages 4-8, but terrific slightly older, too.

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

If your child needs help following creative dreams that are a bit, well, unconventional, then The Big Orange Splot is the book for him! Mr. Plumbean lives on a very cookie-cutter street. Cookie cutter, that is, until a seagull drops orange paint on Plumbean's roof and sets Plumbean's creative wheels spinning. Strong talking points about creativity, hopes and dreams, individuality, and more! Ages 4-8.

Weslandia by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

I had the opportunity to work as a teacher's assistant in graduate school for one of the most creative, inspired second grade teachers I've ever met. As a way to combine classroom management efforts with an ancient civilizations theme study, she read Weslandia to her students, broke them into groups, and had them design their own civilizations, beginning with their staple crops. It was amazing, just as Weslandia is amazing. Who knows, maybe your child will be inspired to have an all-encompassing summer project just like Wesley's! Ages 4-8.

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts

Oh, Rosie. Rosie ranks up there with Sadie as one of my favorite book characters. Rosie is an engineer who loves making gadgets and gizmos, but one day she loses confidence in her ability to create. Fortunately, she has her own wonderful role model in her great-great-aunt Rose. Not only is Rosie wonderful, but Beaty's writing makes this a terrifically fun read aloud, too! Ages 4-8, but terrific younger, too.

Art & Max by David Wiesner

We all need a creative muse like Max. Someone who will help us to think outside the box, to explore different techniques, and to try something new. Art resists, very strongly, sometimes very angrily, but in the end, he gives Max's style a try... Turns out Max's enthusiasm for artistic process is contagious too! You can read my full review here. Ages 4-8.

Chalk by Bill Thomson - Have you ever drawn something and imagined that it came to life? Thomson seems to know that feeling all too well, as he's captured the magic of drawings coming to life perfectly in Chalk. On a rainy day in the park, a group of friends finds a bag of chalk, starts to draw, and is amazed as their drawings come to life! Ages 4-8.

The Dot and Ish by Peter Reynolds

Do you have someone in your life whose encouragement has given you just the confidence you need to create? Do your children need that person in their lives? Maybe they can find that confidence through the words of Vashti's teacher and Ramon's little sister. Ages 5 and up.

Little People, Big Dreams Dolly Parton by Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Daria Solak

It wouldn't be a good creativity list without a musician's biography... The Little People, Big Dreams biographies are excellent, and the Dolly Parton book is one of my favorites! Parton's story is a great one to break out when your children complain of being bored or not having enough toys or playthings... One of the reasons Parton was so drawn to music (besides the natural gift of her voice) was because her family didn't have much and there wasn't much else to do. Add to that information about Dolly's Imagination Library that this book includes and your child will be inspired to both create AND do good! Ages 5-8, but really great for all ages.

Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher - I bought this book in my classroom days to foster conversation about being yourself and following your dreams, even when others pressure you to do something else. And Jim Henson is a perfect real-life model of creativity and imagination. Who knows, maybe your children will spend all summer making puppets and putting on puppet shows? Ages 5-8.

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno

This book might be my seven-year-old's favorite book. Any time it is in our rotatio, we read it on repeat, over and over and over. She just can't get enough of the story of how some of her favorite and most-used possessions, her crayons, were created. Just like Binney, you'll be seeing colors everywhere after reading this bright story! You can read my full review here. Ages 6-9, though this has been a favorite in our house since our youngest was 3.5.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca

Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award (outstanding children's nonfiction), you're going to want to pick this one up! It'll inspire your children to tell stories through dance, yes, but it may also inspire them to compose music and/or design sets to tell stories as well. Ages 6-10.

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Picture Books to Inspire Wild Creativity

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Okay, all, it's almost June, which means it's time to gather up (if you can... because your libraries are likely still closed...) books to inspire creativity! When my husband and I sat down to talk about traits we wanted to foster in our children in 2020, creativity was high on our list, and we knew...

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Teaching creativity is, of course, not something that can be done directly: "Ok children, be creative now." :) Instead, creativity, inventiveness, and creative problem solving must be fostered, encouraged, not "taught". Teachers and parents can do a lot to foster creativity in children, like:

share stories of creativity, inventiveness, and creative problem solving, *and then* discuss the creativity!

create situations specially designed to tap into a child's inherent creative spirit!

These books are super creative (in approach or the character's creative problem solving). We hope the following books are helpful in teaching creativity to your kids!

Don't forget to check out our....

sale character education books: $2.75 each

These books are used but in great shape! Kids are hard on books. Don't waste your money on new, pristine books that will stay pristine for 5 minutes. Our used [but still very good] books are a perfect middle ground.

Enjoy the books!

Betsy, Cindy, and Virginia (the teachers/sisters behind this website)

And follow us on Pinterest:

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Childrens Books for Teaching Creativity and Thinking Outside the Box

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Teaching creativity is, of course, not something that can be done directly: "Ok children, be creative now." :) Instead, creativity, inventiveness, and creative problem solving must be fostered, encouraged, not "taught". Teachers and parents can do a lot to foster creativity in children, like: share stories of creativity, inventiveness, and creative problem solving, *and then* discuss the creativity!

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Almost to Freedom

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Start with Sorry
You, Me, and Empathy
Stand in My Shoes

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Books with Lessons on Responsibility

These books are a great way to introduce responsibility to young children. With themes around acting responsibly, taking responsibilty for your actions, and recognizing how your actions have consequences, these picture books for elementary aged children are a great way to explain a critical life skill.

If you are looking for some more help explaining responsibility to kids, try these Responsibility Teaching Resources.

What if?- Thinking before you act

Traits: responsibilty, respect, self-control

"Ask yourself what if? If you'll hurt yourself, hurt someone else, or make your momma mad, change your action." Two siblings keep finding themselves in trouble until a wise old tree teaches them to ask "What if?" and consider the consequences first. Teaches kids about acting responsibly, speaking to others with respect and care. Although it's a picture book it includes more sophisticated angles on responsibility for older children. Also includes free online teaching resources.

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These books are a great way to introduce responsibility to young children. With themes around acting responsibly, taking responsibilty for your actions, and recognizing how your actions have consequences, these picture books for elementary aged children are a great way to explain a critical life skill.