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The mission of the Missouri Literacy Association is to empower educators, ensure equity, inspire students & encourage leaders with the equitable resources they need to make literacy accessible for all in our diverse community.
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Picture Books Organized by topic, category or theme. Simply scroll through the books in the DETERMINATION THEME column to get to books about kindness and friendship. Click on book cover to go to Goodreads for more information on the book. Click on title, if underlined, for review of book. |
CATEGORY - HUMOR
Donut Feed the Squirrel By Mika Song Published Sept 29, 2020 A hilarious graphic novel for young readers. Must read to appreciate. Adult and child alike will laugh at this book.
I Am a Tiger By Karl Newson Published 2019 Children's Choice 2020 Selection Children will love this laugh-out-loud book about a mouse who believes it is a tiger. The mouse convinces other animals that because of its “Grrr,” ability to climb trees, and need to hunt for lunch that it is indeed a tiger. Isolating each animal’s characteristics, the mouse dubs each as something else, including calling the raccoon a caterpillar.
Help Wanted Must Love Books By Janet Sumner Johnson Published March 2020 An adorable romp through fairy tales that celebrates reading aloud! This is a must read!
Knot Cannot By Tiffany Stone Published April 2020 This hilarious read-aloud is packed with lots of puns & tells a wonderfully humorous yet sweet story about not being jealous & appreciating your own special gifts.
Pacho Nacho By Silvia Lopez Published February 2020 Hilarious story that begs to be read aloud. It’s about a family that has two sons, the oldest son has a VERY long name that his parents insist everyone use, Pacho-Nacho-Nico-Tico-Melo-Felo-Kiko-Rico. Based on an old Japanese folktale with the retelling set in Mexico.
Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family By Nelly Buchet Published April 28, 2020 Here is the oh-so-hilarious and adorable story of a blended family-- using just a few words in various configurations-- from the pets' point-of-view!
Chapter Two Is Missing By Josh Lieb Published 2019 CHILDREN'S CHOICE 2020 SELECTION An investigation is launched to find the missing chapter. Milo, the book’s janitor, offers to help, but he ends up not really helping. This comical mystery is a favorite that will prompt readers to talk to the book in order to help solve the mystery.
That Is Not a Good Idea! By Mo Willems Published 2013
Stephanie's Ponytail By Robert Munsch Published 1996
Interrupting Chicken By David Ezra Stein Published 2010
Chicken Cheeks By Michael Ian Black Published 2008
7 Ate 9: The Untold Story By Tara Lazar Published 2017 Show Me Award Nominee 2019-20
Dragons Love Tacos By Adam Rubin Published 2012
The Riot Brothers: Take the Mummy and Run By Mary Amato Paperback Published 2020
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Frog By Lucille Colandro Paperback Published 2014
Sparky! By Jenny Offill Published 2014 The narrator orders a sloth through the mail, the creature that arrives isn't good at tricks or hide-and-seek . . . or much of anything. A hilarious, touching picture book that is perfect for young animal lovers.
A Bad Case of Stripes By David Shannon Paperback Published 2004
Naked By Michael Ian Black Published 2014 A hilarious book about a boy who doesn't want to wear clothes.
The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors By Drew Daywalt Published 2017 Show Me Award Winner 2019-20 This is a laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the classic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. | THEME - DETERMINATION
The Old Truck By Jarrett Pumphrey Published 2020 A simple story of a truck that worked “long” on a farm and then “grew weary and tired.” A young girl grows up watching the truck help her family and when it is time for her to take over the farm, she rebuilds the truck and once again it becomes a working member of the farm. This book celebrates the rewards of determination and the value of imagination.
Unstoppable By Adam Rex Published 2020 Readers will love the humorous text in this picture book about celebrating the ways you're unique, and using all your resourcefulness to accomplish your goals. THEME - KINDNESS
The Invisible Boy By Trudy Ludwig Published 2013 The story line centers around school and school activities. Plot has both kind and unkind events that happen to our main character, Brian. It also includes unkind acts that a person might commit simply because he is not aware of the effect of his words. Fantastic book!
The Power of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts By Trudy Ludwig Published 2020 After a hurtful act before the story begins, the story shows how every act of kindness counts and helps. Fantastic book!
Each Kindness By Jaqueline Woodson Published 2012 The storyline is centers around a new girl to a classroom. She is friendly and wants to be friends with the other girls in class. However, they do not want to be friends with her and treat her in an unkind manner. Once the new girls moves away, one girl regrets her actions.
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed By Emily Petersen Published 2017 The entire book is centered around a kind act that Mary does which causes another kind act, etc. This is a circle story where Mary begins the kind acts which go full circle and come back to end with a kind act which Mary is the recipient of. The entire book is filled with kind acts. There are no unkind acts. The story shows the ripple effect of being kind to someone who in turn is kind to another person and on and on. Wonderful book for helping children understand how kindness makes the world a better place in which to live. THEME - FRIENDSHIP
This Way Charlie By Caron Levis Published April 2020 A story about a friendship that grows between a blind horse and a gruff goat.
Unicorn Day By Diana Murray Published 2019 Children's Choice 2020 Selection Happy Unicorn Day! The unicorns are all celebrating! They soon realize one of their friends is not a unicorn but a horse. He turns to go, but the unicorns stop him, realizing that keeping a friend is more important.
Bruno, the Standing Cat By Nadine Robert Published 2019 Children's Choice 2020 Selection Bruno the Cat is anything but ordinary. He rides skateboards, serves tea, and even stands like a human. His owner, Peter, is overjoyed to have a pet cat. Friends begin to inquire about Bruno’s odd behaviors, but true friendship will prevail.
Zero Local: Next Stop: Kindness By Ethan Murrow & Vita Murrow Published April 2020 One small act of kindness turns into more kindness, spreading friendship and love in this near-wordless picture book.
Snapsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be In This Book) By Julie Falatko Published 2016 Funny with a great message of friendship.
Ballet Cat Dance! Dance! Underpants! By Bob Shea Published 2016 Themes of friendship as well as judgment.
Pete & Pickles By Berkeley Breathed Published 2008 Themes of friendship & change.
Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted Birdie Friends By Jill Esbaum Published 2015 Themes of friendship & staying true to ourselves.
Be A Friend By Salina Yoon Published 2016 Theme of friendship and finding our place in the world.
The Sandwich Shop By Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah Published 2010 Themes of friendship as well as acceptance and tolerance of another's culture and food. |
