Children’s books that build character

Looking for a book for teens that emphasizes trustworthiness? This list can help. Use the menus below to search by age or by the Six Pillars of Character. And don't forget to visit our online catalog for books available directly through CHARACTER COUNTS!.

Accelerated Reader points and levels
The Tulare County Office of Education has aligned this list with Accelerated Reader.
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More book lists
Advance Publishing — children's books suitable for character educators
Perfection Learning — books organized by grade level (K-8) and by the Six Pillars

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

AuthorTitlePgs.LevelPillar
Adler, C.Get Lost, Little Brother144children's fictionrspt
AesopThe Boy Who Cried Wolfchildren's fictionrspn
Asch, F.Pearl’s Promise152children's fictionrspn
AviNight Journeys143children's fictiontrst
Babbitt, N.Knee-Knock Rise117children's fictioncare
Baylor, B.Hawk, I’m Your Brother55children's fictioncitz
Beckman, D.My Own Private Sky154children's fictionrspt
Berenstain, S.Berenstain Bears’ Trouble at Schoolchildren's fictionrspn
Bianco, M.Velveteen Rabbit33children's fictionrspt
Bishop, C.All Alone95children's fictionrspn
Bishop, C.Twenty and Ten75children's fictiontrst
Bohlken, R.Listening to the Mukies...104children's fictionrspt, fair
Buck, P.Matthew, Mark, Luke and John80children's fictionrspn
Bulla, C.Shoeshine Girl84children's fictionrspn
Burch, R.Christmas with Ida Early157children's fictioncare
Burch, R.Ida Early Comes over the Mountain145children's fictioncare
Burch, R.Renfroe’s Christmaschildren's fictionrspt
Byars, B.18th Emergency126children's fictionrspt
Byars, B.After the Goat Man126children's fictiontrst
Byars, B.Glory Girl121children's fictionrspt
Byars, B.Pinballs136children's fictionrspt
Carlson, N.Brother for the Orphelines100children's fictionrspn
Carlson, N.Family under the Bridge99children's fictionrspn
Carrick, C.Some Friend!112children's fictiontrst
Carrick, C.What a Wimp!89children's fictionrspn
Chambers, A.Present Takers156children's fictioncitz
Christopher, M.Fox Steals Home178children's fictionfair
Cleary, B.Henry and the Clubhouse192children's fictionrspn
Cleary, B.Henry and the Paper route192children's fictionrspn
Cleary, B.Henry Hugginschildren's fictionrspn
Cleary, B.Ramona the Brave190children's fictionrspt
Clymer, E.Get-away Car149children's fictionrspn
Clymer, E.Horse in the Attic87children's fictionrspn
Clymer, E.My Brother Stevie76children's fictionrspn
Coatsworth, E.Marra’s World83children's fictionrspt
Cohen, B.Molly’s Pilgrim32children's fictioncare
Conford, E.Felicia the Critic145children's fictionrspt
Coutant, H.Giftchildren's fictioncare
Crofford, E.Stories from the Blue Roadchildren's fictionrspt
Dalgliesh, A.Courage of Sarah Noble54children's fictiontrst
Dana, B.Zucchini122children's fictionrspt
DeAngeli, M.Bright April88children's fictioncare
DeClements, B.Nothing’s Fair in 5th Grade137children's fictionrspt
DeJong, M.House of Sixty Fathers189children's fictioncitz
DeJong, M.Journey From Peppermint Street242children's fictionrspn
Delton, J.Backyard Angel107children's fictionrspn
Drury, R.Champion of Merrimack County199children's fictioncare
Estes, E.Hundred Dresses81children's fictioncare
Estes, E.Moffats290children's fictionrspn
Estes, E.Rufus M.320children's fictionrspn
Fife, D.Who’ll Vote for Lincoln63children's fictiontrst
Fisher, L.Rachel Vellars, How Could You?155children's fictionrspt
Fitzgerald, J.Great Brain Reforms165children's fictiontrst
Fitzgerald, J.Me and My Little Brain137children's fictionrspt
Foe, P.Portrait of Ivan131children's fictionrspt
Fox, P.One Eyed Cat216children's fictionrspn
Fox, P.Stone-faced Boy106children's fictionrspt
Gaeddert, L.Your Former Friend, Matthew75children's fictionrspt
Gardiner, J.Stone Fox85children's fictionrspn
Garrigue, S.Between Friends160children's fictionrspt
George, J.My Side of the Mountain178children's fictioncitz
Geri GilstrapBig Green and Little Red20children's fiction
Gerson, C.Tread Softly133children's fictiontrst
Godden, R.Mr. Mcfadden’s Halloween127children's fictiontrst
Greene, B.Get On Out of Here, Philip Hall150children's fictionrspt
Greene, B.Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckonchildren's fictionrspt
Greene, C.I and Sproggy155children's fictionrspt
Greene, C.Leo the Lioness118children's fictionrspt
Greene, C.Unmaking of Rabbit125children's fictionrspt
Greenwald, S.Will the Real Gertrude Hollings . . .children's fictionrspt
Haas, D.Tink in a Tangle136children's fictionrspt
Hansen, J.Gift-Giver118children's fictionrspt
Hurwitz, J.Aldo Applesaucechildren's fictionrspt
Hurwitz, J.Law of Gravity: A Story192children's fictionrspt
Hurwitz, J.Superduper Teddy80children's fictionrspt
Jordan, J.New Life: New Room52children's fictioncare
Jorge ArguetaTalking With Mother Earth/Hablando con Madre Tierrachildren's fictioncitz
King-Smith, D.Magnus Powermouse120children's fictionrspt
Konigsburg, E.Jennifer, Hecate, Macbethchildren's fictionrspt
Langton, J.Fragile Flag224children's fictiontrst
Lawson, R.Rabbit Hill128children's fictionrspt
Lenski, L.Strawberry Girlchildren's fictiontrst
Lexau, J.Striped Ice Cream95children's fictiontrst
Little, J.One to Grow on140children's fictiontrst
MacLachlan, P.Arthur for the Very First Time117children's fictionrspt
MacLachlan, P.Cassie Binegar120children's fictionrspt
Mann, P.Street of the Flower Boxes71children's fictionrspn
Mason, M.Middle Sister160children's fictiontrst
Mathis, S.Hundred Penny Box47children's fictionrspt
McDonnell, C.Lucky Charms & Birthday Wishes84children's fictionrspt
Miles, B.Maudie & Me & the Dirty Book144children's fictiontrst
Miles, B.Secret Life of the Underwear Champ117children's fictioncare
Miles, M.Gertrude’s Pocketchildren's fictionrspt
Moskin, M.Totochildren's fictiontrst
Perl, L.Tybee Trimble’s Hard Times143children's fictioncare
Pfeffer, S.Courage, Dana160children's fictiontrst
Rhoads, D.Corn Grows Ripe88children's fictionrspn
Robinson, B.Best Christmas Pageant Ever80children's fictioncare
Sachar, L.Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher’s Housechildren's fictionrspn
Sachar, L.Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl?children's fictioncare
Sachar, L.Marvin Redpost: Why Pick on Me?children's fictiontrst
Sachs, M.Call Me Ruth134children's fictiontrst
Sandra McLeod Humphrey(More) If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do?131children's fictionrspn
Sauer, J.Light at Tern Rock62children's fictionrspn
Selden, G.Cricket in Times Square160children's fictionrspt
Sharp, M.Bernard the Brave128children's fictiontrst
Shreve, S.Family Secrets: 5 Very Important Stories56children's fictiontrst
Shreve, S.Flunking of Joshua T. Bates82children's fictioncare
Shura, M.Barkley Street Six-Pack159children's fictiontrst
Skolsky, M.Carnival and Kopeck74children's fictioncare
Sperry, A.Call It Courage95children's fictiontrst
Stolz, M.Bully of Barkham Street194children's fictionrspt
Stolz, M.Dog on Barkham Street184children's fictionrspn
Stolz, M.Edge of Next Year195children's fictionrspn
Stolz, M.Noonday Friends182children's fictionrspt
Sussman, S.There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush48children's fictioncare
Todd, L.Best Kept Secret of the War165children's fictiontrst
White, E.B.Charlotte’s Web184children's fictiontrst
White, E.B.The Trumpet of the Swan224children's fictioncitz
Winthrop, E.Belinda’s Hurricane54children's fictioncare
Wright, B.Dollhouse Murders149children's fictioncare
AlikiTwo of Themchildren's storybookrspt
Anglund, J.Friend Is Someone Who Likes Youchildren's storybookrspt
Berenstain, S.Berenstain Bears and the Truthchildren's storybooktrst
Beskow, E.Pelle’s New Suit15children's storybooktrst
Blos, J.Old Henrychildren's storybookcitz
Boelts, MaribethThose Shoes32children's storybookcare
Bonsall, C.Case of the Double-Cross64children's storybookfair
Brandenberg, F.Nice New Neighbors56children's storybookfair
Brown, M.Once a Mouse: A Fable Cut in Woodchildren's storybookrspt
Brown, M.Arthur’s Eyes27children's storybookrspt
Brown, M.Arthur’s Nosechildren's storybookrspt
Brown, MMy Name is Celia - The Life of Celia Cruz30children's storybookcitz
Brown, MMy Name Is Gabriella -The Life of Gabriella Mistral30children's storybookcitz
Bruce, D.Manners I. Care32children's storybookrspt
Bunting, E.Clancy’s Coatchildren's storybookrspt
Burton, V.Katy and the Big Snow36children's storybookrspn
Burton, V.Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel48children's storybooktrst
Caines, J.Daddychildren's storybookrspt
Carle, E.Grouchy Ladybug41children's storybookrspt
Carrick, C.Climbchildren's storybooktrst
Caudill, R.Pocketful of Cricketchildren's storybookrspt
Charlip, R.Harlequin and the Gift of Many Colorschildren's storybookcare
Chorao, K.Molly’s Lies32children's storybooktrst
Church Mice Adrift. Unp.My Dad Is Really Somethingchildren's storybookrspt
Clifton, L.Everett Anderson’s Friendchildren's storybookfair
Clifton, L.My Friend Jacobchildren's storybookrspt
Cohen, M.Best Friends32children's storybookrspt
Cohen, M.See You Tomorrow, Charleschildren's storybookcare
Cohen, M.So What?32children's storybookrspt
Costalese, AAbuelita Full of Life-llena de vida30children's storybookcare
Cropsey, S.J.Tinker's Christmas59children's storybookrspt
Danner, P.Andre, Angel in a Poodle Suit32children's storybookcare
DePaola, T.Andy (That’s My Name)children's storybookrspt
DePaola, T.Oliver Button is a.Sissychildren's storybookcare
Delton, J.Two Good Friends32children's storybookcare
DemiThe Empty Potchildren's storybooktrst
Dengler, MThe Worry Stone38children's storybookcare
Duvoisin, R.Veronicachildren's storybookrspt
Ets, M.Play With Me31children's storybookrspt
Evans, OliveAdventures With The Thrift Store Bears48children's storybook
Evans, OliveThe Thrift Store Bears40children's storybook
Evans, OliveThe Thrift Store Bears Activity Book43children's storybook
Fatio, L.Happy Lionchildren's storybookrspt
Flournay, V.Twins Strike Back32children's storybookrspt
Freeman, D.Come Again, Pelican44children's storybookrspt
Freeman, D.Corduroy32children's storybookcare
Gackenbach, D.King Wacky32children's storybookcitz
Geri GilstrapLittle Red Learns to Obey22children's storybook
Gramatky, H.Little Tootchildren's storybookrspn
Griffith, H.Alex and the Cat55children's storybookrspt
Hall, M. H.Pheobe and Chubb30children's storybookcare
Hautzig, D.Handsomest Father47children's storybookrspt
Henkes, KevinChrysanthemumchildren's storybookrspn
Heyward, D.Country Bunny & the Little Gold Shoeschildren's storybooktrst
Hoban, L.Arthur’s Penpal62children's storybookfair
Hoban, R.Bargain for Frances62children's storybooktrst
Hoban, R.Best Friends for Frances31children's storybookfair
Hoban, R.Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmaschildren's storybooktrst
Hoban, RussellThe Little Brute Familychildren's storybookrspt
Hoog, M.E.The First Growing Field Adventure32children's storybookcare
Hoose, P. & H.Hey, Little Ant28children's storybookrspt
Humphrey, S.M.If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do?children's storybookrspn
Humphrey, S.M.MORE--If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do?children's storybookrspn
Humphrey, S.M.Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Liveschildren's storybookrspn
Hutchins, P.Best Train Set Ever55children's storybookcare
Iwamura, K.Ton and Pon: Two Good Friends52children's storybookfair
Katherine Ciriello ClarkLucy Goosey Takes Responsibilitychildren's storybook
Klein, N.Visiting Pamelachildren's storybookrspt
Korschanow, I.Foundling Fox48children's storybookcare
Krantz, LOnly One You32children's storybookrspt
Lasker, J.Nick Joins In32children's storybookrspt
Levy, J.Alley Oops32children's storybookrspt
Lexau, J.I Hate Red Roverchildren's storybookrspt
Lionni, L.Alexander and the Wind-Up Mousechildren's storybookcare
Lionni, L.Swimmychildren's storybooktrst
Lionni, L.Tico and the Golden Wingschildren's storybookcare
Lobel, A.Frog and Toad All Year64children's storybookrspt
Lobel, A.Frog and Toad Are Friends64children's storybookrspt
Lobel, A.Frog and Toad Together64children's storybookrspt
Luenn, NA Gift for Abuelita30children's storybookcare
Marshall, J.George and Martha46children's storybookrspt
Marshall, J.George and Martha One Fine Day46children's storybookrspt
Marshall, J.George and Martha Encore46children's storybookrspt
Martin, C.Summer Businesschildren's storybookcitz
McPhail, D.Sisterschildren's storybookrspt
Mitchell, S.K.What Great Thing Can Patches Do?35children's storybookcare
Monjo, F.Drinking Gourd62children's storybooktrst
Ness, E.Sam, Bangs & Moonshinechildren's storybooktrst
Newman, N.That Dog!47children's storybookcare
Oakley, G.Church Mice Adriftchildren's storybookrspn
Peet, B.Cowardly Clyde38children's storybooktrst
Perrine, M.Salt Boy31children's storybookrspn
Piper, W.Little Engine that Couldchildren's storybooktrst
Rosenthal, A.K.Cookies32children's storybookfair
Ross, P.Meet M and M41children's storybookrspt
Rylant, C.Miss Maggie32children's storybookrspt
Sarnoff, J.That’s Not Fair32children's storybookfair
Sharmat, M.Bartholomew, the Bossy32children's storybookrspt
Sharmat, M.Big Fat Enormous Lie32children's storybooktrst
Sharmat, M.Gladys Told Me to Meet Her Here32children's storybookcare
Sharmat, M.I’m Terrificchildren's storybookrspt
Sharmat, M.Mooch the Messy61children's storybookcare
Skurzynski, G.Honest Andrew32children's storybooktrst
Smith, A.The Halloween Misfits24 + CDchildren's storybookrspt
Smith, A.The Mischievous Bugs30 + CDchildren's storybookrspt
Stanek, M.Growl When You Say R32children's storybookrspt
Steig, W.Amos & Boris32children's storybookrspt
Steig, W.Caleb & Katechildren's storybookrspt
Stevenson, J.Wilfred the Rat32children's storybookrspt
Turkle, B.Adventures of Obadiah.children's storybooktrst
Turkle, B.Thy Friend Obadiah37children's storybookrspt
Ungerer, T.Three Robberschildren's storybookrspt
Viorst, J.Rosie and Michaelchildren's storybookcare
Walsh, E.Brunus and the New Bearchildren's storybookrspt
Ward, L.Biggest Bear84children's storybookrspn
Weiss, N.Maude and Sallychildren's storybookrspt
Wittman, S.Special Tradechildren's storybookrspt
Wooden, J.Inch and Miles39children's storybookrspn
Yashima, T.Crow Boy37children's storybooktrst
Zolotow, C.May I Visit32children's storybookcare
Adler, C.In Our House, Scott Is My Brother125teen's fictiontrst
Armstrong, W.H.Sounder116teen's fictionrspt
Bargar, G.Life Is Not Fair174teen's fictioncare
Brink, C.Bad Times of Irma Baumlein134teen's fictiontrst
Burch, R.Queenie Peavy159teen's fictionrspt
Byars, B.Night Swimmers131teen's fictionrspn
Byars, B.Summer of the Swans142teen's fictionrspn
Cohen, B.Thank You, Jackie Robinson125teen's fictionfair
Collier, J.My Brother Sam Is Dead224teen's fictiontrst
Cunningham, J.Flight of the Sparrow144teen's fictiontrst
Danziger, P.Cat Ate My Gymsuit147teen's fictionrspt
Danziger, P.Pistachio Prescription154teen's fictionrspt
Doty, J.If Wishes Were Horses125teen's fictionrspn
Eige, L.Kidnapping of Mister Huey153teen's fictionrspn
First, J.Move Over, Beethoven121teen's fictionrspn
Gerson, C.How I Put My Mother Through College136teen's fictionrspn
Greene, B.Summer of My German Soldier230teen's fictiontrst
Hall, L.Uphill All the Way121teen's fictiontrst
Hamilton, V.Willie Bea & the Time the Martians ...208teen's fictioncare
Holland, I.Alan and the Animal Kingdom190teen's fictionrspn
Hunt, I.William: A Novel188teen's fictionrspn
Hurwitz, J.Rabbi’s Girls158teen's fictioncare
Jarrell, R.Animal Family180teen's fictioncare
Jones, R.Madeline & the Great (Old) Escape Artist88teen's fictioncare
Keith, H.Rifles for Watie322teen's fictiontrst
Kerr, J.When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit191teen's fictioncare
Kerr, M.Gentlehands183teen's fictiontrst
Kerr, M.Is That You, Miss Blue?170teen's fictiontrst
Kerr, M.Little Little183teen's fictioncare
Kullman, H.Battle Horse183teen's fictioncare
Lawrence, L.Dram Road218teen's fictionrspn
Lipsyte, R.Contender182teen's fictionrspt
Little, J.Look Through My Window258teen's fictioncare
Mason, A.Dancing Meteorite214teen's fictiontrst
McHugh, E.Karen and Vicki150teen's fictionrspn
McHugh, E.Karen’s Sister149teen's fictionrspn
McHugh, E.Raising a Mother Isn’t Easy156teen's fictionrspn
Moeri, L.Downwind121teen's fictionrspn
Myers, W.Young Landlords197teen's fictionrspn
Neufeld, J.Edgar Allan95teen's fictioncare
Neville, E.Berries Goodman178teen's fictioncare
Pascal, F.Hand-Me-Down Kid172teen's fictionrspt
Paterson, K.Jacob Have I Loved215teen's fictionrspt
Peck, R.Father Figure: A Novel192teen's fictionrspn
Platt, K.Brogg’s Brain123teen's fictionrspt
Roberts, W.Don’t Hurt Laurie!166teen's fictioncare
Schaefer, J.Old Ramon102teen's fictiontrst
Shyer, M.Adorable Sunday182teen's fictionrspt
Shyer, M.Welcome Home, Jellybean153teen's fictionrspn
Speare, E.Sign of the Beaver135teen's fictionrspn
Treffinger, C.Li Lun, Lad of Courage96teen's fictiontrst
Uchida, Y.Journey Home131teen's fictioncare
Uchida, Y.Journey to Topaz149teen's fictioncare
VencyTest144teen's fictionrspn
Voight, C.Dicey’s Song196teen's fictionrspn
Voight, C.Homecoming312teen's fictionrspn
Yep, L.Child of the Owl217teen's fictionrspt
Yep, L.Sea Glass213teen's fictionrspt
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