Picture Book 10 for 10: Being Brave

Today is our 5th annual picture book event:  #pb10for10.  You can join by linking your blog post here or at Enjoy and Embrace Learning.  Mandy and I will then add your post to our 2014 picture book jog.

It is often a little challenging to link all of the posts to the Jog from both of our blogs without duplicating information.  For this reason, we have a few requests if you're joining the event to make it easier for us to collect picture book lists:

• If you'd like to have your blog linked to the conversation, just comment with the link (cut and paste your post address in the comments) for your picture book list here OR at Enjoy and Embrace Learning.  
• You are welcome to comment on both blogs (comments are always appreciated), but to simplify our work in creating this year's jog as a resource, please ONLY LEAVE YOUR LINK ON ONE OF OUR BLOGS.  This will help us to keep from duplicating posts in the jog. 
• You can also mention us in a link on Twitter using the event hashtag #pb10for10.  However, we cannot guarantee that tweeted links will be added to the jog.  (It gets a little crazy out there!) 
• If you don't have a blog, but would like to join, there are lots of ways to participate. 
• If this is your 5th year, please mention this when you leave your link.

My Past 10 Collections
In 2013 I shared 10 Newer Authors/Illustrators I Love
In 2012 I shared 10 Mentor Texts for Young Writers
In 2011 I shared 10 Authors I Can't Live Without
In 2010 I shared 10 Must-Have Picture Books

This Year's Choices
Last year my students were fascinated by books in which the character had to be brave.  They created a brave basket and filled it with books featuring courageous characters.  Sometimes learning, telling the truth, or getting over our fears can be hard.  Sometimes we have to be brave and work through tough times.  I decided this year, I'd share ten titles about being brave.

Don't Be Afraid, Little Pip by Karma Wilson (author) and Jane Chapman (illustrator).  In this story, Little Pip doesn't want to learn to swim in the deep ocean.  She's a bird.  She wants to fly.  While all the other penguins start swimming lessons, Pip tries to find someone who can help her to fly.  Will she be brave enough to learn to swim?

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin.  Ruthie loves little things.  One day she finds a very tiny camera on the playground.  When she returns to class, Martin tells the teacher the camera belongs to him.  Ruthie assures the teacher the camera belongs to her.  Can she be brave enough to tell the truth?

Courage by Bernard Waber.  What is courage?  Kids can discover the many different kinds of courage in this picture book.

Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bike by Chris Raschka.  Young children have to be brave to learn to ride a bike.  This book not only teaches the reader how to ride a bike, but also demonstrates the importance of trying again and again.

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (author) and Patrice Barton (illustrator).  Sometimes we have to be brave in handling the way people treat us or in making new friends.  This is the case for Brian who is not picked for teams, invited to parties, or noticed at recess.

My Brave Year of Firsts by Jamie Lee Curtis (author) and Laura Cornell (illustrator).  You have to be brave the first time you try to do new things.  This books is full of firsts.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds (author) and Peter Brown (illustrator).  There's nothing scarier than carrots plotting against you. Jasper loved to eat carrots, enjoying them for breakfast, dinner and snacks.  One day Jasper begins to think he notices the carrots following him.  He starts hearing them at night when he goes to bed. Is it his imagination?  It isn't long until Jasper is convinced the carrots are coming to get him.  Jasper has to be brave.  He begins to work on a plan to stop the carrots.  Will it work?

The I'm Not Scared Book by Todd Parr.  This book talks about times we might get scared and what we can do about it.  It's perfect for starting conversations about how we sometimes have to work to get through situations and be brave.

One by Kathryn Otoshi.  Blue doesn't feel like himself when he is around Red.  Red is a hot head and makes Blue feel bad.  None of the other colors stand up to Red.  Finally One comes along and takes a stand.  He stands courageously up to Red.  Soon others follow his example and Blue learns to stand up for himself.

Nightsong by Ari Berk (author) and Loren Long (illustrator).  Momma tells Chiro it is time for him to fly into the night.  Chiro isn't sure he likes the idea of leaving the cave in the night.  Momma tells Chiro to follow his song.  That night Chiro leaves the cave, but is frightened by the night, the rustling trees, and voices buzzing.  Chiro bravely pushes on in the night.  Will Chiro find his song and gain the confidence he needs to fly in the night.

Still looking for titles about courage?  Getting down to 10 titles wasn't easy this year.  There are many books about being brave and having courage.  You can find more titles on my "Be Brave" board.


Follow Cathy 's board Be Brave on Pinterest.