12 Best Books About Resilience for Kids
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12 books to inspire young children about having perseverance, overcoming adversity, and working hard when life isn’t easy.
During the pandemic of 2020, families that spent weeks of isolation at home with their kids likely experienced an unpleasant truth.
The future of what our children are set to face in this world will only become more difficult — especially considering the growing climate crisis they will inherit. We as parents are responsible for preparing them for the rough roads ahead, wherever they may lead.
And this is why it's critical that we instill in them the fortitude to recover and keep going, no matter what happens. This ability is that of resilience.
According to “Preventing and Addressing Toxic Stress,” a guide published by Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, “Science tells us that some children develop resilience, or the ability to overcome serious hardship, while others do not…The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. These relationships provide the personalized responsiveness, scaffolding, and protection that buffer children from developmental disruption.”
In other words, quality parenting makes for more resilient children.
And how we communicate with our children is, of course, the primary method in which we can demonstrate our ongoing support.
In fact, New York University also conducted research on child resilience in 2018, and scientists found that using verbs to talk about actions with children, such as encouraging them to help, read, and paint, may help lead to more resilience following the setbacks that they inevitably experience rather than using nouns to talk about identities — for example, asking them to be helpers, readers, or artists.
Certainly resilience, like every facet of our personality, will not be developed overnight. Rather, stone by stone, resilience will be born as you build a strong foundation of love, consistency, and encouragement for your child to grow.
To that end, all parents might appreciate extra help communicating lessons about developing resilience to their kids. So, here are several inspiring books to help teach resilience to toddlers and young children in 2024.
2024 Resilience-Themed Kid Books
Age Range: 3–7 Years
A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
A great book to introduce the effort of building friendship. Bear really doesn’t like visitors, but a mouse at his door just won’t go away. Cheery persistence wears down the curmudgeonly Bear in a wry comedy for kids.
Age Range: 3–7 Years
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
This is a classic story that demonstrates the power of a positive, “can do” attitude. The narrative follows the determined little engine that, despite its size, triumphantly pulls a train full of toys to the waiting children on the other side of a mountain.
Age Range: 3–5 Years
The book offers children a great lesson on accepting your differences and loving yourself, even when other children make fun of you. Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect — until her first day of school when she is teased by her peers.
Age Range: 4–7 Years
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle
Inspired by a true story, this picture book is about a girl who refused to allow societal rules to stop her from her musical dreams. In 1932 Cuba, only island boys were allowed to be drummers, but the drum dream girl decides to break the boundaries of her culture and play anyway.
Age Range: 4–8 Years
The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield
A fun book about overcoming fear to follow your dream. Chris loves pretending he’s a brave astronaut, exploring the universe. But at night, he’s afraid of the dark. When he watches the groundbreaking moon landing on TV, he realizes that space is the darkest dark there is — and the dark is beautiful and exciting.
Age Range: 4–8 Years
The Hugging Tree by Jill Neimark
Follow the story of a little tree growing all alone on a cliff to share a thoughtful lesson about resilience. After weathering big storms, and a cold winter, the tree holds fast. Sustained by the natural world and the kindness of a child, the tree grows until it can hold and shelter others.
Age Range: 4–8 Years
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat
A sweet story about overcoming fears, getting back up, and learning who you are. Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall — is now terrified of heights after his great fall. Read how he summons the courage to get back up again.
Age Range: 4–8 Years
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
This inspiring picture book biography tells the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who bicycled across Ghana — nearly 400 miles — with only one leg. With that achievement he forever changed how his country treats people with disabilities.
Age Range: 5–8 Years
Rosie Revere, Engineer (Questioneers Collection Series) by Andrea Beaty
Here is a tale for children that combines historical content with a critical lesson about trying again, even after failure, until you succeed. Rosie Revere dreams of becoming a great engineer, but her gizmos keep failing. A fateful visit from her great-great-aunt Rose (AKA Rosie the Riveter!), shows her that the first flop isn’t something to fear — and you can only truly fail, if you quit.
Age Range: 5–8 Years
As a young man in India, Gandhi saw firsthand how people were treated unfairly. Refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. Through his calm, steady heroism, Gandhi changed everything for India and inspired civil rights movements all over the world, proving that the smallest of us can be the most powerful.
Age Range: 3–11 Years
Encourage children to be confident and not give up on their goals with an enjoyable character who embodies grit. Mental toughness is an essential skill for children to gain at an early age and Gritty Ninja makes for a fun teacher.
Age Range: 9–12 Years
Women in Black History: Stories of Courage, Faith, and Resilience by Tricia Williams Jackson
For older kids, consider the histories of 14 remarkable African American women. Their courage, passion, determination for justice, and hope for a better life for those coming after them is nothing short of heroic.