Looking for the perfect picture book to inspire perseverance and goal setting in kids?

The New Year is a great time to focus on resilience, determination, and setting goals. Picture books are a wonderful way to introduce these concepts to young readers, bringing challenges and triumphs to life while helping children see the value of hard work and achieving their dreams.

As a 3rd-grade teacher, I know how important it is to find resources that make abstract ideas like perseverance and goal setting relatable and engaging for kids, especially as they tackle new challenges.

These picture books are excellent tools to support your students’ understanding of perseverance and help them learn how to set and work toward meaningful goals.

The List of Picture Books to Inspire Perseverance and Goal Setting

Emmanuel’s Dream

Emmanuel’s Dream is a powerful true story follows Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a young boy from Ghana who was born with a deformed leg. Despite being told he couldn’t achieve much, Emmanuel proves everyone wrong by biking across Ghana to spread a message of hope and inclusion.

This book is such an inspiration for kids (and adults!). Emmanuel’s determination and positivity shine through every page. It’s beautifully written and illustrated, with a message that reminds students they are capable of incredible things, no matter their challenges.

Suggested Use in a Social-Emotional Lesson:
After reading, ask students to write or draw something they’ve achieved that they’re proud of, even if it was hard. Pair this with a discussion about how perseverance can help them overcome obstacles, just like Emmanuel did.

Check it out HERE.

The Girl Who Figured It Out

The Girl Who Figured It Out, written by Minda Dentler, shares her journey as the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship. Minda’s determination and courage shine as she overcomes challenges and inspires others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles.

Minda’s story is so uplifting and relatable for kids learning about perseverance. It’s beautifully written and encourages students to believe in themselves, even when the odds are stacked against them. The illustrations add an emotional touch that makes the story resonate even more.

Suggested Use in a Social-Emotional Lesson:
After reading, have students think about a big challenge they’ve faced or a goal they want to achieve. Encourage them to write an “I Can” statement, like “I can overcome challenges with hard work,” and illustrate it to create a motivational class display.

Check it out HERE.

The Most Magnificent Thing

This story follows a young girl who sets out to create something extraordinary. She faces frustration and failure along the way but eventually learns to approach her work with patience and perseverance, leading her to success.

This is one of my go-to books for teaching kids how to handle frustration. It’s relatable, funny, and packed with great lessons about problem-solving and resilience. Plus, the message that mistakes are part of the process is one every child (and adult!) needs to hear.

Suggested Use in a Social-Emotional Lesson:
After reading, give students a small building challenge using craft materials. When they get stuck, encourage them to pause, reflect, and try again. Afterward, discuss how perseverance helped them complete the task.

Check it out HERE.

The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do

The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires tells the story of Lou, an adventurous girl who loves playing with her friends. One day when they suggest climbing a tree, Lou hesitates—she’s never done it and is scared. After trying to avoid it, Lou gathers her courage and gives it a shot, showing the value of trying something new.

This book is perfect for teaching perseverance. Lou’s fears and struggles are relatable, and the story encourages kids to try even when they might fail. The illustrations are fun, and the message is clear but not overwhelming. My students loved sharing their own “Lou moments” after reading!

Suggested Use in a Social-Emotional Lesson:
After reading, ask students to share a challenge they’ve faced and how they handled it. Have them set a personal goal, draw or write steps to achieve it, and discuss how perseverance helped Lou. Create an anchor chart on “Steps to Reach a Goal” to tie it all together.

Check it out HERE.

Salt in his Shoes

Next, Salt in his Shoes is a heartwarming book tells the story of a young Michael Jordan, who dreams of becoming a great basketball player despite being shorter than other athletes at school. With the support of his family and lots of hard work, Michael learns that perseverance, not magic, is the key to success.

I love using this book to show students that even someone as famous as Michael Jordan had to work hard to reach his goals. The themes of family support and determination make it a powerful read for teaching perseverance and self-belief.

Suggested Use in a Social-Emotional Lesson:
After reading, have students think about a time they worked hard to improve at something. Ask them to create a “goal ladder,” with small steps leading to a big goal. This visual helps them see how progress happens one step at a time.

Check it out HERE.

Need A Resource on Perseverance & Goal-Setting?

Also, I have the perfect resource to pair with your read-alouds on perseverance and goal-setting—a collaborative “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” coloring poster! After exploring stories of perseverance and setting goals, students can reflect on their own ambitions while working together to complete this inspiring poster. Each piece they add represents their individual effort, coming together to show how collaboration and persistence lead to big accomplishments. It’s a creative and engaging way to reinforce the power of perseverance, teamwork, and striving for goals in a way that feels both fun and meaningful!

• Check it out HERE

I hope this list of picture books brings a little extra inspiration and motivation to your classroom this season. Teaching kids about perseverance and goal setting can be challenging, but with these engaging stories, we can make these important concepts stick in a fun and memorable way.

If you have any favorite books or activities for teaching perseverance or goal setting, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Let’s keep supporting one another as we help our students grow into determined, goal-oriented individuals. We’ve got this!

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