Sharing is caring!

Want to inspire young children to live courageously? Introduce them to children’s books about characters who display bravery amid incredible challenges! This list of books about courage will motivate your kids to live boldly no matter their difficult situation.

I love C.S. Lewis’s thoughts on the importance of reading excellent books to children in this quote. “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage!”

**This post may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our family by purchasing through my links.

 

Picture Books

Brave Irene by William Steig

This lovely story is about a young girl, the dressmaker’s daughter, who goes to great lengths to aid her sick mother transport the finished ballroom dress to the dutchess for the ball that evening. Brave Irene faces a snowstorm, an injured ankle, and other obstacles, but she perseveres to perform her duty. This story will challenge young readers to follow through even on seemingly small tasks.

 

What Do You Do With a Problem? By Kobi Yamada

The character in this book has a problem. Young readers never learn what the problem is (it’s a universal problem), but they can identify with all the worries and fears that come with problems. Though not told from a Christian perspective, this book does a great job of challenging the reader to face fears head-on and see problems as opportunities to be brave.

 

The Empty Pot by Demi

I love the wholesome message in this little book. The emperor of the land is looking for a successor. He promises to give the throne to the child who can grow the most beautiful flower from the seeds he gives them. Ping diligently cares for his seed day after day even though he sees no sprout. All the other children’s pots display colorful flowers, but his pot is empty. When the time comes for everyone to show the emperor their flowers, Ping bravely brings his empty pot. Through a twist of events, Ping wins the king’s favor because he perseveres without seeing any results from his work.

St. George and the Dragon retold by Margaret Hodges

The first line in this classic picture book is captivating! “In the days when monsters and giants and faerie folk lived in England, a noble knight was riding across a plain.” While the common folk of England run from their homes and shut themselves in castle walls in fear of the frightful dragon, George bravely faces the dreaded beast to save his lady and her people.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

This is the story of a young girl, Ruby Bridges, who exhibited great courage and faith. After Brown vs. Board of Education case ruled ended racial segregation in schools, Ruby walked to school bravely each day even though she was hustled by a crowd of angry people lining the walkway. When she was the only student who showed up, her teacher wondered what gave her the fortitude to keep coming to school. I like how this story includes Ruby’s faith when she prayed outside the school building for the people who were saying mean things to her.

Brave Books

If you want books that will teach your kids strong morals, you will love Brave Books! A different trusted author writes each unique brave book and teaches a Biblically-based value. Trent Talbot created this pro-God, pro-America brand when he became a father and struggled to find children’s stories that parents could trust with their children’s imaginations. You can join the Freedom Island Book Club to receive one book monthly. The family games and discussion questions at the back of the books will spark interesting dinner table conversations that will leave an impression on the whole family!

Sheila Rae, The Brave by Kevin Henkes

This is a great book to teach kids at a young age that courage is contagious. When Sheila Rae becomes fearful, her sister Louise helps her find her way back home.

Chapter Books

The Matchlock Gun

In this short chapter book set in the early American frontier period, young Edward and his mother endeavor to protect their home from Indian raiders. Because it is a short book, it is a good read-aloud for early elementary kids.

A Night Divided by Jenifer A Nielsen

When her family finds themselves suddenly separated by the construction of the Berlin Wall, Gerta makes the tough decision to tunnel under the wall to reunite with her family. This riveting book is a page-turner your kids will love!

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dagliesh

Based on an inspiring true story, Sarah helps her father build a new home in the wilderness for their family. Her mother reminds her, “Keep your courage, Sarah Noble.” With wild animals and Indians in the woods, Sarah learns that true courage is being afraid and yet bravely doing hard things anyway. Alice Dagliesh’s stories are among some of our family’s favorite books and this is one you don’t want to miss!

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

When I read this compelling story aloud to our kids, they begged me to keep going every time I finished a chapter. Young Charlotte Doyle is traveling aboard a ship across the sea when she discovers she has been pitted between the treacherous captain and the mutinous crew. Who is the villain and who is the hero? This book has several twists and turns, so brace yourself for the unexpected!

Number The Stars by Lois Lowry

Ann Marie Johansen and Ellen Rosen are best friends who live in Copenhagen during World War II when the Nazis are advancing toward their small town. In order to save her best friend’s life, Ann Marie must go on a dangerous mission to take a Jewish family through the woods to safety. This is a wonderful story the whole family will love.

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Of all the Little House sequels, this story is one of our family’s favorite books. During the long winter on the prairie, the Ingalls family copes with blizzard after blizzard from September all the way through May. Supplies almost run out. The people almost starve, but the family is determined to survive.

“It can’t beat us!” Pa said.
“Can’t it, Pa?” Laura asked stupidly.
“No,” said Pa. “It’s got to quit sometime and we don’t. It can’t lick us. We won’t give up.”

Then Laura felt a warmth inside her. It was very small but it was strong. It was steady, like a tiny light in the dark, and it burned very low but no winds could make it flicker because it would not give up.”

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

In this fictional survival story, Brian is thrust into the Canadian wilderness with only the clothes on his back and a hatchet given to him by his mother. He faces one big challenge after another, but with hard work and perseverance, he finds the inner strength he needs to stay alive.

The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Sometimes the best way to inspire kids to be courageous is to introduce them to characters whose words and actions inspire them to live differently. In this beautiful book, four siblings enter the world of Narnia through a hidden wardrobe. The brave adventurers encounter many perils, but these only serve to strengthen their character. One of my favorite lines in the book is from the oldest son, Peter “Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.”

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

This is a perfect book to read to older kids, especially teen boys. Myles Falworth is known for his courage, but also his immature outbursts while in training at the Earl Mackworths castle. Readers see the process of personal growth Myles undergoes as he faces many difficulties that ultimately, move him toward manhood. Although the old English can be a bit challenging at first, the wholesome content throughout the book will challenge your kids to be valiant yet humble like Myles Falworth.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

In this fairytale, Princess Irene is almost captured and forced to marry a goblin prince. Though merely fictional, MacDonald weaves foundational values into the content of his story which cause the reader to think on a deeper level. When it comes to facing your fears, the princes learns, “That is the way fear serves us; it always takes the side of the thing that we are afraid of.”

Autobiography/Biography

Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill by Stephen Mansfield

Who can epitomize courage in the face of difficulties than the great leader, Winston Churchill? In this book, readers will discover a true hero. The first half of this book is a biography of Churchill’s life. The second half enumerates core values of Churchill’s life such as self -education, courage, criticism, work, religion, and loyalty.

The Endless Steppe

This autobiography tells the story of Esther Hautzig’s deportation to Siberia. Because they are Jews, she and her family were taken from their home in Poland by the Russians in World War II. They must work under horrific conditions to survive. This inspiring story will teach young people about the horrors of the holocaust and also show them the fortitude of the heroes who survived it.

God’s Smuggler: Brother Andrew retold by John and Elizabeth Sherrill

Reading the true story of a Brother Andrew, a man who smuggled Bibles into communist countries will give your kids boldness to live out their faith. Andrews adventures and narrow escapes remind readers that we can have great courage because our future is safe in the hands of an omnipotent God.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Reading the harrowing story of Corrie TenBoom hiding Jews and narrowly escaping from a from a concentration camp will keep kids on the edge of their seats. This is one of my favorite books that I have read aloud to our kids. This book should be reserved for tweens and teens since it covers some big topics and deep sadness. The back of the book gives a timeline of the events of Corrie’s story.

Our kids will most certainly face insurmountable difficulties in life. Let’s rouse them to face their fears with a courageous spirit, remembering that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).” I hope this list of books about courage will move your kids to live bravely!

More Book Lists

10 Fantastic Books for Kids About George Washington

12 Excellent Christian Books for Tweens

11 Excellent Christian Biography Resources for Your Homeschool

Sharing is caring!