29 March 202115 May 2022 Kirsten

24 Children’s Books about Adapting to Change

Children’s Books about Adapting to Change

These picture books about adapting to change and flexible thinking show characters dealing with obstacles and facing uncertainty and disappointment head-on.

Adapting to Change and Flexible Thinking

Life is unpredictable. Teaching adaptability skills and flexible thinking helps children cope with changes, uncertainty and disappointment. This could include starting school, moving house, changes in relationships and digital advancements.

Change may be difficult, but it opens us up to new experiences and opportunities. As teachers, we can help children adjust to difficult situations by giving them the skills to cope with change.

These picture books about adapting to change and flexible thinking are great discussion starters on how to deal with challenges, uncertainty and disappointment.

Picture Books about Adapting to Change

After the Fall by Dan Santat

A retelling of Humpty Dumpty from the egg’s perspective. Promotes perspectives, a growth mindset, perseverance, and courage as Humpty Dumpty conquers his fear of heights.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Grace's love of reading and role-play motivates her to audition for the role of Peter Pan in the school play. The other children tell her she can't play a boys part. Her mama and Nana tell her she can be anything she wants, helping her find the confidence to audition and win the role of Peter Pan. Promotes determination, self-esteem, enthusiasm, tolerance, and gender roles.

Another by Christian Robinson

A young girl enters a topsy-turvy world that is similar but not quite the same as her as own. She meets other children of many ethnicities, wearing a variety of clothing and playing different games. Another will inspire discussion and questions and provide each reader with a different interpretation of the book.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Liam’s curiosity leads him to explore an elevated train track. He discovers a few dying flowers and nurtures and cultivates them. His dedication pays off when the flowers grow and spread over the train tracks. Winter gives Liam the opportunity to learn more about gardening. In the spring he put into practice what he learns. Promotes the environment, patience and a sense of community.

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies

A girl returns home to find is a bombed-out hole. Alone, she follows a stream of refugees to an immigration camp. She visits a school but is turned away because there is no chair for her. That evening she is visited by a boy who brings a chair with him - a chair to sit on and learn. Reinforces themes of courage, fears, immigration, perseverance and tolerance.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

An art teacher encourages Vashti to make a mark, a dot, prompting Vashti to create a wide range of dot paintings. She displays her work at the school art show and inspires a young boy to make his own unique mark. Promotes reflection, perseverance, a growth mindset and creativity.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Yuyi Morales uses her own experiences of migrating from Mexico to America with her young son. They face many cultural challenges, including learning a new language and new customs. Her local library offers an opportunity to learn about this strange, new country and find a new career.

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams

In a Peshawar refugee camp, Lina and Feroza find matching sandals. They share the sandals, wearing them on alternate days. Lina and her mother emigrate to America and gives her sandal to Feroza. Feroza hands it back telling Lina they will share the sandals again one day. Promotes a sense of belonging, compassion and social awareness.

The Garden of Hope by Isabel Otter

A young girl, grieving the death of her mother, transforms a neglected garden into a place of beauty, love and hope.

A Home for Gully by Jo Clegg

A city sweeper cleans away Gully’s home every morning. Fetch the dog, and his fleas, help Gully find a new home, meeting new friends along the way. Promotes discussions on resilience, perseverance, homelessness and relationship skills.

How to Be a Lion by Ed Vere

Leonard's love of words and poetry help him stand up for himself when he is mocked for his quiet and gentle ways. Promotes self-awareness, acceptance, thinkers and courage.

The Journey by Francesca Sanna

A mother makes the unimaginable decision to escape the war with her two children. They travel by car, truck, foot and boat for their gruelling journey to safety. Reinforces themes of conflict, immigration, compassion, independence and courage.

Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley

Mary courageously challenges the gender norms in the 1830s. One day she wears trousers and the townsfolk react with disapproval and they throw things at her and shout that she should not dress in boys’ clothes. Read to promote gender roles, confidence, tolerance and open-mindedness.

Mom & Dad Glue by Kes Grey

When a boy’s parents divorce, he searches for the right glue to stick them back together. Reinforces the themes of acceptance, balance, adapting to change, harmony and thinkers.

Mr Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Mr Tiger is bored with the rules of the city. He breaks with protocol, abandons his clothes and runs wild. He soon becomes lonely and returns home. He is delighted that others in the community have embraced their individuality. Reinforces themes of individuality, identity and manners.

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck

Sophia’s 'One True Desire' is a pet giraffe. With her birthday coming up she tries to persuade each member of her family to give her a giraffe. Will her wish come true? Promotes adapting to change, manners, persuasion, self-management and communication.

Perfect by Nicola Davies

A young boy learns to accept and embrace his baby sister’s disability when he cares for an injured bird. A story of love, acceptance, difference and disappointment.

Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Over the course of a week, a perfectly happy square is torn, punched, cut and crumpled into creative images. On Sunday, the square becomes a window looking out on all the creations made from this simple shape. Perfect Square promotes creativity, adapting to change, open-mindedness and acceptance.

Ruby's Worry by Tom Percival

Ruby has a Worry. It wasn’t very big, but it stayed with her all day so she stopped doing the things she loved. She finds discussing her worry makes it gets smaller until it was almost gone. Though a Worry appears every now and again Ruby knows how to get rid of them. Ruby's Worry promotes adapting to change, self-awareness, self-management and self-esteem.

Saturday by Oge Mora

Ava waits all week for the weekend to arrive as Saturday means special mother and daughter time. She is disappointed when things don’t quite go as they planned, but she learns that things will work out.

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant

Learn about Horace Pippin, a talented artist with great determination and creativity. He did not allow his unfortunate circumstances to prevent him from becoming a celebrated artist

Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey

Sunday Chutney is always the new girl at school and is good about adapting to change. She makes the best of the situation with her independent attitude and spirit. Promotes identity, individuality and open-mindedness.

Superhero Mom by Timothy Knapman

Like many superhero moms, this mom doesn't wear a cape but she does have superpowers all of her own. Promotes appreciation, love and commitment.

That Fruit is Mine! by Anuska Allepuz

Five elephants discover a very tall fruit tree deep in the jungle. They compete with each other to see who can reach the exotic fruit first. Their focus on being the first means they don’t notice a team of mice working together to reach the fruit first. But they soon realise that teamwork is a better way to reach their prize

Videos about Adapting to Change and Resilience

Further Reading

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2 thoughts on “24 Children’s Books about Adapting to Change”

EDITH VOSEFSKI says:
26 October 2021 at 10:55 pm
This post was truly worthwhile to read. I wanted to say thank you for the key points you have pointed out as they are enlightening.
Reply
1. Kirsten says:
  27 October 2021 at 12:38 pm
  Thank you so, Edith!
  Reply

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