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Teaching Problem and Solution with Picture Books

Teaching Problem and Solution with Picture Books

Teaching problem and solution gets a little easier with these picture books. Each book has problem and solution scenarios built into the plot, some more obvious than others.

Teaching Problem and Solution with Picture Books

Why Use Picture Books for Teaching Problem and Solution?

Understanding problem and solution helps your students develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills. Exploring picture books with problem and solution plots helps them see a problem being introduced, how the character(s) try to solve it and how they finally resolve the issue.

In picture books with problem and solution scenarios, your students will see characters who:

  • use knowledge to solve problems independently
  • predict outcomes
  • think things through
  • make good decisions
  • try new ways to solve problems
  • make mistakes and try again
  • recognize breakthroughs
  • use trial and error to find a solution

Discussion Questions For Teaching Problem and Solution

  • Describe the different ways the characters were effective problem-solvers.
  • How did [character] solve the problem? What strategies did they use?
  • Why do you think [character] was an effective problem solver?
  • Why did [character’s] idea work in the end? Did they think about how their decisions would affect the outcome and other characters?
  • Did [character] make good decisions? Is there anything they could have done differently?
  • Think of possible solutions for [character’s] problem.
  • Did [character] work independently to solve the problem or did they work collaboratively? Was this the best strategy?
  • Does a thinker have to be brave, a risk-taker….?
  • Did their decision making surprise you? Why or why not?
  • Was [character] creative in their thinking? Explain your answer.
  • How did [character’s] way of thinking impact the outcome of the story?

FREE Comprehension & Reading Skills Activities​

Comprehension & Reading Skills Activities for Any Book

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Picture Books for Teaching Problem and Solution

Ada Twist, Scientist Activities and Comprehension Questions

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Ada Twists scientific curiosity leads her to question, hypothesise, experiment and figure out how the world works. Promotes themes of curiosity, inquiry, knowledge and creative thinking.
AMAZON
Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood

In Paraguay, Ada Río grows up in poverty and can't afford to follow her dream of playing the violin. The arrival of a new music teacher makes instruments out of rubbish and changed Ada's life forever. Based on the true story of the Recycled Orchestra.
AMAZON
After the Fall Activities and Comprehension Questions

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.
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A Bad Case of the Stripes Activities and Comprehension Questions

A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon

Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she won’t eat them because her friends hate them. A mystery illness causes her to turn into what others think she should be. No one can figure out what is wrong until Camilla realises she needs to just be herself not bow to peer pressure. Reinforces themes of balance, self-esteem and growth mindset.
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A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo WIllems

A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo WIllems

Piggie rushes to her best friend, Gerald, for help when a big guy takes her ball. Gerald immediately wants to help but discovers that 'big guy' is an understatement. He diffuses the situation and they both make a new friend in the process.
AMAZON
Black Dog by Levi Pinfold

Black Dog by Levi Pinfold

A family is afraid of a large black dog outside their home. As they each spy a dog through their window, it grows in size and menace. It is the smallest member of the family who discovers the dog is not what the rest of the family imagined. A book to promote a growth mindset, open-mindedness, risk-taking and courage.
AMAZON
Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

Piggie and Gerald think creatively to include their new friend in a game of catch. Promotes problem-solving, fairness and relationships skills.
AMAZON
A Chair for My Mother Activities and Comprehension Questions

A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Rosa, her mother and grandmother are devastated when their home is destroyed by fire. The community helps them by donating items they will need. Promotes community, generosity, responsible decision-making and perseverance.
AMAZON
Chalk by Bill Thomson

Chalk by Bill Thomson

Three children use their imagination to create real-life objects after finding magic chalk. This wordless picture book promotes creativity, friendships, and responsible decision-making.
AMAZON
Chrysanthemum Activities and Comprehension Questions

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum loves her name but on her first day of school, she gets teased for its uniqueness. When her music teacher reveals she is naming her baby Chrysanthemum, everyone wants to change their name to a flower. Promotes identity, friendships and self-management.
AMAZON
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type Activities & Comprehension Questions

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown’s cows type him a letter demanding electric blankets. They go on strike when he refuses their demands. Duck takes an ultimatum from Farmer Brown to the cows and they agree to exchange the typewriter for the blankets. But, the next day Farmer Brown gets a note from the ducks demanding a diving board for their pond!
AMAZON
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin​

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Did you know dragons love tacos but hate spicy salsa? This becomes a problem for a boy when he hosts a dragon taco party and the spicy salsa is mislabelled! Use to teach problem & solution and cause & effect.
AMAZON
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

A boy’s life changes for the worse when Jeremy Ross moves to town. He is Jeremy’s enemy. Dad’s advice is to make an enemy pie, but it will only work if he spends the whole day with his enemy. They end up having so much fun the boy doesn’t need the pie. Use to discuss kindness, conflict resolution, bullying, and problem-solving.
AMAZON
Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Rayner

Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit by Catherine Rayner

Ernest the moose is so LARGE he can’t fit inside the book. Determined, he shimmies, shifts, and shuffles his body but he just won’t fit. With a bit of thought his friend, chipmunk, comes up with a solution. Reinforces themes of determination, problem-solving and creative thinking.
AMAZON
Fossil by Bill Thomson

Fossil by Bill Thomson

A boy and his dog accidentally find a fossil that comes to life. He excitedly breaks more rocks, revealing more fossils. This excitement stops when he discovers a tetradactyl which flies away with the boy’s dog. Use this wordless book to teach about plot, problem and solution, inference, and cause and effect.
AMAZON
Here Comes the Garbage Barge

Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter

A New York town disposes of their rubbish on a barge but as the boat proceeds down the coast every port refuses to accept the cargo. For 162 days Cap’n Duffy tugged the stinky garbage around until it disposes of its smelly load back in New York. Promotes environmental issues, respect and responsible decision-making.
AMAZON
How the Ladies Stopped the Wind by Bruce McMillan

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind by Bruce McMillan

The wind in Iceland is so strong a group of women decide to fix the problem. They plant trees to limit its effects and overcome any problems through problem-solving, cooperation and persistence.
AMAZON
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is determined to jump off the diving board but his confidence wanes as he nears the ladder. His patient father reassures Jabari that it is okay to be scared. With new determination, he climbs the ladder and jumps.
AMAZON
Journey by Aaron Becker

Journey by Aaron Becker

A lonely girl escapes into a mysterious world and witnesses an evil emperor capture a majestic bird. With courage, the girl outsmarts the emperor's army to set the bird free. Journey is a wordless picture book that promotes confidence, independence, perseverance, problem-solving, risk-taking and creative thinking.
AMAZON
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

King Bidgood enjoys having a bath so much he won’t get out. His page calls upon the court for help. Nothing works so while everyone is despairing of what to do the page plugs the plug! Use to teach sequencing, creative thinking, problem & solution and prediction.
AMAZON
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems

Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems

Sonja and Trixie mix up their two Knuffle Bunny cuddly toys. Trixie’s father helps her solve the problem, and it results in a fantastic new friendship. Promotes gratitude, relationship skills and cooperation.
AMAZON
A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jacks Keats

A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jacks Keats

Peter writes a letter to Amy inviting her to his party. He wonders what his friends will think of him inviting a girl. Reinforces the themes of communication, relationship skills, friendship and letter writing.
AMAZON
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Activities and Comprehension Questions

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Lilly loves school, her teacher, and her purple plastic purse. When her teacher, Mr Slinger, confiscates the purse she plans her revenge. She draws a mean picture of Mr Slinger but soon feels remorse and sets out to make amends. Promotes self-management, forgiveness, integrity, relationship skills and reflection.
AMAZON
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood and Don Wood

The narrator tries to persuade a mouse to share the red, ripe strawberry it has just picked. The mouse hides, disguises and locks the strawberry away. The narrator suggests there is only one way to stop a big, hungry bear from eating it, they must eat it together. Will the tactic work? Use to teach creative thinking, sharing, problem & solution and inferring.
AMAZON
The Lumberjack’s Beard by Duncan Beedie

The Lumberjack’s Beard by Duncan Beedie

Jim chops down trees with no thought for the consequences. He lets homeless animals live in his beard while he reflects on his actions and replants the trees. Reinforces themes of caring, cause & effect, forgiveness, problem-solving and respect.
AMAZON
The Marvellous Moon Map by Teresa Heapy

The Marvellous Moon Map by Teresa Heapy

Mouse wants to find the moon with his own moon map. His friend, Bear thinks it would be better to plan and organise the trip. Mouse heads off alone but ends up lost with his map that can’t help him. Luckily, Bear helps him out him and they discover something better than the moon. Reinforces themes of friendship, organisation, creative thinking and problem-solving.
AMAZON
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe

Mufaro's two daughters react in different ways to the King's search for a wife - one is aggressive and selfish, the other kind and dignified. The king disguises himself to learn the true nature of both girls and chooses Nyasha, the kind and generous daughter, to be the queen. This African folktale promotes themes of jealousy, kindness, vanity and kindness.
AMAZON
Our Little Inventor by Sher Rill Ng

Our Little Inventor by Sher Rill Ng

Nell has an ingenious invention to solve the pollution problem in the Big City. She sets off on a journey to the city, far from where she lives. She finds the pollution is much worse than she expected. Nell is dismayed when she is mocked by city leaders. With unexpected help and Nell’s determination, she shows her machine to the city. Promotes girls in STEM, pollution, determination, critical thinking and problem-solving.
AMAZON
My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

Rabbit gathers the community together to help Mouse retrieve his aeroplane stuck in a tree. This wordless book reinforces the themes of problem-solving, cooperation friendship and compassion.
AMAZON
Outfoxed by Claudia Boldt

Outfoxed by Claudia Boldt

Harold, a fox, is challenged by his father to catch a chicken. He decides to follow his heart and helps the chicken escape. Reinforces themes of empathy, independence, problem-solving and creative thinking.
AMAZON
The Paper Bag Princess Activities and Comprehension Questions

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Princess Elizabeth saves her fiancé Prince Ronald from a dragon only for him to tell her to clean herself up and look like a princess. Elizabeth happily skips into the sunset by herself. Promotes gender roles, independence, self-esteem and strong female characters.
AMAZON
Phileas's Fortune- A Story about Self-Expression by Agnes de Lestrade

Phileas's Fortune: A Story about Self-Expression by Agnes de Lestrade

Large factories churn out beautiful, ugly and funny words. People purchase, then swallow the words to communicate. Not all words are equal and the cost of each word varies. Phileas catches three discarded, random words to express his love for Cybele. This book reinforces themes of communication, perseverance, problem-solving, risk-taking and creative thinking.
AMAZON
Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovitz Marshall

Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovitz Marshall

Ixchel wants to continue weaving tradition of her Mayan community. She walks around her village to find items to weave with, but only finds colourful plastic bags. As the bags pile up she decides to cut them into strips and starts weaving them, producing a rainbow fabric. This bilingual book promotes perseverance, recycling and problem-solving.
AMAZON
The Rain Came Down by David Shannon

The Rain Came Down by David Shannon

The rain came down and causes total chaos in a small neighbourhood. All goes back to normal when the sun returns. A great picture book to show cause and effect in action.
AMAZON
Ralf by Jean Jullien

Ralf by Jean Jullien

Ralf is always getting under everyones feet no matter what hr does. One night he smells smoke and stretches his body around the house trying to wake the family. After being saved, the family accept Ralf for who he is even if he still gets in the way. Reinforces themes of acceptance, caring, courage and problem & solution.
AMAZON
Star in the Jar by Sam Hay

Star in the Jar by Sam Hay

A little boy finds a star and keeps it in a jar. He makes the decision to help the sad star get home., but wonders how to do this. He makes a star shape in the garden and the stars lift their little friend home.
AMAZON
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers Teaching Activities

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

When Floyd got his kite stuck in a tree he throws his shoes to dislodge it. That doesn’t work so Floyd attempts to use more and more outrageous objects (and people) to free the kite! Will Floyd ever get his kite back?
AMAZON
Swimmy by Leo Lionni

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

After almost being eaten by a big fish, Swimmy works together with a school of fish to frighten off the big tuna. Use to promote problem & solution, cooperation, courage and overcoming fears.
AMAZON
This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers

This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers

Wilfred is an organised boy who lives his life by rules. He claims a wandering moose as his new pet and names him Marcel. The moose is not keen on Wilfred’s rules and meets an old lady who claims him as her own. Wilfred recognises Marcel’s independence and learns how to compromise.
AMAZON
The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed A City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed A City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkin

Over 100 years ago, Katherine Olivia Sessions started a movement to transform the desert town of San Diego into a garden-filled oasis. Today, her parks and garden can still be found all over this green city. This biography reflects on the ideas of following your dreams and staying strong in the face of adversity.
AMAZON
Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems

Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems

Gerald struggles to manage his patience and emotions when Piggie tells him she has a surprise that he has to wait for. He waits, and waits, and wait until all the waiting starts to drive him crazy. When the time comes for Piggie's surprise, Gerald realises some things are worth waiting for.
AMAZON
When the Rain Comes by Alma Fullerton

When the Rain Comes by Alma Fullerton

In rural Sri Lanka, Malini helps plant the rice crop for the first time. The ox-cart arrives full of seedlings and the driver asks her to care for the ox. The skies darken and the monsoon rain falls, separating Malini from everyone. Rather than running for safety, she saves all the seeds from ruin. Use to teach responsibility, courage and problem & solution.
AMAZON

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What Next?

After using these books with problem and solution scenarios trying watching some real-life problem-solvers in these videos.

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Teaching Problem and Solution with Picture Books

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