An elementary education faculty member asked for a cart of books (yes, people still do that and it's a good thing) to help her pre-service teachers understand ways they can use children's literature to build classroom community. This little mini-project led to more thinking about what is important to a positive, healthy classroom community. It seems clear that classes with kids who respect each other, show kindness, understand that differences are okay, have a sense of the importance of helping others, and who have confidence can create great community. In the end what I ended up creating was a list of character education books. If students have good character, they will be willing and even active participants in building a positive classroom community.
| Title and Author | Community Related Themes |
| Horsefly and Honeybee by Randy Cecil | cooperation, friendship and resolving conflict to work together |
| Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson | bullying, friendship, kindness, new students |
| My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams | communication, cultural differences, ownership, confidence |
| Blackout by John Rocco | community, family, listening, paying attention to others |
| Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems | individuality, confidence, trying new things, being different, ostracizing others |
| Too Tall Houses by Gianna Marino | competition, cooperation, friendship, compromise |
| Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes | stubbornness, friendship, openness, social acceptance, new friends |
| Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett | helpfulness, generosity, community, appreciating differences |
Among others, the "Character Education" Grab and Go Booklists from NoveList K-8 are very helpful if you have access to NoveList (in NC this can be accessed through NC Wise Owl for K-12 teachers and students - in the near future the service will be removed for colleges, private schools and public library card holders).
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