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7 Habits Book List by Beth Wilcox
Habits are from The Leader in Me book
Habit 1: Be Proactive
I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions,
attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my mistakes. I can only
be offended if I choose to be.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Santat
Beekle is an imaginary friend waiting to meet his human. When no human arrives, he
takes matters into his own hands and goes out into the world to find her.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Viorst
Alexander wakes up knowing it will be a bad day and it just continues to get worse. This
can facilitate conversations about how to choose your mood. There are many decisions
that Alexander took that made his day worse, but he did not take responsibility for them,
instead decided it was a bad day.
Arthur’s Pet Business by Brown
Arthur wants a dog, so to prove he is responsible he creates a pet-sitting business and
cares for a difficult dog. He tries his best, stays positive, and is rewarded for his effort
and kindness.
I Like Myself by Beaumont
This is a colourful picture book told in quirky rhymes that emphasizes self-confidence.
The little girl describes how she likes herself on the inside and out. She talks about how
she is unique and how she still likes herself regardless of her appearance or what other
people might say about her. This is an excellent book for all primary grades; the brief
text gets to the point and the silly images will appeal to a wide range of ages. Also
works for #7.
The Patchwork Quilt by Flournoy
This tells the story of a girl and her grandmother making a patchwork quilt out of family
scraps. Older readers might pick up on some tension at the start when the girl’s mother
is not being proactive, but changes for the better. Also works for #5 and 6
The Pout Pout Fish by Diesen
The Pout-Pout fish spreads dreary feelings. Other creatures in the ocean come to tell
him that he can chose his moods. Great for younger grades.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
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I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a
difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my
school's mission and vision, and look for ways to be a good citizen.
A Chair for My Mother by Williams
After her family loses their furniture in a fire, the family works hard to buy a chair for
Rosa's mother. They save their money and plan for the group goal. Something Special
for Me is a sequel. Also works for #3, 5, 6
Horton Hatches the Egg by Seuss
Horton is asked to sit on an egg by a mother bird who goes on vacation. Horton follows
through on his promise even when it is very difficult and is rewarded for his effort.
Just a Dream by Van Allsburg
Walter does not care about the earth, but then in a dream he goes to the future and
sees the terrible things that happened when people did not care for earth. It focuses on
doing things that make a difference. Great for older primary and intermediates.
Pancakes, Pancakes! by Carle
Jack wants a pancake for breakfast. His mom is too busy to make him one so he must
gather the ingredients--from the source. This talks about setting goals and contributing.
Rose's Garden by Reynolds
Rose travels the world collecting seeds. She works with other children to overc ome
obstacles and they use their creativity to make a beautiful garden in a city. Also works
for #3
Something Special For Me by Williams
This can be read with A Chair for My Mother to add depth to the story, but knowing the
previous book is not necessary. Rosa's birthday is coming up and her family has
decided to empty the jar of money they saved to give Rosa a gift. She picks out a few
presents, but every time she goes to buy them, she decides they are not worth
emptying the savings jar. Finally, she chooses a present that will also bring joy to her
family. Also works for #3
Habit 3: Put First Things First
I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I
say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule,
and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.
Hunches in Bunches by Seuss
The boy doesn't know what to do and where to begin. He is pulled in different directions
and must set a goal to decide what to do. Also works for #2.
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Hurry Up, Franklin by Bourgeois
Franklin has to go to Bear's house for a special surprise, but on his way there he gets
distracted. This can prompt discussions about prioritizing the most important things and
saying no.
The Little Red Hen by Galdone
The little red hen does all the work to make bread while the other animals snooze.
When it comes to eating the bread, she is the only one who eats it. She is disciplined
and gets the reward. Also works for #4.
So Few of Me by Reynolds
Leo makes a list of what to accomplish but needs to double himself to get it done. He
has to learn to say no to some things and prioritize. Also works for #2.
The Very Busy Spider by Carle
The spider sets out to build her web and does not let the other animals distract her from
her goal. In the end she is able to catch a fly and falls asleep. Also works for #2
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what
others want. I make deposits in others' Emotional Bank Accounts. When
conflicts arise, I look for options that work for both sides.
Crazy Hair Day by Saltzberg
Stanley gets the school's spirit days mixed up and comes to school on picture day with
crazy hair. He is teased but then the person who teased him realizes he was wrong and
tries to help him.
How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids by Rath and Reckmeyer
Felix learns about how everyone has a metaphorical bucket, positive interactions add to
the bucket, while negative interactions deplete the bucket. He thinks about how to help
full other people's buckets.
Ira Sleeps Over by Waber
Ira is going on a sleepover and wonders if he should bring his teddy bear. His sister
says that his friend will make fun of him. She is not thinking win-win. When Ira goes
over to stay, he realizes that his friend felt the same way he did about teddy bears.
Mirette on the High Wire by McCully
Mirette decides she wants to walk on a high wire and practices the skill. She is
disciplined and dedicated, learning the basic skills and growing from there with the help
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of her teacher. When she learns he teacher can no longer perform due to fear, she
helps support him so he can succeed. Also works for #3, 5
The Moccasin Goalie by Brownridge
Danny loves to play hockey, but when Danny is cut from the team for playing in
moccasins because of his "crippled leg and foot" along with one friend who is small, and
the other who is female, Danny is sad. But when the regular goalie can't play, the coach
asks Danny to fill in. When Danny is invited to join the team, he thinks about his friends
and will only play if they can too.
The Rainbow Fish by Pfister
The Rainbow fish has all the rainbow scales but won't share them and has no friends.
He decides to share his wealth. He is surprised to find this makes him happy and he
makes friends.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
I listen to other people's ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their
viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in
voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
A Bad Case of Stripes by Shannon
Camilla is not confident in expressing herself and what she wants. As a result she gets
sick with a bad case of stripes and other silly symptoms until she is true to her real self.
The Black Book of Colors by Cottin
This book describes what colours feel like to a boy who is blind. It is translated to braille
and the illustrations are all raised.
Chicken Sunday by Polacco
After a misunderstanding causes a man to think a little girl and her two friends threw
eggs at his shop, the little girl and her two friends work together to show the man his
mistake and to buy a gift for their grandmother. This book has a strong multicultural
focus and incorporates details of Ukrainian, African-American, and Jewish culture. Also
works for #6
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by McKissack
Libby encounters problems when she tries to stop lying by volunteering hurtful but true
information about the people around her. She learns the difference between telling the
truth in a hurtful way and "the honest-to-goodness" truth. This book has a strong set of
place in the US south. Also works for #2, 7
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Scieszka
This is the story of the 3 little pigs told by the perspective of the wolf.
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Voices in the Park by Brown
This story tells the same events from 4 different perspectives. It is good for older
primary and intermediate students.
Yoko by Wells
Yoko brings her favourite sushi to school for lunch and the other kids make fun of her.
After an international foods day at school, Yoko makes a friend who understands her
love of sushi.
Habit 6: Synergize
I value other people's strengths and learn from them. I get along well
with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in
groups. I seek out other people's ideas to solve problems because I
know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than any
one of us alone. I am humble.
The Great Paper Caper by Jeffers
When the trees start going missing in the forest, the animals must work together to
solve the mystery in this humorous book.
Knit Together by Dominguez
A little girl loves drawing and her mom loves knitting. Together they collaborate and
make something special together.
Listen to the Wind by Mortenson and Roth
This is the true story of a man who helped build a school for a community in Pakistan
that rescued him. It shows how the community worked together to build the school.
Zero by Otoshi
Zero feels empty compared to the other numbers. Then she realizes it the work together
they can be even more.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
I take care of my body by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. I
spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of
places, not just at school. I take time to find meaningful ways to help
others.
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Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Willems
The pigeon wants to stay up late but the reader has been told not to let him.
Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by Johnson
In this book, a bear named Henry decides to walk to Fitchburg to see the country. His
friend decides to work until he has the money to take the train to Fitchburg. They
decided to see who gets their first. The both have different experiences but end up at
Fitchburg together. The author's note at the end connects the story further to the habit
by explaining how the story relates to Henry David Thoreau who loved to take long
walks to learn about nature and think.
Ish by Reynolds
Ramon ties to draw but he is disappointed in his work. His sister teaches him that he
should feel comfortable expressing himself and exploring his passions.
It's a Book by Smith
In this silly book, a jackass learns about reading books from a monkey. He tries to use a
book like a computer or tablet. This shows spending time with friends and learning in
lots of ways and places. It also shows how the monkey helps the jackass by patiently
explaining he is reading a book.
The Listening Walk by Showers
A little girl and her dad walk the dog. They don't talk, just listen to the environment. This
also shows mindful behaviour.
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