Bluthenthal, Diana.
I’m Not Invited?
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003.
2–3 PB

A little girl thinks she has been left out of her friend’s party plans. She must decide
whether or not to confront her friend.

Brisson, Pat.
The Summer My Father Was Ten.
Boyds Mills Press, 1998.
2–3 PB

What starts out as a harmless prank, results in the destruction of a treasured garden.

Bunting, Eve.
A Day’s Work.
Clarion, 1994.
2–5 PB

A migrant worker teaches his grandson about honesty after the young boy twists the truth
to secure a day’s work for his grandfather.

Carlsson-Paige, Nancy.
Best Day of the Week.
Redleaf Press, 1998.
K–3 PB

Two friends cannot agree what to do with a folding table they find on the street. They solve their problem with a creative solution that makes both of them happy.

Carrick, Carol.
Left Behind.
Clarion, 1988.
2–3 PB

When a boy gets separated from his class in a subway station, he tries to remember the safest way to solve his problem.

Cleary, Beverly.
Dear Mr. Henshaw.
HarperTrophy, 2000.
2–4 CB.

Through letters to his favorite author, and journal writing, Leigh shares his problems and begins to solve them.

Cooper, Helen.
Pumpkin Soup.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999.
K–3 PB

A group of animal chefs realize that they have to cooperate in order to make a successful pumpkin soup.

Davol, Marguerite W.
The Paper Dragon.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1997.
4–5 PB

Mi Fei, the village artist, uses his creative problem-solving skills to conquer a fierce
dragon.

deGroat, Diane.
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire.
SeaStar Books, 2003.
2–3 PB

Gilbert is nervous about playing George Washington in a school play. To help prepare for his role, he “borrows” a hat and lies about it. When he finally tells the truth, the show goes on successfully!

Degross, Monalisa.
Donavan’s Word Jar.
HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.
2–3 CB

Donovan has no idea that his collection of words will make an impact on some lonely residents of his grandmother’s apartment building.

Demi.
The Empty Pot.
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 1990.
2–5 PB

An Emperor selects his successor by finding out which child in his kingdom is the most
honest.

dePaola, Tomie.
The Knight and the Dragon.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1980.
K–5 PB

Two warriors prepare for battle, but ultimately, invent a way to work together peacefully.

Havill, Juanita.
Jamaica’s Find.
Houghton Mifflin, 1987.
2–3, PB

Jamaica finds two items on the playground that don’t belong to her. She returns one and keeps the other, until she feels so badly about it that she seeks her mother’s help.

Henkes, Kevin.
Chester’s Way.
Greenwillow Books, 1988.
K–5 PB

When Lilly moves into the neighborhood she shakes up an established relationship between
Chester and his buddy, Wilson.

Howe, James.
Horace and Morris Join the Chorus (but what about Dolores?)
Atheneum, 2002.
2–5 PB

Three friends audition for the school chorus, but only two of them are selected.

Jones, Rebecca.
Matthew and Tilly.
Dutton Children’s Books, 1991.
2–3 PB

Two friends find a way to solve the problem that keeps them from playing together.

Katz, Avner.
Tortoise Solves a Problem.
Willa Perlman Books, 1993.
2–3 PB

Tortoise follows the problem-solving steps to figure out how to design a house for his fellow tortoises.

Keller, Holly.
That’s Mine, Horace.
Greenwillow Books, 2000.
K–1 PB

Horace must solve the problem of returning a little toy truck to its rightful owner.

Kelley, True.
Blabber Mouse.
Dutton Children’s Books, 2001.
2–5 PB

When a mouse can’t stop gossiping, his friends take things into their own hands to solve the "Blabber Mouse” problem.

Khan, Rukhsana.
Ruler of the Courtyard.
Viking Children’s Books, 2003.
2–3 PB

Saba’s triumph over one fearful situation gives her the confidence to face new challenges.

Lionni, Leo.
Swimmy.
Pantheon Books, 1963.
K–3 PB.

A school of red fish has a problem and a little black fish has a way to solve it.

Lowry, Lois.
Number the Stars.
Houghton Mifflin, 1989.
4–5 CB

A young girl finds the courage to help save her friend from being discovered and captured by the Nazi’s.

McCully.
Mirette on the High Wire.
G. P. Putnam’s Sons 1992.
2–5 PB

Mirette helps a tightrope walker overcome his fear of falling.

Munson, Derek.
Enemy Pie.
Chronicle Books, 2000.
K–3 PB.

A father helps his son handle a difficult relationship.

Pomerantz, Charlotte.
You’re Not My Best Friend Anymore.
Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998.
2–5 PB

Molly and Ben have to figure out how to repair their friendship after a misunderstanding
temporarily knocks their relationship off the track.

Rumford, James.
Calabash Cat and His Amazing Journey.
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.
2–5 PB

Calabash Cat sees the world from many different perspectives.

Shannon, David.
David Gets in Trouble.
Blue Sky Press, 2002.
K–3 PB

David makes excuses for all kinds of mistakes.
Ultimately he admits how sorry he is!

Sharmat, Majorie Weiman.
The Big Fat Enormous Lie.
Dutton, 1978.
2–5 PB

A boy’s lie is illustrated as a big, ugly monster that changes size throughout the story.

Smothers, Ethel Footman.
The Hard-Times Jar.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003.
4–5 PB

Emma’s transition to a new school is difficult because of her family’s economic hardships. Her courage helps her face each new challenge.

Soto, Gary.
Too Many Tamales.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1991.
2–3 PB

Maria must admit that she has lost her mother’s wedding ring and then think of a way to find it.

Torres, Leyla.
Subway Sparrow.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1993.
2–3 PB

People of different ages and ethnic backgrounds must solve the problem of how to free a sparrow that is trapped in a subway car.

Vaugelade, Anais.
The War.
Carolrhoda Books, 2001.
2–5 PB

Prince Fabian uses what he knows about human
nature to forestall a war between two battling factions, the Reds and the Blues.

Wong, Janet S.
Minn and Jake.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003.
4–5 PB

Minn and Jake encounter an assortment of problems on their way to becoming friends.

Williams, Vera.
A Chair for my Mother.
Greenwillow Books, 1982.
2–3 PB

A child and her family save dimes to buy mother a comfortable arm chair.

Zeifert, Harriet.
Mike and Tony: Best Friends.
Puffin Books, 1994.
2–3 PB

Even though Mike and Tony are best friends, they disagree about some things.