Teaching Diligence through Literature

“Talent is not enough, hard work makes the difference.” -Sunday Adelaja

We’re back today with literature resources to help reinforce character growth! For the month of January, as we look for ways to exercise diligence, one of our librarians, Dr. Pamela Bleisch, has again compiled several books for us highlighting this trait.

We learned last week that:

“Diligence is committing to doing tasks with excellence and persevering with determination and patience to complete tasks in spite of difficulties and discouragement. Our catch phrase: Do your best, don’t give up!”

Let’s take a look below at this month’s reads. You are welcome to borrow them from our school library or visit one of our county libraries. You can also find these for purchase either at The Den or on Amazon (don’t forget to use our affiliate link).

The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart (J PB STE)

After her father loses his job, Lydia Grace Finch goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. The determined young heroine brings a suitcase full of seeds to the big gray city. There she initiates a gradual transformation, brightening the shop and bringing smiles to customers’ faces with the flowers she grows. Meanwhile, in a secret place, Lydia Grace works on a major project, which she hopes will make even Uncle Jim smile. The story is told through letters she writes home. David Small’s illustrations beautifully evoke the Depression-era setting. A Caldecott Honor book. For ages 3 and up.

The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires  (J PB SPI)

An unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog, work on an invention. But making this “most MAGNIFICENT thing” is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets so mad that she quits. After her dog convinces her to take a walk, she gets a fresh perspective. The girl’s frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time showing the value of mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. For ages 3 and up.

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, by Virgilian Lee Burton (J PB BUR)

Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers — the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity. For ages 3 and up.

A Chair for my Mother, by Vera B. Williams (J PB WIL)

After a fire destroys their home and possessions, Rosa, her mother, and grandmother diligently save their coins until they can afford to buy a one big, really comfortable chair that all three of them can enjoy. This picture book shows the joyful spirit of a resilient, loving family. A Caldecott Honor Book. For ages 3 and up.

The Tree Lady: the true story of how one tree-loving woman changed a city forever, by H. Joseph Hopkins (J NF 635.092)

Katherine Olivia Sessions loved trees and enjoyed getting her hands dirty. In school, she studied science and became the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a science degree (1881). Her vision and hard work transformed San Diego’s City Park from a dry, ugly hillside into a lush garden with a beautiful canopy of trees. She researched species that would grow in arid weather and hilly terrain and asked gardeners around the world to send her seeds. By the turn of the century, her trees were growing all over San Diego. The park would be the site of the Panama-California Exposition in 1909, and Sessions wanted thousands of additional trees in place to make it spectacular. With her hard work and crowds of volunteers, they got the job done. Beautiful illustrations. For ages 4 and up.

Brave Irene, by William Steig (J PB STE)

Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker’s daughter, is a plucky heroine. But her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn’t feeling well and can’t possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she’s made for the duchess to wear that very evening. But brave Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that’s brewing. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission. For ages 4 and up.

Jumanji, by Chris Van Allsberg

Peter and Judy were bored and restless and thought they’d give a board game a try. Little did they know when they unfolded its playing board that they were about to be plunged into the most exciting and bizarre adventure of their lives. The instructions say that once the game is started, it will not be over until one player reaches the golden city. Will Peter and Judy have the courage—and diligence– to see this adventure through? In 1996, this surreal story was adapted into a movie, followed by a 2017 sequel. Caldecott Medal book. For ages 6 and up.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel (J NF 331.89288 L554)

An illustrated and readable story of immigrant Clara Lemlich’s pivotal role in the influential 1909 women laborer’s strike. When Clara got off the boat at Ellis Island, she could not speak a word of English and was only four-feet tall. But that didn’t stop Clara. When her father couldn’t find a job, she worked grueling hours in a shirtwaist factory to support her family. She went to night school and spent hours studying English. Eventually, Clara was the one to organize a massive walkout protesting the unfair and unsafe working conditions in New York City’s garment district. For ages 6 and up.

All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sidney Taylor (J FIC TAY)

A classic chapter book about a family of five Jewish girls living on New York’s Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century. The five young sisters – Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie enjoy doing everything together, especially when it involves celebrating Jewish holidays. In the second chapter, Mama teaches her girls diligence through dusting. Mama encourages perseverance and attention to detail by hiding buttons (sometimes even a penny!) for the girls to find as they dust the furniture. If the girl finds all of the buttons, Mama knows she has done a thorough job. Great for independent readers, and a wonderful read-aloud book. For ages 6 and up.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsberg (J FIC KON)

Claudia Kincaid is known for her diligent and methodical approach to problems.  So when she decides to run away from her suburban home, she knows she doesn’t just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere—to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. And so, after careful planning, she and her younger brother, Jamie, escape – to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they step right into a mystery and learn how to do research. A Caldecott Medal book. On the list for Intermediate Battle of the Books. For ages 9 and up.

The Miracle Worker, a play, by William Gibson

Young Helen Keller, blind, deaf, and mute since infancy, is in danger of being sent to an institution because her inability to communicate has left her frustrated and violent. In desperation, her parents seek help from the Perkins Institute, which sends them a “half-blind Yankee schoolgirl” named Annie Sullivan to tutor their daughter. Despite the Kellers’ resistance and the belief that Helen “is like a little safe, locked, that no one can open,” Annie suspects that within Helen lies the potential for more if only she can reach her. Through persistence, love, and sheer stubbornness, Annie breaks through Helen’s walls of silence and darkness and teaches her to communicate, bringing her into the world at last. This inspiring and unforgettable play is an American classic, repeatedly made into films in 1962, 1979, and 2000. For ages 11 and up.

Hidden Figures: the American dream and the untold story of the Black women mathematicians who helped win the space race, by Margot Lee Shetterly.

Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America’s first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and female-limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world. A young reader’s edition is available, entitled: Hidden figures (the young reader’s edition): the untold true story of four African-American women who helped launch our nation into space. The author has written a beautifully illustrated picture book, as well: Hidden Figures: the true story of four Black women and the space race. Available in versions for ages 4 to adult.

Thank you again, Dr. Bleisch, for your guidance in our literature selection this month! We look forward to our next set of character trait books!

SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned websites, businesses or organizations.