picture books for problem solving

21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

This post may contain affiliate links.

Read mentor text picture books to teach problem and solution text structure. Understanding the problem and solution story structures improves comprehension and helps readers make informed predictions. (As well as helping children see the creative possibilities in problem-solving!)

Of course, almost all stories have a problem and a solution –with the exception of a concept book. So really, you can search out problem and solution examples in any book, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.

When children learn what to expect in a problem and solution story, not only will they be able to predict solutions, but they will also be better able to write their own problem-solution stories. I started teaching this early to my young kids, well before they were school-age because we want our children to become problem solvers. That is an important life skill!

While many picture books model the narrative story structure of problem and solution, these are my favorites to use with kids both at home and in the classroom.

PRINTABLE LIST

problem and solution picture books mentor texts

Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Problem Solved! by Jan Thomas When Rabbit sees his messy room, he learns that he has HIS OWN PROBLEM SOLVING PORCUPINE! Which seems good at first. But, it turns into a disaster. Because to clean up the blocks, the porcupine flushes them down the toilet. And to clean up his shirts, he feeds them to the goldfish. How can Rabbit get rid of his not-very-helpful problem-solving porcupine?

A House in the Woods by Inga Moore Little Pig’s den becomes filled with friends, but once Moose arrives, the den collapses. Oh, no! Problem. What will they do to find a solution? Together, the animals build a new house in the woods big enough to fit all the friends.

Enigma by Graeme Base Bertie needs to find the missing magic show props that have disappeared from his grandpa’s retirement home. Each performer tells him what’s missing. Readers help find the items in the illustrations so that Bertie can find the culprit. Like all his books, Base excels in his detailed illustrations.

7 Ate 9: The Untold Story by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Ross MacDonald 6 bangs on Private I’s door for help! Because there’s a rumor that 7 is eating other numbers because apparently, 7 ate 9. YIKES! But did 7 really eat 9? Pitch perfect tongue-in-cheek number and word humor will crack you up throughout this suspenseful, funny problem and solution story. (Also on: Best Picture Book Mysteries .)

The Brownstone by Paula Scher, illustrated by Stan Mack The Bear family is ready for hibernation but first, they need to figure out what to do about the noise problem. Their solution? All the animals work together to shift apartments so that everyone finds the best apartment for their specific needs. You’ll love the message and illustrations.

Pigeon P.I. by Meg McLaren What a unique and delightful mystery story! A little canary asks Pigeon P.I. (private investigator) to help her find her missing friends. Then the canary goes missing, too. It’s up to Pigeon to solve the missing bird mystery. The author writes in the style of the old detective shows– punchy with short sentences. The illustrator captures the details, giving kids clues to notice as they read.

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail This picture book is a great way to teach kids summarizing and word choice as well as a problem-solution text structure! Sophia really wants a pet giraffe for her birthday. As a result, she sets out to convince her family, starting with her mother, a judge. However, Mother says that Sophia’s argument is too verbose. As a result, Sophie tries fewer words with Father. But he says her presentation is too effusive. Sophia continues with each family member until she reaches her last-ditch attempt and says the one word that works: PLEASE.

No Boring Stories! by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Charles Santoso When a cute little bunny tries to join a group of animal storytellers (mole, weevil, crab, and babirusa), the group doesn’t want to add her to their brainstorming group. As the animals continue their story plans with relatable characters, an inciting incident, rising action, climax, and…. Only the group gets stuck with the ending. That’s when bunny reveals that she likes making up weird (not boring) stories. The group realizes that the bunny has the perfect ending idea. Reluctantly, they agree that she can be part of the group. At least until a “ bunch of adorable frogs and puppies show up next week… ” This book shows plotting as well as the creative strengths of writers working together.

That Fruit Is Mine! by Anuska Allepuz This is a charming problem and solution story about learning to share and the power of working together. You’ll crack up watching the elephants’ many failed attempts to get delicious-looking fruit off a tree while simultaneously watching a tiny group of mice work together to get the yummy fruit, too. The problem is getting the fruit but only one animal group succeeds in a solution. Who do you think it will be? Great for prediction! (Also on: Picture Books That Teach Cooperation .)

Great, Now We’ve Got Barbarians! by Jason Carter Eaton, illustrated by Mark Fearing Mom says that if the boy doesn’t clean his room, he’ll get pests . . . which the boy thinks aren’t all that bad, right? However, things go downhill when barbarian “pests” start arriving. Because they eat everything, use his toys to clean out their ears, and steal blankets and pillows. So there is only one thing to do — CLEAN up his room. It’s a predictable but funny solution with the perfect forgot-to-clean-up twist at the end.

Walrus in the Bathtub by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Matt Hunt The worst thing about this family’s new home is the walrus in the bathtub. And walrus songs are very, very loud. It’s a big problem. The family tries lots of clever things to get the walrus to leave the bathtub but with no success. So they decide to move. Again. That’s when the walrus shows them his list — “ How to Make Your New Family Feel Welcome ” — which, surprisingly, includes all the things that annoy the family. It turns out the walrus was just trying to be nice. As a result, the family stays with a few *new* rules. This story will make you want your own walrus in a bathtub.

The Thingity-Jig by Kathleen Doherty, illustrated by Kristyna Litten Wordplay, problem-solving, and persistence! One day Bear finds a Thingity-Jig (aka. a couch), which he thinks is wonderful as a sit-on-it, jump-on-it thing. He asks his friends to help him carry it home but they’re too fast asleep, so Bear figures out some ideas to do it himself. He makes a Rolly-Rumpity! Which is a pack-it-up, heap-it-up, load-it-up thing. That isn’t enough to move the Thingit-Jig so Bear makes something else — a Lifty-Uppity. And then, a Pushy-Poppity. And at daybreak, he arrives back at home where his friends are waking up, with his special Thingity-Jig. Bingity…Bing…Boing…Bear falls asleep.

Someday is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Clara advocated for justice and equality during a time when Black people weren’t permitted the same rights as white people. As a teacher, she inspired her students to believe that change was possible. Clara and her students went to the Katz drugstore and asked to be served — even though the store didn’t serve black people. She and her students returned day after day despite people yelling and throwing food. Eventually, the Katz store relented and started to serve people of all races. Clara and her students finally could enjoy a Coke and a burger without trouble.

Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeannette Winter Based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, read how Wangari helped her country of Kenya whose forests were all but destroyed. She started planting trees which started a movement motivating other people to plant trees as well. This is an example of how narrative nonfiction book can also teach the plot structure of problem and solution .

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matt Myers When Alex gets a silly, sappy picture book called Birthday Bunny, he picks up a pencil and turns it into something he’d like to read: Battle Bunny. An adorable rabbit’s journey through the forest becomes a secret mission to unleash an evil plan–a plan that only Alex can stop. Not only does this mentor text model problem and solution, but also voice and revision.

When Pigs Fly by James Burke One day, an exuberant pig declares that he will fly. His sister observes with disbelief and horror as one attempt after another fails. The brother pig is so disappointed that he decides to give up. That’s when his sister comes up with an idea — something he hasn’t tried before that will help her brother fly — a pretend airplane. The pigs’ expressive illustrations are absolutely perfect as is the message of persistence despite failure.

Piper and Purpa Forever! by Susan Lendroth, illustrated by Olivia Feng Most stories have a problem and a solution but this story is a great example showing a little girl’s ability to creatively problem solve with a beautiful solution to her problem. Piper loves her beloved purple sweater, Purpa, and is so sad when she grows out of it. Will she be able to keep her sweater somehow?

KEEP READING

Picture Books to Teach Perspective

Picture Books to Teach Vivid Description

Favorite Book Character Costumes

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

More Learning Apps for Kids

10 Best Retellings of the Goldilocks Fairy Tale

The New Rick Riordan Book (Norse Dwarves, Elves, and Gods, Oh, My!)

10 Fascinating Rocks and Minerals Books for Ages 3 to 12

Let’s Talk About Nurturing Empathy in Our Kids

Answer These 5 Questions to See If Your Child Is Ready to Read

30 New and Notable Children’s Books About Problem Solving

October 3, 2021

Looking for the best children’s books about problem solving? These children’s books on problem solving for elementary students are engaging for primary and upper elementary kids. Books with lesson plans and activities linked. Picture books about problem solving with strategies, fiction, nonfiction, STEM and more for your kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth or fifth grade students. Your students will delight in these classic and brand new books!

If you’re a member of the Picture Book Brain Trust Community , you already have access to EVERY lesson plan and activity for these books! Just click on the Lesson Plans button in the menu!

Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah’s inspiring true story—which was turned into a film, Emmanuel’s Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey—is nothing short of remarkable.

Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people—but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Emmanuel’s Dream HERE

You can try a free lesson and activities for Emmanuel’s Dream by signing up here:

So Few Of Me by Peter H. Reynolds

Leo’s list of things to do keeps growing, until one day he wishes, “If only there were two of me.” Just as the words are out of his mouth, poof! Another Leo appears! Two Leos become three, three become four, and four become more . . . but Leo can’t help but notice that he has even more to do than before. As he struggles to deal with his overcomplicated life, Leo realizes that there may be a simpler solution to his overscheduling woes.

Get the lesson plan and activities for So Few Of Me HERE

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Her teacher smiled. “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw – she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. “There!” she says. A book that teaches that sometimes to solve a problem, you just need to start.

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Dot HERE

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

The girl has a wonderful idea. “She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look, and she knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Most Magnificent Thing HERE

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

When Floyd’s kite gets stuck in a tree, he’s determined to get it out. But how? Well, by knocking it down with his shoe, of course. But strangely enough, it too gets stuck. And the only logical course of action . . . is to throw his other shoe. Only now it’s stuck! Surely there must be something he can use to get his kite unstuck. An orangutan? A boat? His front door? Yes, yes, and yes. And that’s only the beginning.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Stuck HERE

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Giraffes Can’t Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it’s harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend.With light-footed rhymes and high-stepping illustrations, this tale is gentle inspiration for every child with dreams of greatness.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Giraffes Can’t Dance HERE

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Ada Twist’s head is full of questions. Like her classmates Iggy and Rosie—stars of their own New York Times bestselling picture books Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer —Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don’t go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Ada Twist Scientist HERE

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Some kids sculpt sand castles. Others make mud pies. Some construct great block towers. But none are better at building than Iggy Peck, who once erected a life-size replica of the Great Sphinx on his front lawn! It’s too bad that few people appreciate Iggy’s talent—certainly not his second-grade teacher, Miss Lila Greer. It looks as if Iggy will have to trade in his T square for a box of crayons . . . until a fateful field trip proves just how useful a mast builder can be.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Iggy Peck Architect HERE

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Rosie Revere dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends. Hot dog dispensers, helium pants, python-repelling cheese hats: Rosie’s gizmos would astound—if she ever let anyone see them.

Afraid of failure, she hides them away under her bed. Until a fateful visit from her great-great-aunt Rose (AKA Rosie the Riveter!), who shows her that the first flop isn’t something to fear—it’s something to celebrate. And you can only truly fail, if you quit.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Rosie Revere Engineer HERE

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty

Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day, when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill and he can no longer do so. Sofia (aka Sofi) misses her Abuelo and wonders what she can do about the dangerous Mount Trashmore. Then she gets an idea—the town can turn the slimy mess into a park! She brainstorms and plans and finally works up the courage to go to City Hall—only to be told by a clerk that she can’t build a park because she’s just a kid! Sofia is down but not out, and she sets out to prove what one kid can do.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Sofia Valdez Future Prez HERE

Journey by Aaron Becker

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? An amazing wordless picture book !

Get the lesson plan and activities for Journey HERE

What Do You Do With A Problem? by Kobi Yamada

WhatDoYouDoWithAProblem 01 1b1e3ea9 8112 480b be85 daef072166f0 2

From the same author and illustrator as the #1 nationally best-selling What Do You Do With an Idea? comes a new book to encourage you to look closely at problems and discover the possibilities they can hold.

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than it appeared.

Get the lesson plan and activities for What Do You Do With A Problem? HERE

Flight School by Lita Judge

A persevering penguin is determined to fly in this adorably inspiring picture book from the creator of Red Hat and Red Sled .

Although little Penguin has the soul of an eagle, his body wasn’t built to soar. But Penguin has an irrepressible spirit, and he adamantly follows his dreams to flip, flap, fly! Even if he needs a little help with the technical parts, this penguin is ready to live on the wind.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Flight School HERE

Jack’s Worry by Mark Zuppardi

Jack loves playing the trumpet, and for weeks he’s been looking forward to taking part in his first concert. But on the morning of the big day, Jack finds he has a Worry. And his Worry starts to grow. Even when Jack’s mother calls him for a special breakfast, even when he hides under the bed or runs around the yard, his Worry follows him. Suddenly, when it’s almost time to leave for the concert, Jack finds it’s all too much. For anyone who’s ever been afraid of failing at something new, this book offers just what’s needed to shrink a Worry down to size.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Jack’s Worry HERE

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate this gorgeous picture book about a man who exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forest’s residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe, whisper in his ear about the importance of trees and how “all living things depend on one another” . . . and it works.

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Great Kapok Tree HERE

Teach Us Your Name by Huda Essa

A girl is frustrated with her name and accepts people saying it incorrectly. A visit to her grandmother helps her think of how to solve her problem. Embracing the diversity of our names is one of the first steps we can take to show our appreciation of diversity and inclusion. Everyone has a name and every name has a story. Teach Us Your Name focuses on the many stories and ways we can all connect by helping children take pride in their many identities and to utilize the opportunity to learn from others. This book lends itself to countless invaluable discussions about cultural norms, languages, unconscious bias, and much more.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Teach Us Your Name HERE

Boxes For Katje by Candace Fleming

After World War II there is little left in Katje’s town of Olst in Holland. Her family, like most Dutch families, must patch their old worn clothing and go without everyday things like soap and milk. Then one spring morning when the tulips bloom “thick and bright,” Postman Kleinhoonte pedals his bicycle down Katje’s street to deliver a mysterious box – a box from America!

Full of soap, socks, and chocolate, the box has been sent by Rosie, an American girl from Mayfield, Indiana. Her package is part of a goodwill effort to help the people of Europe. What’s inside so delights Katje that she sends off a letter of thanks – beginning an exchange that swells with so many surprises that the girls, as well as their townspeople, will never be the same. Sometimes to solve a problem, we need help from our neighbors, even if they’re across an ocean. An amazing historical fiction picture book !

Get the lesson plan and activities for Boxes For Katje HERE

Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown’s problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes….

Get the lesson plan and activities for Click Clack Moo HERE

City Green by Dyanne DiSalvo-Ryan

Right in the middle of Marcy’s city block is a vacant lot, littered and forlorn. Sometimes just looking at it makes Marcy feel sad. Then one spring, Marcy has a wonderful idea: Instead of a useless lot, why not a green and growing space for everyone to enjoy?

Get the lesson plan and activities for City Green HERE

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Lilly loves all sorts of things. She loves school, she loves dressing up, she even grows to love her stinky baby brother, Julius. In fact, Lilly loves everything! But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse to school and can’t wait until sharing time to show off the purse and her movie star sunglasses, her teacher, Mr. Slinger, has to take away her prized possessions.

Lilly’s fury leads her to draw a mean picture of her favorite teacher. It isn’t until Mr. Slinger gives her belongings back to her with a kind note and snacks that Lilly realizes she owes Mr. Slinger an apology.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse HERE

Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna

Tommy Tittlebottom sees Mr Peabody taking an apple from Mr Funkadeli’s fruit market and is very surprised that he doesn’t pay. Then Tommy sees it happen again and decides that Mr. Peabody is a thief. Word spreads quickly around the town. When Mr Peabody arrives at the baseball ground, ready for the usual Saturday game, only Billy Little turns up and he soon explains what has happened. It is then up to Mr. Peabody to teach Tommy about the importance of truth and the power of words.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Mr. Peabody’s Apples HERE

The Three Questions by Jon Muth

Young Nikolai is searching for the answers to his three questions: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? But it is his own response to a stranger’s cry for help that leads him directly to the answers he is looking for. This profound and inspiring book is about compassion and being engaged in each moment. With his stunning watercolors — and text that resounds with universal truths, Jon J Muth has transformed a story by Leo Tolstoy into a timeless fable for readers of every age!

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Three Questions HERE

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba’s Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone’s crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind HERE

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham

Alaa loves Aleppo, but when war comes his neighbors flee to safety, leaving their many pets behind. Alaa decides to stay–he can make a difference by driving an ambulance, carrying the sick and wounded to safety. One day he hears hungry cats calling out to him on his way home. They are lonely and scared, just like him. He feeds and pets them to let them know they are loved. The next day more cats come, and then even more! There are too many for Alaa to take care of on his own. Alaa has a big heart, but he will need help from others if he wants to keep all of his new friends safe.

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Cat Man of Aleppo HERE

I Dissent by Debbie Levy

Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book about the Notorious RBG, tells the justice’s story through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.

Get the lesson plan and activities for I Dissent HERE

Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley

Once upon a time (but not that long ago), girls only wore dresses. And only boys wore pants. Until one day, a young girl named Mary had an idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants!

Get the lesson plan and activities for Mary Wears What She Wants HERE

Biblioburro by Jeanette Winter

Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Biblioburro HERE

Energy Island by Allan Drummond

At a time when most countries are producing ever-increasing amounts of CO2, the rather ordinary citizens of Samsø have accomplished something extraordinary―in just ten years they have reduced their carbon emissions by 140% and become almost completely energy independent. A narrative tale and a science book in one, this inspiring true story proves that with a little hard work and a big idea, anyone can make a huge step toward energy conservation.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Energy Island HERE

Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming

Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirr! That’s the sound of Papa at work. Although he is an inventor, he has never made anything that works perfectly, and that’s because he hasn’t yet found a truly fantastic idea. But when he takes his family fishing on Lake Michigan, his daughter Virena asks, “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a fish?”―and Papa is off to his workshop. With a lot of persistence and a little bit of help, Papa―who is based on the real-life inventor Lodner Phillips―creates a submarine that can take his family for a trip to the bottom of Lake Michigan.

Get the lesson plan and activities for Papa’s Mechanical Fish HERE

The Boy Who Grew a Forest by Sophia Gholz

As a boy, Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India’s Brahmaputra River. So he began planting trees. What began as a small thicket of bamboo, grew over the years into 1,300 acre forest filled with native plants and animals. The Boy Who Grew a Forest tells the inspiring true story of Payeng–and reminds us all of the difference a single person with a big idea can make. Sometimes to solve a problem, it takes a little bit of effort over a long period of time.

Get the lesson plan and activities for The Boy Who Grew a Forest HERE

Best Children’s Books About Problem Solving

What are some of your favorite children’s books about problem solving Are there any must read books about problem solving that I left out? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll add it!

Remember : You can try a free lesson and activities for Emmanuel’s Dream by signing up here:

Share with a Colleague:

Love Monster Resources

Snowflake Bentley Resources

Blue Resources

Hey there! I’m Josh from Picture Book Brain here to share only the best literature for you to use with your students. If you are looking for a specific book, use the search bar below to check my archives. Glad you’re here, and glad to help you!

find what you need

Become a member.

$1 Trial hundreds of library lesson plans and read aloud lesson plans for elementary librarians

find books you need

Get free training

Have a question?

membership info

21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Originally Posted Here

Super Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe that Kids Will Eat

Study finds increase in mental health spending for children, adolescents since the beginning of pandemic, related articles.

Whenever my son encounters a problem—be it building block pieces that won't fit together the way he wants them to, a door he can't open, or a bucket on the playground his friend won't share—my mom heart immediately leaps to help him. I want to solve his problems for him, to help him be happy and make life easy . . . but the truth I know deep down is that if I always help him, I'm not helping him at all. By allowing him opportunities to problem solve himself when a problem of appropriate difficulty arises, while it may be painful for both of us at the moment, I know he's developing crucial problem-solving skills, and problem-solving is one of those essential skills that, once developed, will serve children their entire lifetime. To help showcase different techniques for problem-solving, and hone metacognition for kids, we've collected here on this list the very best books for teaching problem solving through children's literature! Reading these problem-solving books with your child provides an unparalleled opportunity to have shared references to help you as a team through a learning moment when it arises, plus you'll get to enjoy the bonding moment of reading together! Some books are absolute classics, such as "The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear," that take a more humorous approach to problem-solving; others are popular titles you may be familiar with that take a more direct approach to flexible thinking techniques, such as New York Times Bestseller "What To Do With a Problem"; and some are hidden gems you may be discovering for the first time. There are books that teach social problem solving, highlight out-of-the-box thinking in innovation, speak to the role of teamwork in overcoming obstacles, and address the very real possibility that problem-solving may be needed to cope with failure at many stages of the process. Because problem solving is important in all of life's stages, this list includes board, picture and chapter books. Board books are best for infants and toddlers. Picture books are excellent for toddlers and also include stories for kindergarten and early elementary students (although we think picture books are great for all ages!). Chapter books are great for elementary- and middle school-age readers. If you know your target age group, feel free to filter to a single category, or just browse the entire list. Without further ado, enjoy this problem-solving list, and let us know what titles you would include!

Problem Solving .css-fjkx37{display:inline;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;-ms-appearance:none;appearance:none;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;vertical-align:middle;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;line-height:inherit;font-weight:500;transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-normal);height:auto;min-width:3rem;-webkit-padding-start:var(--chakra-space-6);padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-6);-webkit-padding-end:var(--chakra-space-6);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-6);background:none;color:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0.3em;padding-left:0px;border-bottom:2px solid;border-color:hsl(176,84%,41%);border-radius:0px;min-height:auto;font-size:inherit;position:relative;top:-2px;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;white-space:break-spaces;text-align:left;}.css-fjkx37:focus-visible,.css-fjkx37[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-fjkx37:disabled,.css-fjkx37[disabled],.css-fjkx37[aria-disabled=true],.css-fjkx37[data-disabled]{opacity:0.4;cursor:not-allowed;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}.css-fjkx37:active,.css-fjkx37[data-active]{box-shadow:inherit;} .css-idkz9h{border:0;clip:rect(0, 0, 0, 0);height:1px;width:1px;margin:-1px;padding:0px;overflow:hidden;white-space:nowrap;position:absolute;} Kids Books .css-104bggj{position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;--popper-bg:var(--chakra-colors-white);background:var(--popper-bg);--popper-arrow-bg:var(--popper-bg);--popper-arrow-shadow-color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-200);width:332px;border:1px solid;border-color:inherit;border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-md);box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-sm);z-index:inherit;max-height:calc(100vh - var(--fixed-height) - 4px);overflow-y:auto;font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);padding-top:var(--chakra-space-2);-webkit-padding-start:var(--chakra-space-3);padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-3);-webkit-padding-end:var(--chakra-space-3);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-3);}.chakra-ui-dark .css-104bggj:not([data-theme]),[data-theme=dark] .css-104bggj:not([data-theme]),.css-104bggj[data-theme=dark]{--popper-bg:var(--chakra-colors-gray-700);--popper-arrow-shadow-color:var(--chakra-colors-whiteAlpha-300);}.css-104bggj:focus-visible,.css-104bggj[data-focus-visible]{outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);} .css-1xhq01z{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;border-bottom:2px solid;border-color:inherit;} .css-1ovd7gv{outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-normal);font-weight:500;color:var(--tabs-color);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);padding-top:var(--chakra-space-2);padding-bottom:var(--chakra-space-2);-webkit-padding-start:var(--chakra-space-4);padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-4);-webkit-padding-end:var(--chakra-space-4);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-4);border-bottom:2px solid;border-color:var(--chakra-colors-transparent);margin-bottom:-2px;background:var(--tabs-bg);}.css-1ovd7gv:focus-visible,.css-1ovd7gv[data-focus-visible]{z-index:1;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-1ovd7gv:disabled,.css-1ovd7gv[disabled],.css-1ovd7gv[aria-disabled=true],.css-1ovd7gv[data-disabled]{cursor:not-allowed;opacity:0.4;}.css-1ovd7gv:disabled:active,.css-1ovd7gv[disabled]:active,.css-1ovd7gv[aria-disabled=true]:active,.css-1ovd7gv[data-disabled]:active,.css-1ovd7gv:disabled[data-active],.css-1ovd7gv[disabled][data-active],.css-1ovd7gv[aria-disabled=true][data-active],.css-1ovd7gv[data-disabled][data-active]{background:none;}.css-1ovd7gv[aria-selected=true],.css-1ovd7gv[data-selected]{--tabs-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-600);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-primary-500);color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-800);}.chakra-ui-dark .css-1ovd7gv[aria-selected=true]:not([data-theme]),.chakra-ui-dark .css-1ovd7gv[data-selected]:not([data-theme]),[data-theme=dark] .css-1ovd7gv[aria-selected=true]:not([data-theme]),[data-theme=dark] .css-1ovd7gv[data-selected]:not([data-theme]),.css-1ovd7gv[aria-selected=true][data-theme=dark],.css-1ovd7gv[data-selected][data-theme=dark]{--tabs-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-300);}.css-1ovd7gv:active,.css-1ovd7gv[data-active]{--tabs-bg:var(--chakra-colors-gray-200);}.chakra-ui-dark .css-1ovd7gv:active:not([data-theme]),.chakra-ui-dark .css-1ovd7gv[data-active]:not([data-theme]),[data-theme=dark] .css-1ovd7gv:active:not([data-theme]),[data-theme=dark] .css-1ovd7gv[data-active]:not([data-theme]),.css-1ovd7gv:active[data-theme=dark],.css-1ovd7gv[data-active][data-theme=dark]{--tabs-bg:var(--chakra-colors-whiteAlpha-300);} Audience Grade Level Age .css-8atqhb{width:100%;} .css-adm2jf{padding:var(--chakra-space-4);outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;-webkit-padding-start:0px;padding-inline-start:0px;-webkit-padding-end:0px;padding-inline-end:0px;} .css-165casq{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;gap:0px;} .css-xf5wi8{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;gap:0.5rem;padding-top:var(--chakra-space-3);padding-bottom:var(--chakra-space-3);-webkit-padding-start:var(--chakra-space-1);padding-inline-start:var(--chakra-space-1);-webkit-padding-end:var(--chakra-space-1);padding-inline-end:var(--chakra-space-1);border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-md);cursor:pointer;}.css-xf5wi8:hover,.css-xf5wi8[data-hover]{background:var(--chakra-colors-gray-50);} .css-1t9pz9x{width:20px;height:20px;} All Books Board Books Picture Books First Reader Books Early Reader Books Junior Reader Books Middle Grade Books Young Adult Books All Books Books for Pre K Books for 1st Graders Books for 2nd Graders Books for 3rd Graders Books for 4th Graders Books for 5th Graders Books for 6th Graders Books for 7th Graders Books for 8th Graders Books for 9th Graders All Books Books for 0-3 Year Olds Books for 3-5 Year Olds Books for 6-8 Year Olds Books for 9-12 Year Olds

Help Center
Gift a Book Club
Beautiful Collections
Schedule Demo

Book Platform

Find a Book
Reading App
Community Editors

Authors & Illustrators

Get Your Book Reviewed
Submit Original Work

Follow Bookroo

WOULD YOU LIKE ACCESS TO ALL THE FREEBIES FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS? ➔

10 Problem Solving Picture Books for Elementary Teachers – 2024

Reading aloud children’s books to your elementary students is a great way to introduce and teach problem solving. Below is a list of our favorite picture books to teach this social emotional learning topic. They all lend themselves well to facilitating rich classroom discussions around problem solving. Oona, Stuck, Rosie Revere, Engineer and The Paper Bag Princess are part of our problem solving SEL Unit , which includes interactive read aloud lesson plans among tons of other resources for teaching problem solving. Learn all about these problem solving picture books below and how you can use them to teach problem solving!

10 Problem Solving PIcture Books

Below are 10 quality problem solving children’s books for elementary teachers. Your kids will love these read alouds ! They are great for teaching problem solving, as well as many other concepts and skills.

1. Oona by Kelly DiPucchio

Oona lived in the ocean with her best friend, Otto. She was brave, creative, and resilient- like most treasure hunters. One day, she saw a crown in the middle of a rift, a hard to get area. She tried various plans to problem solve, but each time a different problem arose. Eventually, she quit. Then one day, as she was playing on a beach, she had an idea. Students will see Oona try many different problem-solving strategies to get the crown. Through patience and resilience, she gets the crown in the end! My Problem Solving SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!

2. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Floyd gets his kite stuck in a tree. He throws many different items into the tree trying to get the kite out. Everything he throws gets stuck in the tree and the kite still doesn’t come out. Eventually, Floyd has the idea to throw a saw into the tree. Although the kite came down, the rest of the items remained in the tree! Students will engage with Floyd as he tries many different ways to solve his problem. My Problem Solving SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!

3. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

This story is about a young girl named Rosie, who dreamed of becoming an engineer when she grew up. Rosie spends her time creating, but eventually hides them from loved ones because she is embarrassed that they will be failures. One day, her Aunt Rose comes to visit and teaches her that failure is part of success. Rosie learns an important lesson, as readers will, about patience, resilience, and the importance of problem-solving. My Problem Solving SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!

4. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Princess Elizabeth lives in a castle, wears expensive princess clothes, and is going to marry Prince Ronald. That is, until a dragon comes and smashes the castle, burns her clothes, and carries Prince Ronald to a cave. In this empowering fairytale, Princess Elizabeth is able to identify her self-worth and connect with character traits that actually have her leave Prince Ronald behind. This story reminds us that we can problem solve and feel empowered by our solutions! My Problem Solving SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!

5. What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

He tries to run from his problem and hide from his problem, but he realizes his problem just won’t go away. The boy starts to worry about what the problem is going to do to him. Eventually, he realizes that his worrying is making the problem worse than it is. He sets out to solve his problem, and when he solves it he discovers that problems hold beautiful opportunities. Students will learn about the importance of facing problems, and the great opportunities that can come out of them. Check out these What Do You Do With a Problem? activities !

6. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

In this story is a small mouse who goes for a walk through the forest. During his walk, the mouse runs into several larger animals that want to make a meal of him. The clever mouse tricks each animal by saying he is off to have lunch with a gruffalo, a made up creature that scares each animal off. While reading this story, students will be able to identify the problem and how it was solved by the mouse creatively. They may even think of times this has happened in their own lives! Check out these The Gruffalo activities !

7. The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Stantat

Beekle has a problem. Children in the real world have imagined all the other imaginary friends besides him. He is the only one left on Imaginary Friend Island. Instead of waiting for a child to imagine him, Beekle decides to go out to find his friend himself. He does the unimaginable and travels to the real world! This story shows a brave character solving a problem in quite a unique way! Students will enjoy seeing Beekle looking for his real-world friend, and make connections about problem solving along the way. Check out these The Adventures of Beekle activities !

8. Star in the Jar by Sam Hay and Sarah Massini

A little boy loved looking for treasure. He looked high and low, and one day came across an abandoned star. He asked his friends at school, but no one had lost a star. He kept this shiny treasure until the sky sent a message. It was looking for the lost star! This story lends itself to teaching about problem solving with this brother and sister duo as they find ways to get the star back with his family high in the sky. Check out these Star in the Jar activities !

9. On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex

In this book, a boy got gum stuck in his hair and it caused many other problems. There are so many people each with their own idea that the boy is overwhelmed. He shouts and asks everyone to get out. That’s when the wad of gum hops out of the boy’s hair and walks away. He finally found the solution, although the gum thought the boy was rude. This book is sure to keep students laughing as the boy faces problem after problem caused by the gum, leading to a great mentor text for teaching problem solving strategies. Check out these On Account of the Gum activities !

10. Harold and The Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

One night, Harold decided he would go for a walk into the moonlight. However, there wasn’t a moon to give off light, so Harold drew one. He set off on his walk drawing his setting as he went. Students will see that when problems arise, Harold draws solutions! Readers will have fun thinking of their own ways to solve the problems that arise in this charming story. Check out these Harold and The Purple Crayon activities !

Integrated SEL and Literacy Activities

Below are some integrated SEL and literacy resources for elementary teachers.

Our Problem Solving Unit , which is available individually or as part of a year-long SEL bundle , includes lessons for the first four books on this list. This unit is packed with lesson plans, teaching resources, games, and activities. Click an image below to either get this individual problem solving unit or get ALL 30 SEL units !

SEL Book Companions

As I mentioned earlier, I love teaching SEL skills using picture books . That’s why I created the Starts With a Story Collection. High quality children’s literature supports elementary teachers in delivering meaningful and accessible SEL lessons. All of the read alouds on this list are part of this book companion collection. Check out the book companions below!

In closing, we hope you found this list of problem solving picture books helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

How to Integrate SEL into Everyday Instruction
SEL Activities Students and Their Families Can Do at Home
Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
Read more about: ELEMENTARY TEACHING , SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM

You might also like these posts...

Would you rather printables for elementary students: september edition, back to school would you rather activities for elementary students, would you rather questions and activities for elementary students: june edition.

LET'S CONNECT

Hey there! I’m Jodi. I am a National Board Certified teacher with 17 years of experience in the classroom.

I created Clutter-Free Classroom to support busy elementary teachers like you!

FREEBIES FOR TEACHERS

Join the 75,000+ elementary teachers who receive free resources from us each week.

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

The Colorful Apple

Picture Books about Problem Solving

How can we teach students to problem solve? Using read alouds can lead to some powerful discussions about this important SEL skill. Here are a few picture books about problem solving to share with your class!

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here .

Flight School by Lita Judge

Little Penguin wants to fly! But his body wasn’t meant to take to the skies. It takes some problem solving and perseverance to help him do what he really wants.

What Do You Do with a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

Sometimes we have a problem and, no matter how much we ignore it, it just doesn’t go away. The problem just appears to get bigger and bigger. In this story, when the boy finally faces his problem, he realizes it is quite different than it appeared.

Grab this interactive read aloud for What Do You Do With a Problem?

Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty

Iggy is a small boy who loves to build! But then his teacher squashes his dreams of being an architect. A great story about not giving up and doing the things you love.

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Floyd’s shoe gets stuck in a tree. So he throws his shoe to get it down. Well, that gets stuck too. More and more things get stuck in the tree and Floyd has a real problem to solve!

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

A box is just a box…unless it’s not a box. It can lead to such imagination and creativity! A box can be anything you want it to be!

Grab the interactive read alouds for Social Emotional Learning!

Want more book titles? Check out this blog post for picture books about decision making skills !

What are some other picture books about problem solving that you read aloud in your classroom?

Want to save this list for later? Pin the image below!

– EXCLUSIVE BONUS –

Get Your FREE Picture Book List!

Make learning fun & engaging with book ideas for every subject.

This Reading Mama

Books with a Clear Problem and Solution

By thisreadingmama 5 Comments

When teaching kids how to comprehend and/or write fiction text, often times it’s good to start with books and stories that have a clear problem and solution text structure .

This means that the story line introduces characters and a problem at the beginning –> the character(s) try to solve the problem in the middle, which rises to a climax –> and at the end, the problem is solved, with the “good” guy winning.

The determining importance post , from our Reading Comprehension Series , has a great visual to SHOW this progression in fiction text. We also have lots of free, graphic organizers for fiction text structure here .

Books that Have a Clear Problem and Solution Text Structure - This Reading Mama

*This post contains affiliate links.

Books with a Clear Problem and Solution Structure

Today, I’m sharing 16 of our favorite books that feature a clear problem and solution structure to help kids see how fiction texts are often composed. By the way, these texts aren’t just great for comprehension, but can also be used to help kids WRITE their own fiction stories as well, an extra bonus!

Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber is about boy named Ira, who becomes anxious quite about what his friend, Reggie, will think of him if he brings his teddy bear over to spend the night. This is a GREAT book for teaching text-to-self connections as well as the problem and solution text structure.

Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey is a pun-filled book about a family pet, Hally Tosis, who has incredibly bad breath. The Tosis family tries to help Hally get rid of the bad breath to no avail. But dog breath may actually be a good thing, especially when two thieves visit the Tosis family!

Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola is about a little boy named Oliver who is clearly different than all the other boys at school. He’d rather paint, tap dance, and read instead of playing sports like all the other boys, which earns him the name, “Sissy.” But once he shows his dancing skills at the school talent show, he receives a new name – “Star.”

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion features a cute little family puppy who despises his baths. So much so, that he hides his bath brush and runs away. As he is away, he gets very dirty, from a white dog with black spots to a black dog with white spots. As hunger strikes, he heads home only to find that the family doesn’t recognize him.

The Little Engine by Watty Piper is a classic book that features a clear problem and solution structure as the little engine helps the broken down engine climb over the mountain to deliver toys to all the boys and girls on the other side of the mountain.

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina is such a fun and interactive book about a peddler who gets his caps stolen by a bunch of monkeys. He tries, in anger, to get his caps back, only to be mocked by the monkeys. What will he do to get all those caps back? Such a simple solution that kids may be able to predict as they read along.

Any of Kevin Henkes’ books are great for teaching the problem and solution text structure with fiction. One of my daughter’s favorites is Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse . Lily loves her purple plastic purse so much she brings it to school to share, but Mr. Slinger, her teacher, takes it from her. To get revenge, she draws a mean picture of her teacher only to have him see it. She begins to feel great remorse for her actions and wants to make amends. Will Mrs. Slinger forgive her?

Mo Willems is one of my kids’ favorite authors. Knuffle Bunny was probably the first book they were introduced to by him. Trixie and Daddy take a trip to the laudromat. On the way home, Trixie realizes Knuffle Bunny has been left behind. Follow the journey of Trixie and Daddy as they try to get Knuffle Bunny back. There are more Knuffle Bunny adventures including Knuffle Bunny Too , but I warn you to keep a tissue box handy when you read Knuffle Bunny Free .

Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill features a little girl, Jamaica, who finds a stuffed dog and hat at the park. She takes the hat to the lost and found, but decides to keep the stuffed dog for herself. She finds herself wondering if she’s done the right thing by keeping the dog. She finally decides to take it back to the lost and found and finds a friend along the way. This book is a great one to show that characters don’t always face external problems; sometimes characters have internal struggles and problems.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig is about a donkey named Sylvester who finds a magic pebble. Just then, a lion comes to attack him and he wishes to be a rock. Sylvester is changed into a rock, but he can no longer hold the magic pebble to wish himself back into his usual form. His family looks high and low for him and is eventually returned to his family. William Steig has such a way with words and his books can fit into multiple comprehension strategies, such as asking questions .

Enemy Pie by Derek Muson is such a fantastic book for many comprehension strategies. It’s been one of my favorites for a long time and I LOVE reading it to kids who have never heard the story. When a bully (Jeremy Ross) moves into the neighborhood, the young boy’s summer is ruined. That is until the young boy’s father says he can help get rid of the bully (enemy) by making him some enemy pie. The boy wonders: What is “enemy pie” and how does it work? Will it get rid of enemies? What does it taste like? Will “enemy pie” solve all his problems?

Camilla worries about what others think of her so much that on the first day of school, she wakes up with a bad case of the stripes…and much more! Her body adds on the ailments of every fear she has until a kind, old lady helps her to learn that it’s okay to just be herself. A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon has an explicit external conflict, but kids have to read “in between the lines” to get the internal problem Camilla faces and eventually conquers.

The Stray Dog by Marc Simont is one of the books we used an example for our determining importance post with fiction . A family goes for a nice picnic away from the city only to meet a cute, stray dog. They leave the park without the dog, but think about him all week. The next weekend, the family returns to the park, hoping that the stray dog will show up again. He does, but now they have another obstacle to overcome. Such a cute book and one that requires kids to pay attention to the story that the pictures also tell.

If I had a dollar for every Elephant & Piggie book we’ve read {and re-read} this school year, I’d be rich! 🙂 All of his books contain a clear problem and solution format, but in such a fun and playful way that kids WANT to read these. While the words are written for the 1st grade level, older kids will enjoy them, too. Waiting is Not Easy! is one of Mo Willems’ newest Elephant & Piggie books and was also featured in our determining importance post with fiction from our Reading Comprehension Series .

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is another classic book that features a clear problem and solution structure. Max is banished to his room without supper because of his behavior and falls asleep only to “wake up” in a world of wild things. Max begins to long for home again and wakes up to find that his mother has left his supper in his room to eat. I love how Sendak asks kids to read between the lines a bit to figure out how his supper got there and why. So adorable and such a classic!

More Book Lists You May Enjoy:

50+ Texts for Modeling Comprehension Strategies compiled This Reading Mama

50+ Books for Modeling Comprehension Strategies
Books to Help you Teach Comprehension
Letter of the Week Book Lists & Letter Packs

Books that Have a Clear Problem and Solution Text Structure complied by This Reading Mama

Want MORE Free Teaching Resources?

Join thousands of other subscribers to get hands-on activities and printables delivered right to your inbox!

April 25, 2016 at 6:38 pm

This was helpful. Thanks, I have most of these books.

November 4, 2016 at 11:22 am

Is this list available somewhere in document form?

November 4, 2016 at 11:47 pm

I don’t believe so, but that’s a GREAT idea!

December 7, 2020 at 7:51 pm

Loved the tips and advice in your article. You explained it well and I guess I am going to apply these in my future writing project. You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children. Come and visit my blog on Tips on How to Write a Story That’s Perfect for Children Hope this will help.

Thanks Attilio

January 8, 2021 at 9:19 pm

This is useful information that helps me in my future writing. Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. It is also to train your mind to imagination to think big. Keep it up!

10 of the Best Children’s Books That Promote Critical Thinking

Mikkaka Overstreet

Mikkaka Overstreet is from Louisville, Kentucky by way of Saginaw “Sagnasty”, Michigan. She has been an educator since 2006 and earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in 2015. By day she is a mild-mannered literacy specialist. By night she sleeps. In between, she daydreams, writes fiction, and reads books. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and cats.

View All posts by Mikkaka Overstreet

If you’re reading a post about children’s books that promote critical thinking, I assume you see the value in raising strong thinkers. Whether you’re a caregiver, educator, or potential employer, you want society’s children to develop complex reasoning and problem solving skills. These qualities benefit us all.

Unfortunately, there are people and groups more interested in an industrious than a thoughtful population. The general public doesn’t agree on the purpose of public education . Neither, it seems, do education stakeholders. During recent remarks, North Carolina state Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt declared 2022 “the year of the workforce.”

Truitt explained, “We have got to redefine what the purpose of K–12 education is. Some would say it’s to produce critical thinkers, but my team and I believe that the purpose of a public K–12 education is to prepare students for the postsecondary plans of their choice so that they can be a functioning member of the workforce.”

While that statement makes my skin crawl, it’s more than unsettling: it’s contradictory. Employers regularly cite problem-solving and critical thinking skills as ideal qualities they seek in employees. According to a study from the Association of American Colleges and Universities , 95% of employers view critical thinking specifically as “very important” or “somewhat important.” Thus, preparing kids to think critically is preparing them for the workforce — and beyond.

Undoubtedly, our society needs more critical thinkers . We have lots of problems, both old and new, that will require innovative solutions. The following books will help encourage the next generation of big thinkers.

Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. By signing up you agree to our terms of use

10 Children’s Books That Promote Critical Thinking

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López

The incomparable Jacqueline Woodson has done it again. In this newly released children’s book, readers journey into the vivid imaginations of the central characters. Woodson tells the story of children stuck inside because of bad weather. Rather than succumb to boredom, the children use their imaginations to escape the confines of their apartment. Surely, this will inspire children to dream big.

What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom

This inspiring picture book centers on a child with an idea. We get to follow the child as they nurture the idea and watch it grow. Undoubtedly, this simple story will resonate with anyone who has ever been afraid to share their big dreams with the world.

Shadow by Suzy Lee

This gorgeous wordless picture book is a guaranteed hit. The young protagonist uses her imagination and her shadow to create a fantasy world. Mirrored illustrations show both the true objects and the magical world the girl has built.

Going Places by Peter H. Reynolds and Paul A. Reynolds

I’m a big fan of Peter H. Reynolds’s work. He has a whimsical style and encourages creativity and self-love in his several excellent picture books. In this story, written with his twin brother, Reynolds introduces us to another uniquely wonderful protagonist. Maya enters a go-cart competition and must create a winning vehicle out of one of the identical kits given to all contestants. Of course, Maya doesn’t think inside the box she’s given. This is another fun story with a great lesson.

Mistakes Are How I Learn by Kiara Wilson

As we all know, mistakes are a part of the learning process. In this encouraging book, Wilson reminds kids to give themselves grace and space to make mistakes. Similar to The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes , this book is a good reminder for little perfectionists.

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

This picture book takes the well-known duck or rabbit puzzle and tells a story. Obviously, readers will feel compelled to see both sides of this argument. This is a humorous introduction to considering varying viewpoints.

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

In this Caldecott Honor winner, seven blind mice try to determine the identity of an unfamiliar object. In Young’s take on the classic Indian tale, each mouse only gathers partial information. Of course, it takes the wisdom of the seventh mouse to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle.

What To Do With A Box by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban

You can probably guess what’s going to happen in this book, right? Clearly, there’s a metaphor here. Enjoy all the things a child can imagine with outside-of-the-box thinking in this rhythmic tale.

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel

This book brilliantly executes a creative concept. Using strange and gorgeous illustrations, Wenzel depicts how differently individuals can perceive the same object. Consequently, readers are pushed to consider multiple viewpoints and how our perceptions color what we see.

solutions for cold feet and other little problems cover

Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems by Carey Sookocheff

Follow one little girl and her dog through the challenges of a normal day in this fun story. The girl asks lots of questions and persists when she encounters problems. This tale will inspire kiddos to see problem-solving as a positive and necessary part of life.

Hopefully, you’ve found something on this list that inspires you to think and dream. If you’d like more content like this, check out 7 Board Books for Woke Babies and 10 Science Books for Curious Kiddos . Read, think, and dream BIG!

8 Grim and Gruesome Medical Horror Books

Grades 6-12
School Leaders

Get our FREE Mother's Day Printable 💐!

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

58 Amazing Math Books for Young Mathematicians

You can count on them loving these reads.

$picture books for problem solving$

Math students often have a hard time understanding abstract math concepts. Enhancing your lessons with books about math for kids will help make connections while having fun in the process. Motivate your students while introducing new concepts, reinforcing ideas, and talking about all things math with some of our favorite books. We have you covered through the year with lots of elementary math topics using these children’s math books.

Sorting & Patterns

Book cover for The Animals Would Not Sleep as an example of math children's books

1. The Animals Would Not Sleep! by Sara Levine

Marco needs to get his stuffed animals organized before bedtime. He tries sorting them in lots of different ways, but they just won’t settle down. Kids will be clamoring to give him ideas!

Buy it: The Animals Would Not Sleep! at Amazon

2. Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy

A beautifully illustrated book about math that shows how flips, slides, and turns can create amazing symmetrical images.

Buy it: Seeing Symmetry at Amazon

Book cover for Pitter Pattern as an example of math children's books

3. Pitter Pattern by Joyce Hesselberth

Definitely add this to your list of children’s math books to introduce patterns. This fiction and nonfiction hybrid covers many types of patterns, including simple visual patterns, sound patterns, patterns in nature, and more.

Buy it: Pitter Pattern at Amazon

$Math at the Art Museum- math children's books$

4. Math at the Art Museum by Group Majoongmul

A little boy thinks his dad is telling a tall tale when he says elements of math are found in the art world. His mind is blown when he visits his local art museum with his family. Children’s math books help prove math is everywhere!

Buy it: Math at the Art Museum at Amazon

Addition & Subtraction

Book cover for Ten on a Twig as an example of math children's books

5. Ten on a Twig by Lo Cole

Ten adorably colorful birds sit happily on a branch—until they begin to fall off one by one! Subtraction is a hard concept to introduce to young kids, but this story makes it nice and concrete.

Buy it: Ten on a Twig at Amazon

6. Six-Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

If you are a cat person, you know felines are smart little creatures. Sid tricks six separate neighbors into thinking he belongs to each household, receiving six dinners every night. Will they figure out his little secret?

Buy it: Six-Dinner Sid at Amazon

$Monster Math, a math children's book, works on addition and subtraction skills.$

7. Monster Math by Anne Miranda

This cute children’s math book starts with a little monster patiently waiting for guests to arrive at the birthday party. As more and more arrive, kids can use addition skills to keep track. Once there are 50 guests, Monster Mom has had enough, and they begin to leave. This, of course, lends to using subtraction skills.

Buy it: Monster Math at Amazon

8. If You Were a Minus Sign by Trisha Speed Shaskan

This cute, colorful book meets the objective of teaching young students to comprehend their signs in math. This book is a great introduction to subtraction, which is necessary to continue building on throughout students’ math careers.

Buy it: If You Were a Minus Sign at Amazon

9., 10., & 11.: Math Is CATegorical Series by Brian P. Cleary

Rhyming text filled with funny, countable examples introduces basic math concepts for young readers and reveals that sometimes math is easier to show than explain. Pairing clever rhyming verse with comical cartoon cats, Brian P. Cleary and illustrator Brian Gable help children add up just how fun math can be.

Buy it: The Action of Subtraction , The Mission of Addition , How Long or How Wide? A Measuring Guide at Amazon

$Money Math- Addition and Subtraction-math children's books$

12. Money Math: Addition and Subtraction by David A. Adler

In this fun introduction to American currency, multiple past presidents introduce themselves and their denominations. Readers will learn about who is on each coin and bill, and what they’re worth—and how many of one it takes to add up to another.

Buy it: Money Math: Addition and Subtraction at Amazon

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday- math children's books

13. Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst

Alexander is given a dollar by his grandparents. As he stretches his imagination on how to spend it, count along with him. Kids will laugh while seeing the obstacles he faces along the way!

Buy it: Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday at Amazon

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money- math children's books

14. Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins

Follow a brother and sister team as they set out to make some money on a cold winter’s day. While lemonade may not be the best idea for the weather, they learn a good lesson about buying and selling goods. Count along with them as they try to make a profit.

Buy it: Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money at Amazon

A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many?- math children's books

15. A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many? by Brian P. Cleary

Learn all about different coins and bills in our currency system. Then count along with the help of fun rhymes and silly mathematician cat characters!

Buy it: A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many? at Amazon

Book cover for triangle as an example of books about math for kids

16., 17., & 18. Triangle, Square, and Circle by Mac Barnett

Kids love the humor and whimsical illustrations in the sassy stories in the Shapes trilogy. Great for talking about the attributes of different geometric shapes in a fun context.

Buy it: Triangle , Square , and Circle at Amazon

The Greedy Triangle- math children's books

19. The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns

Triangle is a busy shape! However, he is bored with the same routines. He asks the shapeshifter for another side and goes on adventures. This pattern continues until he no longer can keep track of himself. This is a great geometry book, and it also teaches a valuable life lesson.

Buy it: The Greedy Triangle at Amazon

Grandfather Tang's Story- math children's books

20. Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tompert

This Chinese folktale uses tangram shapes to bring the animal characters to life. Grab a class set of tangram puzzles and have your students create the different animals in the story as you read it.

Buy it: Grandfather Tang’s Story at Amazon

21. Circle Loves Pi: A Pi Day Story by Vea Lewis

Circle is a tough shape to measure. However, when his buddy Pi is around, circumference, volume, and area are a breeze to compute!

Buy it: Circle Loves Pi: A Pi Day Story at Amazon

Book cover for Which One Doesn't Belong as an example of books about math for kids

22. Which One Doesn’t Belong? by Christopher Danielson

Keep the mathematical talk going by talking about attributes of shapes and how they are the same and different. Observations about the shapes on each page can go in many different directions.

Buy it: Which One Doesn’t Belong? at Amazon

Book cover for Sir Cumference and the First Round Table as an example of math children's books

23. Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander

Brave knights, a strong ruler, and a dilemma that needs to be solved using math. Great for introducing geometry concepts in a fun and accessible way.

Buy it: Sir Cumference and the First Round Table at Amazon

Two of Everything- math children's books

24. Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong

Mr. Haktuk is working in his garden when he digs up an ancient pot. He and his wife soon learn it is a magical pot. They fill their hut with gold, excited that their luck has changed. When they both fall into the pot, the real trouble begins!

Buy it: Two of Everything at Amazon

Book cover for How Many? as an example of math children's books

25. How Many? (Talking Math) by Christopher Danielson

This really is “a different kind of counting book”! Each page has a thought-provoking photo in which readers decide what and how to count. If you’re looking for children’s math books to get interesting number talks flowing, this is it!

Buy it: How Many? (Talking Math) at Amazon

26. Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building by Kurt Cyrus

Watch as this busy construction crew creates impressive structures by grouping bricks by twos, fives, and tens. Kids will love the catchy repetitive verse and charming illustrations.

Buy it: Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building at Amazon

27. Counting on Fall by Lizann Flatt

As young readers journey into the natural world, they will discover numbers, patterns, shapes, and more. The colorful, collage style of the book will engage both children and adults.

Buy it: Counting on Fall at Amazon

28. Mrs. Wiggles and the Numbers by Lisa Konkol

Mrs. Wiggles is the best way to introduce children to the world of math. Bold and vibrant numbers combined with catchy rhymes make it easy to keep children entertained.

Buy it: Mrs. Wiggles and the Numbers at Amazon

29. Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun

A daring butterfly travels the world searching for the biggest number in a picture book filled with fun and facts. This is an entertaining way to teach kids about numbers larger than they could even imagine.

Buy it: Pebbles and the Biggest Number at Amazon

Measurement

Cover of the book Inch by Inch is a great example of math children's books

30. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Follow the adventures of an adorable inchworm as he measures different body parts of his animal friends. When a bird threatens to eat the inchworm if he can’t measure an intangible item, he gets creative. Kids love the colorful and whimsical artwork common to Lionni’s books.

Buy it: Inch by Inch at Amazon

31. How Tall? Wacky Ways To Compare Height by Mark Weakland

This wacky, laugh-out-loud introduction to height shows kids an easier way to understand measuring. The rhyming text makes it perfect for a read-aloud or to entertain young ones.

Buy it: How Tall? Wacky Ways To Compare Height at Amazon

Place Value

32. Place Value by David A. Adler

Love the story about monkeys jumping on the bed? You’ll adore this version that tells the story of the monkeys at Banana Cafe making one very large banana cupcake.

Buy it: Place Value at Amazon

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens- math children's books

33. Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neushwander

Sir Cumference and his friends are back! This time, they are busy working with place value and counting by tens. When tens, hundreds, and eventually thousands of unanticipated guests show up for King Arthur’s birthday, they need to figure out how to feed everyone ASAP!

Buy it: Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens: A Math Adventure at Amazon

Area and Perimeter

Book cover for Spaghetti and Meatballs for All as an example of math children's books

34. Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! by Marilyn Burns

Mr. and Mrs. Comfort are having a family reunion and need to arrange the tables so that everyone in the family can enjoy their fabulous spaghetti and meatballs. A witty tale by math guru Marilyn Burns.

Buy it: Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! at Amazon

Perimeter, Area, and Volume: A Monster Book of Dimensions- math children's books

35. Perimeter, Area, and Volume: A Monster Book of Dimensions by David A. Adler

Let’s go to the movies! Find the perimeter, area, and volume of movie theater staples with assistance from a cast of cute movie monster friends.

Buy it: Perimeter, Area, and Volume at Amazon

Number Sense

36. Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford

Delightful illustrations and a dreamy young girl pondering the vastness of the universe make a very difficult concept approachable and interesting.

Buy it: Infinity and Me at Amazon

37. A Very Improbable Story by Edward Einhorn

Ethan wakes up one morning with a strange cat on his head, and the only way it will agree to get off is if Ethan agrees to play a game of probability with it. This kooky book will entertain your students as it teaches a difficult concept.

Buy it: A Very Improbable Story at Amazon

38. Zero the Hero by Joan Holub

Kids will love this fun story with delightful cartoon illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld that teach the importance of zero as a placeholder in our number system. Without Zero the Hero, we wouldn’t be able to count beyond the number nine!

Buy it: Zero the Hero at Amazon

39. Equal Shmequal by Virginia Kroll

Mouse and her friends want to play a game of tug-of-war but have a hard time making the sides fair. This charming story teaches the concept of balance and equality.

Buy it: Equal Shmequal at Amazon

40. & 41. One Odd Day and My Even Day by Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed

Two more rhyming tales with colorful, busy illustrations that kids will love. In each of these children’s math books, a boy wakes up one day and finds that things are kookily out of order. Great as read-alouds or for independent readers who will love hunting through the detailed pictures to find the odd or even items.

Buy it: One Odd Day and My Even Day at Amazon

The cover of How Much is a Million demonstrates math children's books in a magical way.

42. How Much Is a Million? by David M. Schwartz

Children’s math books are especially helpful when demonstrating very large numbers since it shows a visual picture. Kids love hearing about the numbers in the millions, billions, and trillions, so this book will add to the excitement. With a mystical main character named Marvelossissimo the Magician and illustrations by Steven Kellogg, this book is beyond memorable.

Buy it: How Much Is a Million? at Amazon

Telling Time

Book cover for A Second, a Minute, a Week With Days In It

43. A Second, a Minute, a Week With Days in It: A Book About Time by Brian P. Cleary

A playful book with silly characters and perfect rhyming that teaches not just the basics of telling time but the tricky concept of relative time.

Buy it: A Second, a Minute, a Week With Days in It at Amazon

Math children's books include books about time, like If You Were a Minute, shown here.

44. If You Were a Minute by Tricia Speed Shaskan

How long is a minute, really, when trying to make sense of time? Kids can look at a clock and read the time, but this book helps them understand what can be done in different amounts of time to build deeper meaning. It is never too early to introduce time management skills.

Buy it: If You Were a Minute at Amazon

Division and Fractions

45. A Remainder of One by Elinor Pinczes

The 25th Beetle Army Corp is trying to solve the problem of how to divide their troops into equal groups for the parade march without leaving any stragglers. A fun rhyming book about math that will get kids thinking about how numbers are put together and pulled apart.

Buy it: A Remainder of One at Amazon

Book cover of The Great Divide, a picture book about math.

46. The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon by Dayle Ann Dodds

At the beginning of the story, 80 contestants are ready to compete in the Great Divide. Dangers lie ahead at every turn, causing more and more runners to leave the competition. Who will be left at the end and survive the obstacles?

Buy it: The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon at Amazon

Kids love the kids book about math The Hershey's Fractions Book because they can work with a Hershey bar during the reading of it as pictured on the cover.

47. The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Fractions Book by Jerry Pallotta

Incorporating children’s math books with tasty treats is a surefire way to get kids’ attention. Hershey’s chocolate bars are made up of 12 rectangles. Pass out a chocolate bar to each student. Then, use them with this book for a delicious, hands-on fractions lesson.

Buy it: The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Fraction Book at Amazon

48. If You Were a Divided-By Sign by Trisha Speed Shaskan

Celebrate a love of language and math with this book that includes a whimsical cast of characters to engage curious minds. Each set of problems introduces basic concepts using simple text and enhances the learning with silly and unexpected examples.

Buy it: If You Were a Divided-By Sign at Amazon

$fractions-in-disguise$

49. Fractions in Disguise by Edward Einhorn

If you are looking for a fun way to teach your students about reducing fractions, look no further. When a valuable fraction goes missing, George Cornelius Factor (aka GCF) immediately is on the case. He knows if he continues to reduce fractions, he will eventually solve the mystery.

Buy it: Fractions in Disguise at Amazon

$Math for Minecrafters- Adventures in Multiplication & Division$

50. Math for Minecrafters: Adventures in Multiplication & Division by Amanda Brack

This kid-friendly workbook features well-loved video game characters and concepts to reinforce the development of 3rd and 4th grade math skills. Puzzles use familiar items from Minecraft like diamond swords, suits of armor, zombies, and magical potions to encourage math practice in gamers.

Buy it: Math for Minecrafters: Adventures in Multiplication & Division at Amazon

Problem-Solving

$Book cover of The Grapes of Math, a picture book about math where kids can stretch their thinking.$

51. The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang

Good children’s math books hone in on problem-solving, identifying patterns, symmetry, and grouping. This one uses all four concepts to help students count in groups, instead of going one by one. Your students will think out of the box as they come up with ways to solve each math riddle. Watch the enthusiasm grow bigger with each turn of the page!

Buy it: The Grapes of Math at Amazon

Math children's books, like One Grain of Rice, help students problem-solve while learning a life lesson.

52. One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi

In this Indian folktale, a greedy raja keeps all of the rice for himself. As the rest of the village starves, a clever girl named Rani devises a plan. She makes a deal to receive one grain of rice, doubled, for 30 days. As time passes, over 1 billion grains of rice become available for all of the villagers to share. Problem-solving, along with multiplication, are a big part of this book. At the same time, the valuable lessons of fairness and sharing shine through.

Buy it: One Grain of Rice at Amazon

53. Seven Golden Rings by Rajani LaRocca

This story of a clever young boy in ancient India can be enjoyed on many levels. Bhagat must figure out how to stretch his family’s only fortune, seven golden rings, as far as possible—which leads to some creative mathematical thinking! To engage older students, use the afterword to introduce how to write numbers in binary.

Buy it: Seven Golden Rings at Amazon

$Math-terpieces- The Art of Problem-Solving$

54. Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving by Greg Tang

Help students master important skills while also gaining exposure to some of the world’s most famous paintings. This book focuses on grouping numbers and creating different combinations using visuals.

Buy it: Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving at Amazon

$Math Curse- math children's books$

55. Math Curse by Jon Scieszka

The main character of this children’s math book wakes up one morning only to find she has been placed under a math curse! Follow her through her day as she faces a different math problem everywhere she goes, while just carrying on with ordinary, daily activities.

Buy it: Math Curse at Amazon

The Chicken Problem- math children's books

56. The Chicken Problem by Jennifer Oxley

Peg and Cat are enjoying a picnic lunch on the farm, until it is interrupted by chaos; the chickens have escaped the coop! Help them solve mathematical problems in order to restore the peace.

Buy it: The Chicken Problem at Amazon

57. Problem-Solving Ninja by Mary Nhin

The Ninja Life Hacks series introduces pint-size characters in comedic books easy enough for young readers, yet witty enough for adults. This colorful book is perfect to teach about a growth mindset.

Buy it: Problem-Solving Ninja at Amazon

$The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply$

58. The Best of Times: Math Strategies That Multiply by Greg Tang

In this book, author Greg Tang takes on the times tables, teaching kids innovative ways to multiply numbers and derive answers without the need for memorization. This is one of the best children’s math books because it uses a simple, sing-song formula to allow kids to understand clever math strategies.

Buy it: The Best of Times: Math Strategies That Multiply at Amazon

Did you love these books about math for kids? Check out Second Grade Math Word Problems of the Day .

Want more articles like this be sure to subscribe to our newsletters , you might also like.

$Examples of math strategies such as playing addition tic tac toe and emphasizing hands-on learning with manipulatives like dice, play money, dominoes and base ten blocks.$

21 Essential Strategies in Teaching Math

Even veteran teachers need to read these. Continue Reading

Our Mission

10 Books That Model SEL Problem-Solving

These picture books demonstrate social and emotional learning skills as the characters participate in show-and-tell.

Student showing a dinosaur toy during show and tell presentation

As a kindergarten teacher, I struggled and strategized how to successfully conduct show-and-tell so that busy bodies and minds (including mine) could pay attention to peer presentations. I found my ultimate fix when I relegated show-and-tell to the role of “dinner theater.”

Students did presentations during lunch (snack time would work as well), and I quickly discovered that having everyone seated at tables, with their hands and mouths occupied during each presentation, helped with listening, processing, and formulating questions and comments.

Show-and-tell has been a feature of early childhood programs for decades. Originally considered to be a foundational activity for public speaking, it’s also a classroom community-building activity with great benefits for social and emotional learning (SEL). In a thoughtfully designed show-and-tell program, students can work on at least four CASEL social and emotional goals in two SEL domains: self-awareness and social awareness.

For a presenter, regarding self-awareness, show-and-tell can assist with integrating personal and social identity and with developing interests and a sense of purpose.

For an audience member, relating to social awareness, show-and-tell can assist with recognizing strengths in others and showing concern for the feelings of others.

The following picture books feature unique characters who share items and their interests with others. These titles can assist families, teachers, and students with SEL discussions about show-and-tell in a familiar read-aloud setting. Each title offers a unique way of viewing show-and-tell, and reading numerous titles allows everyone to consider a variety of scenarios associated with sharing parts of yourself with others as well as strategies for being an empathetic listener.

10 Picture books That Promote SEL

Clem and Crab , by Fiona Lumbers. While searching for treasures and trash on the beach, Clem discovers a crab. Crab hitches a ride back to Clem’s house and ultimately becomes part of Clem’s school show-and-tell presentation. Clem and Crab’s story ultimately inspires her classmates to action to help clean the beach for Crab. Corresponding coloring pages are available on the publisher’s Free Stuff page. Author-illustrator Fiona Lumbers reads her book in a Waterstones video. (Preschool–grade 3)

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Show and Tell Day! Adapted by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz, illustrated by Jason Fruchter. Daniel Tiger can’t find a toy from home to bring to show-and-tell, so he decides to make something instead. Daniel transforms a shoebox, a small blanket, and a sock ball into a bed for his stuffed animal Tigey. (Preschool–grade 2)

John’s Turn , by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kate Berube. This book is written from the collective student audience point of view. Young Matthew is apprehensive prior to the “Sharing Gifts” assembly, but he gathers his courage and performs a dance in front of the entire school. At the end of the performance, all of the students give Matthew a standing ovation. A corresponding teacher’s guide is available on the publisher’s website. Author Mac Barnett shares his inspiration for this book in a Candlewick video. (Preschool–grade 3)

Mr. Putter & Tabby Ring the Bell , by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard. Mr. Putter and his neighbor Mrs. Teaberry are young in spirit but old in years. They head back to first grade for a special show-and-tell presentation featuring Mr. Putter’s cat Tabby and Mrs. Teaberry’s dog Zeke. If this sounds like a terrible idea, you are right! (Kindergarten–grade 3)

My Heart Is a Compass , by Deborah Marcero. Rose wants to bring “something that had never been found” for show-and-tell. Using her imagination, Rose crisscrosses the universe guided by maps that she makes to seek out a unique object. Ultimately, she presents her maps and shares her journey at show-and-tell, which ultimately inspires her classmates to make their own maps. (Preschool–grade 3)

Our Favorite Day of the Year , by A. E. Ali, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. On the first day of kindergarten, Ms. Gupta tells her class that during show-and-tell, each student will select their favorite day to share. “That way, the class will celebrate it with you!” The class learns about and celebrates such holidays as Eid al-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, Las Posadas, and Pi Day. (Preschool–grade 3)

Pete the Cat: Show-and-Tell , by James Dean and Kimberly Dean, illustrated by James Dean. Pete brings his cool baseball mitt to school for show-and-tell. The mitt has been passed down through Pete’s family, and he loves to use it to play catch with his dad. At school, Pete compares his old, but much loved, mitt with the other objects that his classmates have brought in. Is his mitt cool enough? (Preschool–grade 2)

Show and Tell , by Rob Biddulph. Welcome to the most outrageous classroom “bring and brag” scenario ever. Twenty-six second graders compete for the most impressive show-and-tell object judged by their teacher. In this out-of-this-world tale, each student tries to outdo the previous classmate, and items range from a sunflower seed to Big Ben. (Kindergarten–grade 3)

The Show-and-Tell Lion , by Barbara Abercrombie, illustrated by Lynne Avril. At show-and-tell, Matthew blurts out that he has a baby lion named Larry. After fielding numerous questions from curious classmates, Matthew finds himself way in over his head. He shares his problem with his mother, who affirms his wonderful imagination but advises that he should reveal the truth. While his classmates are disappointed, Matthew pivots to sharing a book he has written about Larry’s adventures, which is an exciting show-and-tell. (Preschool–grade 2)

Threads of Me: Kente for Show and Tell , by Erica Asante, illustrated by Chengetai Lerato Masalethulini. Ama’s show-and-tell assignment is to bring in an object that represents her heritage. Ama consults with her grandmother, who tells her the traditional story of Ghana’s kente cloth and suggests bringing in kente that has been passed down through the generations in Ama’s family. (Kindergarten–grade 2)

Check Out the New Website Shop!

Novels & Picture Books

Anchor Charts

Favorite Math Picture Books

By Mary Montero

Share This Post:

Facebook Share
Twitter Share
Pinterest Share
Email Share

$math picture books upper elementary$

I love incorporating picture books into math, so I am ALWAYS looking for new math picture books to add to our collection. When I asked some of my favorite teacher friends on Instagram and our Inspired in Upper Elementary Facebook group for recommendations, they sure delivered!! I’ve compiled their suggestions, as well as many of my personal favorites, into this list of Amazon Affiliate links for you. You can also browse these titles in my Favorite Math Books Amazon storefront for easy shopping.

$math picture books$

Number Sense and Problem Solving

One Hundred Hungry Ants : You can cover quite a few skills with this one! Reinforce factors, prime/composite, square numbers, skip counting, and patterns with these ants who are determined to make it to a picnic.

Math Curse : I love this one for the beginning of the year! Your students will realize math is almost everywhere in their daily lives with this one. As an extension, challenge your students to identify math in the real world and create their own word problems.

Math Appeal , The Grapes of Math , and Math Potatoes : This series of math riddles will stretch your students’ problem solving abilities and encourage faster/easier math computations.

Great Estimations : This book is such a hit! Do you know those people who are just uncannily good at those “guess how many objects are in a jar” questions? THIS book will help your students master estimations too.

Math-terpieces The Art of Problem Solving : Explore the four basic rules of problem solving. This one is challenging and also incorporates art history.

Measurement and Geometry

How Big Is A Foot : The king wants to give the queen a bed, but how on earth will he figure out what size to make it?? Practice standard and nonstandard measurements with this fun read aloud.

Spaghetti and Meatballs for All : This is a delicious book for practicing perimeter and area.

The Greedy Triangle : Find out what happens when this triangle keeps adding angels and shapeshifting into other polygons.

Multiplication

One Grain of a Rice : This is an engaging folktale that is great for higher level problem solving and multiplication skills.

Even Steven and Odd Todd : Two cousins, one who prefers evens and one who prefers odds, spend some time together and you can probably guess how that goes. Activities are included at the end of the book for extensions.

Two of Everything : This is a great book for discussing doubles.

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Multiplication : Who doesn’t love enjoying a little treat once in a while with their class? It’s packed with arrays and multiplication skills.

This post with tips for teaching multiplication facts also has some great multiplication books in it!

The Doorbell Rang : Uh-oh, guests keep arriving which means the cookies keep dividing. It’s easy to see why this one is an Amazon teachers’ pick!

A Remainder of One : The ants are back and this time they’re working on division skills. You can practice remainders and divisibility rules with this one, as well brush up on even number skills.

The Cookie Fiasco : Three cookies. Four hungry animals. Your students will quickly do the math and realize fractions are at play here.

Full House: An Invitation to Fractions : The Strawberry Inn is full of guests and there isn’t enough cake to go around for dessert, so your students will use their fraction skills to make sure everyone gets a bite.

Apple Fractions : This is a nice introduction to fractions and when used at the beginning of the year, it’s perfect for fall apple themed units too.

Polar Bear Math : This true story of baby polar bears from the Denver Zoo uses lots of math as the caretakers learn to take care of the new babies.

Equal Shmequal : This book serves double duty. You can use it early in the year to help students solve missing factor equations, but you can also use it again for equivalent fractions.

Twizzlers Percentages Book : Learning percentages is more fun with Twizzlers!

Pigs Will Be Pigs : Pigs want to buy dinner, but they need to find more coins first. Your students will practice adding and subtracting decimals to what the pigs can order.

Tiger Math : If your students loved the polar bear math, then this book is a must-have for graphing skills. It’s also based on a real animal at the Denver Zoo, whose caretakers must make sure the SIberian tiger cub is growing healthy and strong.

Inspiring Mathematicians

The Boy Who Loved Math : Paul Erdos traveled the world to work with other mathematicians. This biography follows his eccentric life.

Nothing Stopped Sophie : Sophie Germain overcame challenges of her time to became the first woman to win a grand prize from France’s prestigious Academy of Sciences. Her work laid the groundwork for modern architecture, which is featured in the book’s illustrations.

The GIrl With a Mind for Math : Raye Montague wanted to become an engineer, but had to overcome sexism and racial inequality to breakthrough in the field. Now she’s known as a pioneer who changed the course of ship design forever.

$math picture books$

I’m Trying to Love Math : This book is about things and people who use math in amazing ways. Your students will discover that math is all around them in music, spacecrafts, and even cookies!

$math picture books$

Counting on Katherine : This book tells the story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures.

More Favorites

If you’re looking for more math picture books and great math resources, check these out!

Sir Cumference Book Series: This series of ten books covers tons of math skills. Number sense, geometry, graphing, and more are all represented.

Greg Tang is an author and math expert with a great website.

Marilyn Burns is an incredible math educator. Her website is a great resource!

$upper elementary math picture books$

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

You might also like…

Setting2BHigh2BAcademic2BStandards2B252812529

One Comment

Pingback: Math Workshop Ideas for Upper Elementary - Teaching with a Mountain View

Comment “EARTH” to grab a link to these math and reading Earth Day Resources! 🌎 There is everything from original podcasts to reader’s theatre tasks to planning and planting new grids of trees! It’s perfect for this week or next. ☀️

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Lost your password?

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

DON’T MISS A THING! SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

April 10, 2024

Peaceful Reads: Picture Books About Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution strategies are essential life skills for your students to develop. Picture books offer a unique and engaging way to introduce children to conflict and resolution, providing them with tools to manage disagreements constructively. This blog post will explore the benefits of using picture books to teach conflict resolution.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, I will get a small referral fee and you will be supporting me and my blog at no extra cost to you, so thank you! You can find more information here .

The Importance of Teaching Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an important life skill that all children need to know. It can be difficult for young students to resolve conflicts peacefully; it can be much easier with the right picture books. Sharing these books with your students encourages discussion on conflict resolutions that work and can be incorporated into their everyday lives.

Enhances Emotional Intelligence : Understanding and managing emotions is key to resolving conflicts. Picture books help children identify and express their feelings.
Improves Communication Skills : Learning to communicate clearly and listen to others is essential for resolving conflicts. Picture books provide examples of effective communication.
Fosters Empathy and Understanding : Recognizing different perspectives is crucial in conflict resolution. Through stories, children can see the world from someone else’s point of view.
Builds Problem-Solving Skills : Resolving conflicts often requires creative problem-solving. Picture books can inspire children to think of innovative solutions.

Two young children, a boy in a blue jacket and a girl in a pink shirt and purple hat, are depicted in picture books about conflict resolution, standing face-to-face with arms crossed in an outdoor

Benefits of Learning Conflict Resolution Strategies

Gives your students ways to resolve disagreements independently.
Enables your students to prevent disputes from escalating.
Gives you more time for teaching and less time managing social issues and disruptions.
Improves self-confidence and self-esteem.
Gives your students life-long skills.

Why Read Picture Books About Conflict Resolution?

Using picture books about conflict resolution lets your students read about different types of conflict and solutions for resolution.

Relatable Stories : Picture books feature characters and situations that children can relate to, making the abstract concept of conflict resolution more concrete.
Visual and Verbal Cues : The combination of text and illustrations helps convey complex ideas like emotions and social interactions in an accessible way.
Promotes Engagement : Picture books capture children’s attention, making them more receptive to learning about difficult topics such as conflict.

They also illustrate:

conflict between people is normal; we don’t always agree.
how ignoring a conflict can escalate it.
how both sides of the conflict are thinking and feeling.
the consequences of actions and words.
how some conflicts are easily solved others are not.
strategies for effective conflict resolution.

Five children of diverse backgrounds sitting together, reading picture books about conflict resolution in a library.

How to Use Picture Books to Teach Conflict Resolution

Select Appropriate Books : Choose picture books that depict conflicts and resolutions in a way that is appropriate for the children’s age and development level. Look for stories that present various types of conflicts and multiple ways of resolving them. Scroll down for examples.
Discussion and Reflection : After reading, discuss the conflict in the story, focusing on the characters’ feelings, actions, and resolution. Encourage children to reflect on how they might handle similar situations.
Creative Expression : Encourage children to draw or write about conflicts they’ve experienced, how they solved them, or how they might solve them differently now.

Questions to Use with Picture Books about Conflict Resolution

Why did [character] and [character] disagree/have conflict?
What can they do or say to sort out their differences?
What advice would you give [character]?
Why did [character] start an argument with [character]? What would have been a better way to deal with the situation?
What could they have done to stop their conflict from getting out of control?
Would the strategies used by [character] be useful to you? How/Why?
What was the conflict in the story?
How did the characters feel when they encountered the conflict?
What steps did the characters take to resolve the conflict?
Can you think of a different way to resolve the conflict in the story?
Can other people be affected by a conflict between others? How/Why?
List effective conflict resolution strategies to deal with disputes and disagreements.
Why is it important to resolve conflicts?
How do you feel when you’re in a conflict with someone?
What role does compromise play in conflict resolution?
How can we make sure everyone feels heard during a conflict?
Why is it important to understand the other person’s perspective?
Can you think of a time you resolved a conflict? How did you do it?
How do apologies help in resolving conflicts?
How can we ensure a fair resolution for everyone involved?

Picture Books about Conflict Resolution

In this list, you will find characters who show both the positive and negative sides of conflicts. They get angry and frustrated, cool off before reacting, listen to different perspectives, take responsibility for their actions, and work cooperatively to find solutions.

The Banana-Leaf Ball: How Play Can Change the World by Katie Smith Milway

Deo flees his home and ends up alone in the Lukole refugee camp in Tanzania. Tensions run high among the kids until a coach organises a football game with a ball made from banana leaves.

The Banana-Leaf Ball promotes discussions on resilience, the power of play, unity, overcoming adversity, and finding common ground.

A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems

This is the first of two picture books about conflict resolution by Mo Willems. Piggie finds a ball only for a ‘big guy’ (a whale) to take it. Gerald confronts the whale despite his apprehension due to its size. The whale thought the ball was unclaimed and happily shared it.

A Big Guy Took My Ball promotes discussions on sharing, misunderstandings, assumptions, apprehension, courage in the face of fear, and communication in preventing conflicts.

Cheese Belongs to You! by Alexis Deacon

Rat Law is simple: if you find some cheese, it belongs to you unless a bigger rat wants it. When chaos ensues, the rats soon learn cooperation and sharing are more beneficial than continuous competition.

Cheese Belongs to You! explores the struggle for resources, power dynamics, cooperation over competition and understanding rules and their implications.

The Christmas Truce by Carol Ann Duffy

In Carol Ann Duffy’s poem, British and German soldiers in World War I found common ground during a temporary cease-fire. During a temporary cease-fire, they shared songs, stories, and a football game in No Man’s Land.

The Christmas Truce invites discussions on conflict resolution, compromise, recognizing shared humanity amid strife, empathy, peace, and shifting perspectives.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

When Farmer Brown’s cows stumble upon a typewriter, they start typing letters demanding electric blankets. Things escalate quickly as the cows strike, and Duck is the mediator. But the peace doesn’t last long when the ducks have their own demands!

Click, Clack, Moo story promotes dialogue about fair negotiations, communication’s power, and the essence of compromise.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

A box of crayons have decided to quit their jobs. Each crayon leaves a letter for Duncan, their owner, explaining their grievances and requests for improved working conditions.

The Day the Crayons Quit explores communication, perspective-taking, feelings, having a voice, and understanding and responding to the needs and wants of others.

The Day No One Was Angry by Toon Tellegen

In twelve short stories, different animals deal with their unique expressions and experiences of anger. The Day No One Was Angry sparks conversations about understanding anger, empathy, acknowledging and expressing emotions, the impact of our actions on others, and conflict resolution.

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

When Jeremy moves into the neighbourhood, he snubs the protagonist. The boy’s father suggests making an enemy pie, but it will only work if he spends the whole day with his enemy (Jeremy). They end up having so much fun the boy doesn’t need the pie.

Enemy Pie promotes discussions on making friends, overcoming prejudices, resolving conflicts, and reevaluating first impressions.

The Fragile World by Alexandra Mîrzac

A conflict, with a long-forgotten reason, exists between the Reds and the Blues in a china cabinet. An all-out war began after the Blues tried to paint the Reds blue. When everything is destroyed, the Reds and Blues realise they are stronger together.

The Fragile World promotes discussions on conflict resolution, tolerance, accepting differences, cooperation and war.

Henry and the Kite Dragon by Bruce Edward Hall

Henry Chu loves helping his friend, Grandfather Chin, create kites in the shapes of butterflies, caterpillars, and dragons. Their peaceful pastime is disturbed when kids from Little Italy throw rocks at their beautiful creations.

Henry and the Kite Dragon delves into conflict resolution, friendship, family bonds and the love for art.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson

Hiawatha, chief of the Onondaga tribe, overcame many challenges to unite the five Iroquois nations. Translating messages of forgiveness, unity, and peace, he forgives the tribe that killed his family.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker explores peace and unity in resolving conflicts, historical events and their relevance today, and a deeper understanding of indigenous cultures.

Hot Day on Abbott Avenue by Karen English

Best friends Kishi and Renée are waiting for each other to apologise. They sit on their front porches, but before long, they forget their fight and join in the fun.

Hot Day on Abbott Avenue inspires discussions on conflict resolution, forgiveness, and positive friendships. Friendship’s ups and downs underline that bonds can endure even after a quarrel..

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle

Saying sorry isn’t always easy. This book shows how and why it is important, particularly if the apology is sincere. It looks at different ways to apologize and shows how it is important for the person who receives the apology and the one giving it.

Read How to Apologize to promote discussions on sincerity, self-reflection, taking responsibility for our actions, forgiveness, and conflict resolution.

The Hueys in it Wasn't Me by Oliver Jeffers

Gillespie comes across an argument among a group of Hueys. They keep blaming each other until one Huey asks what they are arguing about. The problem is, no one can remember!

The Hueys in It Wasn’t Me sparks conversations about conflict management, individuality, peaceful resolution, and the value of individual ideas within a group that largely thinks alike.

Kiki Kicks by Jane Yolen

At school, Kiki often feels belittled by bullies who misuse their strength. During the karate lesson, she starts to see positive changes in herself.

Kiki Kicks encourages discussions about self-confidence, conflict, self-empowerment, changing perspectives, and dealing with bullies.

Lenny and Benny by Naama Benziman

Lenny lives by the forest’s edge, tending to his roses, sipping cocoa, and practicing for jumping competitions. However, when Benny moves in nearby and begins to outshine him, Lenny feels envy and rivalry. A modern reimagining of an ancient tale from the Jewish Talmud.

Lenny and Benny sparks conversations about the impacts of jealousy and competition on relationships and the significance of reconciliation.

The Line in the Sand by Thao Lam

As a monster leaves a line in the sand, two friends stumble upon it, triggering a wave of confusion and suspicion. As they wonder why the line is there and whether they should cross it, they question each other’s intentions, leading to misconceptions and conflicts.

The Line in the Sand discusses misunderstandings, conflict resolution, communication, personal boundaries, empathy, understanding, and peaceful communication.

I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems

This is the second of two picture books about conflict resolution by Mo Willems. Piggie gets a new toy and can’t wait to share it with her friend Gerald. When Gerald accidentally breaks the toy, it creates tension. With help from a squirrel, they realize their friendship is more important than any toy.

I Love My New Toy! sparks conversations about understanding, forgiveness, conflict resolution and valuing relationships over material things.

Book Chaos? Go Digital, Get Organized!

Hit the button to save yourself from the piles of book ideas you have, never to be looked at again.

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds

As Nerdy Birdy gets caught up in the digital world, he neglects his best friend, Vulture. When the bird posts an unflattering picture of Vulture, it leads to a fallout. Eventually, Nerdy Birdy learns to consider others’ feelings.

Nerdy Birdy Tweets explore the responsible use of social media, respect for others’ privacy, balancing real life with online activities, making amends, and being mindful of others’ feelings.

Odd Dog by Claudia Boldt

Peanut doesn’t care for bones; instead, he has a peculiar love for apples. His apple tree is his pride and joy, but he becomes anxious that his neighbour, Milo, might steal his beloved apples.

Odd Dog explores uniqueness, personal preferences, friendship, sharing, overcoming fears, accepting others’ differences, and conflict resolution.

One by Kathryn Otoshi

This is the first of two picture books about conflict resolution by Kathryn Otoshi. Bully Red picks on quiet and shy Blue. Blue wishes he could be more like his other friends – sunny, bright, or regal. The number One arrives, unites all the colours, and teaches them how to stand up to Red.

One provides a way to discuss bullying, standing up for oneself, tolerance, conflict resolution, and the importance of respect and unity.

One Little Word by Joseph Coelho

Two best friends who get into a “big, hairy argument”. This disagreement grows into a monstrous entity that comes between them. They eventually learn how to shrink this monster until it disappears, restoring their friendship.

One Little Word promotes discussions on relationship skills, conflict resolution, communication, and emotional intelligence.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Princess Elizabeth is a resourceful young girl who must outsmart a dragon to save her prince while dressed in a humble paper bag. The Paper Bag Princess explores empowerment, courage, independence, challenging traditional gender roles, strength of character over appearance and that real heroines can save the day with their wit and courage, regardless of appearance.

Ravi's Roar by Tom Percival

Ravi couldn’t reach the monkey bars or find anyone during hide and seek and was too small for the big slide. It all gets too much and triggers a tantrum, transforming him into a roaring tiger. He learns to control his anger when he realizes his roar scares everyone away.

Ravi’s Roar inspires conversations about self-control, self-management, understanding our feelings, and the impact of our actions on others.

Rock and Roll by Hazel Terry

Over centuries, two boulders, Rock and Roll, have peacefully coexisted until humans discovered and decorated them. The boulders are jealous of the other’s decorations, causing conflict in the tranquil mountain environment.

Rock and Roll explores the complexities of emotions, the destructive force of jealousy, and the need for harmony, balance and mutual appreciation.

Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler

The Sandwich Swap by Kelly DiPucchio

Lily and Salma have different lunch preferences, reflecting their cultural backgrounds. One day, they swap sandwiches to try something new, leading to misunderstandings but eventually deepening their friendship.

The Sandwich Swap explores cultural diversity, misunderstanding, acceptance, shared experiences, the courage to try something new and personal growth.

The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright

Cyril and Bruce set their sights on the very last nut of the season, leading to a frantic squabble. They learn valuable lessons about sharing and the perils of greed.

The Squirrels Who Squabbled explores the consequences of greed and the benefits of sharing, being unprepared, competitive attitudes, conflict resolution and changing seasons.

The Steves by Morag Hood

Two puffins named Steve engage in a colourful competition to establish who is the superior, Steve. They argue over who is older, better, and more “Steve-like.” However, they soon realize there’s more to life than arguing and competition.

The Steves explores identity, the impact of competitiveness, conflict resolution, and accepting others as they are.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas

Three little wolves head out into the world to build new sturdy homes. But these houses are no match for the big bad pig. The wolves have to be innovative to outwit and transform the pig.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig inspires conversations about non-violence, transformation through kindness, alternative solutions to conflicts, not giving up despite setbacks and harmony over conflict.

There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins

An exasperated mouse finds a bear sitting on his chair. It tries numerous tactics to remove the bear, but nothing works until he finally gives up and leaves, only for the bear to vacate the chair and return home to a surprise.

There’s a Bear on My Chair explores problem-solving, patience and persistence, conflict resolution, roll-reversal, frustration and compromise.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

A small fish has stolen a hat from a bigger fish and is completely confident that it won’t get caught. However, it is oblivious to the determined larger fish out to reclaim what’s rightfully his.

This is Not My Hat promotes discussion about honesty, integrity, responsibility and the idea that every decision carries consequences.

The Tiger Who Would Be King by James Thurber

A tiger decides he wants to be the king of the beasts and attempts to prove himself worthy of the title. The tiger uses violence and intimidation in his relentless pursuit of power. His misguided belief in his own superiority ultimately leads to his downfall.

The Tiger Who Would Be King explores the dangers of arrogance and its negative impact, the values of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and respect for others.

Two by Kathryn Otoshi

This is the second of two picture books about conflict resolution by Kathryn Otoshi. Best friends One and Two do everything together until Three comes along, and Two feels left out. An escalating argument occurs between the odd and even numbers. Zero encourages Two to be the bigger number and stop the divisions.

Two sparks conversations about friendship, conflict resolution, personal growth, expressing feelings openly, resilience and self-discovery.

The Two Bullies by Junko Morimoto

Ni-Ou from Japan and Dokkoi from China are the strongest in their countries. They decide to prove their strength by fighting, but these bullies are intimidated by each other and never fight.

The Two Bullies explores misunderstanding, perceptions of strength and bravery, bullying and its effects and conflict resolution.

Two For Me, One For You by Jörg Mühle

Bear and Weasel, love mushrooms. On her way home, Bear finds three mushrooms, but a problem arises when they have to share them. A wily fox steps in and resolves their dispute, but not without sparking unity between Bear and Weasel against this interloper.

Two For Me, One For You promotes discussions on friendship, problem-solving, unity, conflict resolution, and fairness.

Up the Creek by Nicholas Oldland

Three friends embark on a canoeing adventure. Their journey takes a turn when they find themselves stranded on a rock due to their disagreements. Things improve when they work together.

Up the Creek promotes discussions on teamwork, respect, conflict resolution, appreciation of individual talents, and the importance of cooperation.

War by José Jorge Letria

War is born from fear, driven by hatred and ambition. It leads to conflict, devastation, and destruction. Even after it ends, fear and hatred remain, ready to trigger the next war.

War, translated from Spanish, illustrates the cyclical nature of conflict, the role fear and hate play in perpetuating war and the personal and collective responsibility to break this cycle.

The Wall in the Middle of The Book by Jon Agee

A knight is overly worried about the perceived dangers on the other side of a wall, oblivious to the actual threats on his side.

The Wall in the Middle of The Book illustrates the fear that stems from the unknown and emphasises the importance of open-mindedness and a tolerant outlook towards different situations.

The Way of the Ninja by David Bruins

A frustrated ninja plays alone when Bear and Cowboy don’t want to play his way. He concludes it is better to compromise with his friends than play by himself.

The Way of the Ninja promotes discussions on understanding and respecting others’ boundaries, the need for compromise in relationships, and the joy of shared experiences.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Join Penelope Rex through the ups and downs of starting school. She learns important lessons about empathy and making friends when she struggles with self-control.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates explores the power of empathy, understanding others’ perspectives, and developing self-management skills to navigate social situations and the consequences of our actions.

Teaching conflict resolution through picture books is a powerful strategy for helping children develop essential life skills. These books entertain and educate, providing safe and relatable contexts for children to learn about managing conflicts.

Do you use any of these picture books about conflict resolution with your students? Or do you use other books to reinforce effective conflict-resolution strategies? Let me know!

Picture Books That Teach Problem Solving

A young child using her problem solving skills to play a math game.

Children are natural problem solvers, and they often find creative solutions and workarounds that adults can miss. It helps that youthful optimism makes it easy to change perspective to find answers. In fact, the Jewish value of optimiyut (optimism) is also a term used for the ability to solve problems.

These nine picture books tackle all kinds of problems, from finding lost items to environmental issues . Each also teaches children lessons about ingenuity and resilience.

¿Dónde está Shmata? by Tana Ross

Recommended for ages 3 to 4

Shmata is missing! Is it there behind the pillow — or is that an armadillo? Lift the flaps to help the little kid in this book find a beloved blankie in this sweet story set in Latin America

The Littlest Pair by Sylvia Rouss

There isn’t one animal happy to see a pair of termites come aboard their temporary floating home. When things aboard the ark get slippery and uncomfortable and the little termites have a solution to their problem, all those creatures quickly change their tune.

Book Cover Art for 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh

Taking care of the world may feel like a very big job, but even very little people can help. From turning off lights to using both sides of a piece of paper, this book offers easy reminders for all of us to help protect our planet.

Book Cover Art for Just Enough and Not Too Much

Just Enough and Not Too Much by Kaethe Zemach

Simon is a fiddler who loves a lot of things -- and consequently fills his house with a lot of stuff! Eventually there’s so much stuff there’s barely room to move around. What should he do?

Book Cover Art for A Watermelon in the Sukkah

A Watermelon in the Sukkah by Sylvia Rouss

Recommended for ages 4 to 5

Michael’s teacher told all her students to bring their favorite fruit to school so they could hang them from the roof of the sukkah. But Michael’s favorite fruit is a big, heavy watermelon -- and the roof of a sukkah is really just branches! How will they solve this problem?

Book Cover Art for Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean

Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean by Yael Mermelstein

Izzy the Whiz is an amateur inventor who, right before Passover, creates a super-duper machine that whirs and purrs and munches and crunches and miraculously cleans the entire house just in time for the holiday -- but not without creating havoc along the way.

Book Cover Art for Stone Soup with Matzoh Balls

Stone Soup with Matzoh Balls by Linda Glaser

Recommended for ages 6 to 7

How can you make a huge pot of delicious matzoh ball soup when all you’ve got is a cold, hard stone? In Chelm, anything can happen -- and does.

Stork's Landing by Tami Lehman-Wilzig

Israel has one of the largest populations of migrating birds -- and in this story, one of them gets stuck in a net in the fish ponds on Maya’s kibbutz. Maya and her dad have to figure out how to save it!

Clever Rachel by Debby Waldman

Recommended for ages 7 to 8

Two youngsters, Rachel and Jacob, learn the importance of putting differences aside and working together as they solve tricky riddles that change lives.

Using Folktales to Teach Life Lessons and Jewish Values
Successful Problem Solving With Young Children via URJ podcasts
50 Must Have Children’s Books That Teach Social Skills via WeAreTeachers

April 23, 2021

Problem Solving Picture Books for Math

Problem-solving picture books can boost your children’s understanding of how to solve math problems and enhance general problem-solving skills.

Both types of problem-solving involve deep thinking to recognize an issue and think through possible solutions to get to a resolution. We tend to call general problem-solving “logical thinking”. If you’re looking for information about that type of problem-solving, click here .

Mathematical Problem-Solving

In this post, we will focus on mathematical problem-solving. In math, you might need to literally solve a problem (or an equation) and need to figure out how to do that. Or, you might be faced with a mathematical question that isn’t so cut and dry as an equation. Sometimes, these are word problems, and other times they are intellectual challenges similar to the following:

“A farmer has pigs and chickens. In total, he owns 20 animals. If there are 54 legs, how many of each animal live on the farm?” (P.S. The answer is 7 pigs and 13 chickens.)

Luckily, there are some general strategies that tend to work well to get to any math solution before a child has the handy-dandy tool of algebra to help. They include:

Examining the question to find key ideas.
Choosing an appropriate strategy. (See below.)
Doing the math.
Rechecking to see if it worked.

There are a variety of wonderful strategies that can help depending on the problem at hand and the preferred learning style of a student. They include:

Making a list.
Drawing a picture.
Acting it out.
Making a model.
Making a table.
Identifying a pattern.
Writing a number sequence.
Solving a simpler, related problem.
Working backward.
Guessing and checking.

Picture books are a great way to illustrate problem solving!

This post contains affiliate links.

Lucky for us, there are plenty of problem-solving picture books that demonstrate the processes of problem-solving in a variety of ways through engaging stories and real-life examples. They can help a student who struggles with thinking beyond basic math equations to learn a new way of thinking on a deeper level!

Problem-Solving Picture Books

Alice in Pastaland: A Math Adventure (Charlesbridge Math Adventures)

Alice in Pastaland by Alexandra Wright
The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Counting on Frank by Rod Clement
Equal Shmequal by Virginia Kroll
Jim and the Beanstalk by Raymond Briggs
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka
Once Upon a Dime by Nancy Kelly Allen
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Sold! by Nathan Zimelman
Spaghetti and Meatballs For All! by Marilyn Burns
The Sundae Scoop by Stuart Murphy

The Sir Cumference Series for Problem Solving

The entire Sir Cumference series is excellent for demonstrating how to think outside of the normal equation to reach important mathematical answers!

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens: A Math Adventure

Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Fraction Faire by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference Gets Decima’s Point by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Off-the-Charts Dessert by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Viking’s Map by Cindy Neuschwander

The Warlord’s Series for Problem Solving

I love the Warlord’s series for the same reason as the Sir Cumference series. In the same way, they are adventurous and engaging, too!

The Warlord's Alarm, A Mathematical Adventure

The Warlord’s Alarm by Virginia Pilegard
The Warlord’s Beads by Virginia Pilegard
The Warlord’s Fish by Virginia Pilegard
The Warlord’s Kites by Virginia Pilegard
The Warlord’s Messengers by Virginia Pilegard
The Warlord’s Puppeteers by Virginia Pilegard
The Warlord’s Puzzle by Virginia Pilegard

Any of these books, along with teaching the specific problem-solving strategies listed earlier in the article, can be incredibly helpful to show children how to think mathematically and logically to solve intricate problems. If you have a favorite book to help with the concept of problem-solving, feel free to add it to the comment section!

Our Journey Westward products you may like

$Chalkboard with math problems written and protractor, ruler, pencils, sharpeners, and other math supplies laying below it. Used as the cover for the Living Math masterclass.$

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Kindle Store
Kindle eBooks
Children's eBooks

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Buy for others

Buying and sending ebooks to others.

Select quantity
Buy and send eBooks
Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

MOLLY'S MAGIC Problem Solving Children's Picture Book (Joan's Children's eBooks for Emotional and Cognitive Development)

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the authors

MOLLY'S MAGIC Problem Solving Children's Picture Book (Joan's Children's eBooks for Emotional and Cognitive Development) Kindle Edition

Reading age 6 - 8 years
Part of series Joan's Children's eBooks for Emotional and Cognitive Development
Print length 28 pages
Language English
Grade level Kindergarten - 2
Publication date June 29, 2012
Page Flip Not Enabled
Word Wise Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting Not Enabled
Sticky notes Not Enabled
See all details
Kindle Fire HDX 8.9''
Kindle Fire HDX
Kindle Fire HD (3rd Generation)
Fire HDX 8.9 Tablet
Fire HD 7 Tablet
Fire HD 6 Tablet
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD(1st Generation)
Kindle Fire(2nd Generation)
Kindle Fire(1st Generation)
Kindle for Windows 8
Kindle for Android Phones
Kindle for Android Tablets
Kindle for iPhone
Kindle for iPod Touch
Kindle for iPad
Kindle for Mac
Kindle for PC
Kindle Cloud Reader
Next 3 for you in this series $35.97
All 25 for you in this series $299.75

Joan's Children's eBooks for Emotional and Cognitive Development image

Customers who read this book also read

Lily Lemon Blossom Welcome to Lily's Room: (Kids Book, Picture Books, Ages 3-5, Preschool Books, Baby Books, Children's Bedti

Editorial Reviews

From the inside flap.

This story of a problem-solving pig teaches us all that adversity may sometimes be overcome with a special kind of "magic."

About the Author

Itoko Maeno is the illustrator of more than two dozen children's books, including Papa Piccolo, Amazing Mallika, Molly's Magic, Plato's Journey, and Thank You, Meiling . Born in Tokyo, Japan, she received a B.A. in graphic design from Tama Art University. Since her arrival in the United States in 1982, Maeno has focused on watercolor illustration. This award-winning illustrator is the subject of Meet the Artist: Itoko Maeno , produced by Marsh Film Enterprises, Inc.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008GESVVW
Publisher ‏ : ‎ JOAN'S eBOOKS LLC Self-Esteem and Self-Respect Publications (June 29, 2012)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 29, 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3337 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 28 pages

About the authors

Penelope colville paine.

Armed with British charm and an All-American “can-do” spirit Penny Paine has worked in every state in her many years as an educational trainer and consultant on career and life planning, gender equity and nontraditional occupations.

A graduate of the University of London, she has authored and co-authored sixteen children’s picture books and four teaching guides. Penny is also a book shepherd with To Press and Beyond, providing publishing support for many self-help and children’s authors.

Penny divides her time between Santa Barbara, London, and visiting her six children and five grandchildren in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joan Marsh is a member of the '81 Club of Kansas City, Missouri, which was formed in 1881 for the purpose of presenting scholarly papers to the membership, avoiding the forbidden topics of the Civil War, politics and religion. The intimate look at the life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, is the first in a series of '81 Club papers spotlighting such stars as Margaret Queen of Scotland, The Amber Room of the Catherine Palace, Madame Curie, Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Nora Ephron, Isabella Stewart Gardner, David Douglas Duncan, Robert Edsel, which will eventually total a body of work of 25 titles, better known as the

THRILLING READING LIVING VICARIOUSLY Series.

JOAN'S THRILLING READING LIVING VICARIOUSLY Series WEBSITE

http://www.ebooksbyjoanmarsh.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THRILLING READING LIVING VICARIOUSLY Series

http://www.facebook.com/people/Joan-K-Marsh/100011486057355

FACEBOOK PAGE FOR BUSINESS

http://www.Business.facebook.com

JOAN'S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

https://www.amazon.com/author/joanmarsh

http://www.amazon.com/JOAN-MARSH/e/B014JCUH3Y

JOAN'S EBOOKS FOR CHILDREN WEBSITE

http://www.childrensebooksbyjoan.com/

TINY AMAZON LINKS TO THE THRILLING READING LIVING VICARIOUSLY SERIES

POETRY REVISITED EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY (Volume 1)

http://tinyurl.com/qcnqk77

ASIN: B0143UTP2Q

THE SEARCH FOR FOREVER AMBER( Volume 2)

http://tinyurl.com/hxccxtf

ASIN: B014LRVMX6

MARGARET QUEEN OF SCOTLAND (Volume 3)

http://tinyurl.com/qzf9hgk

ASIN: B014V0MJGC

SAYING GOOD BYE TO NORA EPHRON (Volume 4)

http://tinyurl.com/q5kfauv

ASIN: B015LFRP4C

THE PEACOCK ROOM and WHISTLER'S MOTHER (Volume 5)

http://tinyurl.com/oyavyrr

ASIN: B017V4XSBU

DISCOVERING ALVIN A Man of Mark and Mystery (Volume 6)

http://tinyurl.com/h5c3px7

ASIN: B018PN1V6U

THE LAST EMPRESS MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK (Volume 7)

ASIN: B01IKWLPA8

DAVID DUGLAS DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHER EXTRAORDINAIRE (Volume 8)

ASIN: B01IUNNRG2

MADAME CURIE as REIMAGINED BY LAUREN REDNISS (Volume 9)

ASIN: B01K5Z0XXI

ROBERT EDSEL and THE MONUMENTS MEN (Volume 10)

ASIN: B0722RPJSQ

SAYING HELLO TO JOAN DIDION (Volume 11)

ASIN: B07BCS41XF

THE FLYING LIFE

Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden and the launching of

THADEN SCHOOL (Volume 12)

ASIN: B07C9VQQV9

MARGARET'S GARDEN

A Personal Memoir (Volume 13)

ASIN: B07C6M3234

MEETING CLARA BARTON

Miss American Red Cross (Volume 14)

ASIN: B07SCVKH3D

ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER and Her Museum (Volume 15)

ASIN: B081K95X8P

ALAN REID MARSH

A Renaissance Man for the 21st Century (Volume 16)

ASIN: B08468GNKS

If 25 is the magic number for publications by Joan Marsh, then please skip to the bottom for a complete listing of the 25 exquisite children's books that form the nucleus of her life's work as a publisher.

All these books are part of the amazon family complete with amazon links.

Joan attended the University of Missouri and holds a B.A. from Texas Tech University. Her major was English, and as night follows the day, led to her 43 year career in publishing education programs for children. Joan and Alan Marsh founded MarshFilm Enterprises, Inc. dba MarshMedia in 1969. The Marshes live in Kansas City, Missouri, where they raised their two sons. Those sons and their families, including eight grandchildren, who live all over the world, were the inspiration for many of the children's stories.

AMAZON LINKS TO 25 PICTURE eBOOKS FOR CHILDREN

These ebooks form a series of luminously illustrated children's stories, each with a timeless animal protagonist, a compelling geographic location, an important multicultural life skills message.

Each serious lesson is embedded in an exciting colorful adventurous story.

The stories are cleverly and skillfully written by published authors with a high level of literary talent and wit. They have been edited and proofed and re-proofed to the most exacting standards of accuracy in grammar, punctuation and fact checking. They have been reviewed...pre-publication...by teachers and librarians for relevance and the power of the message.

ALOHA POTTER!

http://amzn.com/B008LZ8JH2

"You get the idea, don't you? 'Alakuma liked to tease Potter. That might have been okay, but the things 'Alakuma said made Potter feel sort of ... bad. Bad about his size. Bad about his name.

Bad about everything."

AMAZING MALLIKA

http://amzn.com/B008C9K7OK

"Amazingly, marching had made Mallika feel better. Her anger had melted. 'I'll never get so angry again,' she promised. 'No matter what!'

But that was before the langur monkeys laughed at her."

BAILEY'S BIRTHDAY

http://amzn.com/B0083LLTHQ

"Early the next morning, a loud CLANG! from the street below woke him.

Bailey sprang to the window. 'They're delivering my presents!' he said. But all he saw were garbage collectors emptying garbage cans into their big truck.

'Haven't been good enough yet,' he decided."

http://amzn.com/B0083V6AGQ

"But Bastet did not follow. She stopped outside the door. She sat. She thought. She remembered everything she and Sabah had heard about Tutankhamun's mask. The dazzling gold! The ebony eyes! The jeweled cobra! The brilliant inlays of lapis-lazuli and quartz and obsidian! And in her mind's eye she saw, staring up at Tutankhamun, two scrawny cats, one golden and one spotted. That was her dream, after all. Not just to see the mask, but to see it with Sabah. Together.

How disloyal she had been to Sabah!"

BEA'S OWN GOOD

http://amzn.com/B0081VMGDC

"When I awoke, I found myself in the bottom of Cati's bicycle basket. I crawled to the top to see what I could see. I was back in the bee-master's garden, and there was my hive only a few feet away! Even so, I was so cold that I could not fly to the hive.

Suddenly there was the bee-master himself looking down on me.

'I will help you, my little friend,' he said."

http://amzn.com/ B008WX9TOA

"Fiona and Tessy were always pushing Clarissa around. They nudged her away from the sweet patches of clover she found. They crowded her from the shade of the old oak tree. They shoved ahead of her at the feeding trough. But Clarissa never complained. It seemed to her that you had to be big and bossy like Fiona or beautiful like Tessy to get what you wanted. And she was neither.

Clarissa was just a plain brown cow."

EMILY BREAKS FREE

http://amzn.com/B0085RPUF0

"Emily looked at Cotton's stricken face and then at Spike's expectant one. She gobbled the biscuit down, but it didn't taste as good as she had thought it would. 'I declare!' cried Cotton.

'I do believe the dogs in this town are the meanest ol' dogs I have ever had the misfortune to encounter!'"

FEATHERS AT LAS FLORES

http://amzn.com/B008FRH7HY

"Then, who should show up but Julio himself.

'What's going on here?' he asks.

'Maybe you should ask Feathers,' says Angela. Everyone's eyes turn on me. I mean, I've learned my lesson. And I'm hoping everybody else has too. What am I supposed to say? Then it comes to me.

'HAVA CUPPA COFFEE!' I squawk as loud as I can. It seems the only safe thing to say.

Know what I mean?"

FOLLOWING ISABELLA

http://amzn.com/B008257QNE

"Then Isabella saw it - smoke boiling up from over the hill. A wildfire raged, sparked by the lightning. Without thinking, Isabella called out, 'Don't run! Follow me!' She turned to Pedro with panic in her eyes. Which way? 'Isabella,' he said, 'you must find the way home!'

She thought quickly...

Oh, what if she chose the wrong way?"

GUMBO GOES DOWNTOWN

http://amzn.com/B008HK4KH4

"I fell asleep thinking about the dog with no home and thinking about my home and wondering if this might be the night an intruder came, with no watchdog there to warn

HANA'S YEAR

http://amzn.com/B008CXAPKW

"How grateful Kenji and his grandmother were that Hana had saved the kimono cloth. Hana would always remember that day - how grandmother patted the top of her head and how Kenji bowed to her once again.

'O-saru-sama,' he said. 'Very honorable monkey.'"

INGER'S PROMISE

http://amzn.com/B008IVMGQ4

"For the rest of the festival week, Inger was too embarrassed to talk to anyone.

Every whisper, every giggle, every sideways glance - Inger was sure they were all aimed at him.

How would he ever make up for the wedding-day disaster?"

JACKSON'S PLAN

http://amzn.com/B008CRBAUM

"It hadn't been easy, but Jackson had stuck to his plan, and he had succeeded.

He grinned a long froggy grin and returned to his dreams of dragonflies and beetles."

JOMO AND MATA

http://amzn.com/B008HLK1O4

"An hour later, Jomo woke with a start. He caught a sharp scent that made his skin prickle. He raised his trunk in the air. Jomo was sure he could smell a lion nearby.

Then he saw two gold eyes peering at him from the brush!"

KIKI AND THE CUCKOO

http://amzn.com/B008CADSUY

"Suddenly the small door opened and someone was pulling Kiki gently out of the box. A woman said, 'How did a bird get caught in our cuckoo clock?' A girl stood beside her. 'It's a meadowlark,' the woman said, holding Kiki in her gloved hand.

'Let me see,' whispered the girl. 'Oh,' she sighed, 'are they all as pretty?"

'No,' thought Kiki."

KYLIE'S CONCERT

http://amzn.com/B008DY0M8A

"As Kylie traveled along, the way grew strange and mysterious."

LUDMILA'S WAY

http://amzn.com/B008679S5W

"My dear Babushkas," said Ludmila. "Our Pavel has had only bits of grass and a few bugs to eat today. Won't you share?"

"Nyet," they said.

"Babushkas, might this not be a chance for a new beginning? We could put the old way behind us! We could share and share alike! That is the best way, don't you agree? Pavel? Babushkas?"

"Da!" said hungry Pavel, nodding hopefully at the Babushkas.

MOLLY'S MAGIC

http://amzn.com/B008GESVVW

"'I can't believe we're so busy,' Mrs. O'Malley said. 'It's like magic!'

'Such a clever sign!' said a visitor. 'Why, that pig of yours is irresistible! I had to come and see your farm, and I'm glad I did. This tea is delicious!'

'Pig?' said Mrs. O'Malley, looking towards the sty. 'What pig?'"

PAPA PICCOLO

http://amzn.com/B008J9X1JG

"When nighttime came to the canals and narrow streets of Venice and almost everyone went inside and turned on the lights, Piccolo went out.

The dark was full of possibilities. Who knew what Piccolo might find inside that open window? Perhaps a shiny trinket, a dish of cream, or a pretty yellow canary?

PEQUENA THE BURRO

http://amzn.com/B008HLK4PK

"From somewhere in the crowd, Pequena thought she heard a familiar voice. 'There is no such thing as only a burro.' 'Just a little more' - Senora Alvarez called. Pequena pressed on. The heat from the sun and the heat from the effort were nearly suffocating.

And then Pequena felt the rope suddenly go slack."

PLATO'S JOURNEY

http://amzn.com/B0088TQZZE

In this age of white lies and casual deceptions, Plato's story will make readers of all ages value the simple truth.

STANLEY'S "THIS IS THE LIFE!"

http://amzn.com/B008D6Q2J6

"All day Stanley hid beneath a bridge. The early summer breeze smelled of lupines and clover. A grasshopper jumped from a dandelion onto Stanley's nose. Lying in the cool shade, Stanley thought about home. Then his nose twitched.

I know that smell, Stanley thought. Popcorn! He could almost taste the butter and salt."

TESSA ON HER OWN

http://amzn.com/B008EEQ1AC

"At first, Tessa could barely catch enough to keep herself from starving, but in time, she became an excellent hunter. Tessa felt proud to be a fox.

'Nobody can call me lazy now!' she said, carefully grooming her full russet tail."

THANK YOU, MEILING

http://amzn.com/B008HLK5VI

"Song Hai's friend Go Ming runs to sit beside him. I see a wistful look flicker across Song Hai's face. He places his bun back on its wrapping, then tears it in half.

'Here Go Ming,' he says. 'Please share my snack. It's too much for me to eat alone.'"

TOAD IN TOWN

http://amzn.com/B008257T72

"When toad awoke it was nearly dark. He rustled out of his leafy bed. Bright lights loomed up and rushed by with a roar. Then more. And more.

'Where AM I?' he cried. 'And how will I ever get back home?'

All that night toad stayed in the dark, always looking for a familiar landmark, sniffing the air for the smell of the meadow, listening for the sound of the brook

The next day and night were the same. And the next.

There finally came a night when toad knew that his world had changed forever.

Toad would have to make himself a new home in this new world."

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Newsletter
About Amazon
Accessibility
Sustainability
Press Center
Investor Relations
Amazon Devices
Amazon Science
Sell on Amazon
Sell apps on Amazon
Supply to Amazon
Protect & Build Your Brand
Become an Affiliate
Become a Delivery Driver
Start a Package Delivery Business
Advertise Your Products
Self-Publish with Us
Become an Amazon Hub Partner
› See More Ways to Make Money
Amazon Visa
Amazon Store Card
Amazon Secured Card
Amazon Business Card
Shop with Points
Credit Card Marketplace
Reload Your Balance
Amazon Currency Converter
Your Account
Your Orders
Shipping Rates & Policies
Amazon Prime
Returns & Replacements
Manage Your Content and Devices
Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
Your Ads Privacy Choices

The Robots That Will Change the World Are Already Among Us

Climate change more like ecosocial crisis, openmind books, scientific anniversaries, kary mullis, the genius of a scientist, the eccentricity of a celebrity, featured author, latest book, solving problems visually.

What’s the best way to approach (and successfully solve) a mathematical problem statement? Perhaps by drawing a picture? That, at least, is the conclusion of a striking new study by researchers at the Universities of Geneva and Burgundy.

It’s not a trivial assumption. It is thought that when we face a mathematical problem that contains both mathematical information (numbers and arithmetic operations) and non-mathematical information (the context of the problem and the characteristics of the entities involved), our brains process this combination of verbal and numerical information and convert it into a mental representation in order to identify the best strategy for solving it. On the other hand, more and more studies suggest that the schematic drawings that are usually made to solve this type of problem are a reflection of these mental representations.

Game 1: Not a game, an experiment

In the study, participants were asked to solve 12 simple arithmetic problems in as few steps as possible and to draw a picture that would help them understand and solve the problem.

Here are two of these problems, and we invite you to solve them in the same way: in as few steps as possible, and with a drawing to help you understand the problem.

Problem 1 : Paul has five red marbles and also has some blue marbles. In total he has eleven marbles. Julie’s marbles are green and blue. Julie has as many blue marbles as Paul and also has two fewer green marbles than Paul has red marbles. How many marbles does Julie have?

Problem 2 : Lisa takes the train during the day, travels for 5 hours and arrives at her destination at 11am. Fred got on the train at the same time as Lisa and his trip took 2 hours less. What time did Fred arrive at his destination?

Independently of the above, many studies postulate that relying on drawings, diagrams or other types of graphical representations when processing information has numerous benefits: it improves our ability to learn and remember, it helps us to understand complex concepts, it reinforces critical and scientific thinking, and it fosters a transversal and interdisciplinary interpretation. And from a mathematical point of view, using these representations makes it easier to establish the relationships between different data, to visualise the information implicit in the statement and to identify the most direct and simplest solution strategy.

Use the drawings to answer these complex and hieroglyphic questions.

A recent study goes a step further by suggesting that the verbal information in the problem statement influences the type of diagram shown and also the strategy chosen to solve the problem. More specifically, the study has found that the type of diagram preferentially chosen depends on whether the statement is cardinal or ordinal in nature.

Thus, when the context alludes to the cardinal properties of the quantities involved—the number of elements in a set—a drawing based on groupings of entities (crosses, circles, etc.) that sometimes overlap (or intersect) is usually chosen. This in turn leads to a three-step arithmetic strategy. On the other hand, when the statement of the problem focuses on the ordinal properties of numbers—the position they occupy in a set—we usually opt for drawings based on axes, graduations or intervals, which lead to a more direct and simpler one-step solution strategy.

And this is observed even when the problems are analogous from a mathematical point of view: they have the same structure, the same numerical values and can be solved with the same strategy (as in the case of the two problems in Game 1).

But perhaps the most interesting reflection is that, knowing this, it is possible to guide and train the student to apply this second type of diagram, thereby facilitating the identification of the best way to solve it.

Game 3: A high-flying challenge

Sara wants to travel from Madrid to Tokyo. To do so, she flies first to New York, from where she takes a plane to London and from there to Tokyo.

Paul also wants to go from Madrid to Tokyo, but in his case he flies directly from Madrid to London and then takes a flight to Tokyo.

If Sara flies for a total of 27hrs 15min and Paul for 14hrs 30min, and given that the flight from New York to London takes 4hrs 45min longer than the flight from Madrid to London, and the flight from London to Tokyo takes 12 hours, how long is the flight from Madrid to New York?

And if both Sara and Paul lose only one hour at each stopover, what will the local time be when they each arrive in Tokyo if they both depart Madrid at 2pm?

BBVA-OpenMind-Barral-Grandes problemas ilustrados_solucion_juego_alta

M NY M-L + 4:45 L 12:00 h T

M L 12:00 h T

14 hrs 30 min

The Madrid-London flight takes 2hrs 30min. New York to London is 2hrs 30min + 4hrs 45min = 7hrs 15min. And the Madrid to New York flight is 27hrs 15min – 12hrs – 7hrs 15min = 8 hours.

With this, and bearing in mind that each stopover only takes one hour:

If Sara leaves at 2pm from Madrid then: 2pm + 8hrs – 6hrs (time difference) + 1hr (at NY airport) + 7hrs 15min + 5hrs (time difference) + 1hr + 12hrs + 8hrs (time difference) = 2:15am on day 3.

In Paul’s case: 2pm + 2hrs 30min – 1hr (time difference) + 1hr + 12hrs + 8hrs (time difference) = 12:30pm on day 2.

Miguel Barral

Related publications.

What Purpose Do the Great Mathematical Problems Serve?
David Hilbert: The Architect of Modern Mathematics
Magic Squares: When Art is Squared With Mathematics

More about Science

Environment, leading figures, mathematics, scientific insights, more publications about ventana al conocimiento (knowledge window), comments on this publication.

Morbi facilisis elit non mi lacinia lacinia. Nunc eleifend aliquet ipsum, nec blandit augue tincidunt nec. Donec scelerisque feugiat lectus nec congue. Quisque tristique tortor vitae turpis euismod, vitae aliquam dolor pretium. Donec luctus posuere ex sit amet scelerisque. Etiam sed neque magna. Mauris non scelerisque lectus. Ut rutrum ex porta, tristique mi vitae, volutpat urna.

Sed in semper tellus, eu efficitur ante. Quisque felis orci, fermentum quis arcu nec, elementum malesuada magna. Nulla vitae finibus ipsum. Aenean vel sapien a magna faucibus tristique ac et ligula. Sed auctor orci metus, vitae egestas libero lacinia quis. Nulla lacus sapien, efficitur mollis nisi tempor, gravida tincidunt sapien. In massa dui, varius vitae iaculis a, dignissim non felis. Ut sagittis pulvinar nisi, at tincidunt metus venenatis a. Ut aliquam scelerisque interdum. Mauris iaculis purus in nulla consequat, sed fermentum sapien condimentum. Aliquam rutrum erat lectus, nec placerat nisl mollis id. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Nam nisl nisi, efficitur et sem in, molestie vulputate libero. Quisque quis mattis lorem. Nunc quis convallis diam, id tincidunt risus. Donec nisl odio, convallis vel porttitor sit amet, lobortis a ante. Cras dapibus porta nulla, at laoreet quam euismod vitae. Fusce sollicitudin massa magna, eu dignissim magna cursus id. Quisque vel nisl tempus, lobortis nisl a, ornare lacus. Donec ac interdum massa. Curabitur id diam luctus, mollis augue vel, interdum risus. Nam vitae tortor erat. Proin quis tincidunt lorem.

Do you want to stay up to date with our new publications?

Receive the OpenMind newsletter with all the latest contents published on our website

OpenMind Books

The Search for Alternatives to Fossil Fuels
View all books

About OpenMind

Connect with us.

Keep up to date with our newsletter

IMAGES

Problem Solving Books for Kids
Problem Solving Activities
Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution
Books with a Clear Problem and Solution
Programming for Problem Solving
Books That Help Teach Kids Problem Solving

VIDEO

Class 9 10 11 & 12 Books Problem Why Books Are Not Available At Book Shops
Solve a Problem
Bookbinding at NBSS
Lucas at the Paralympics. A children’s book about understanding physical disabilities. 🦽
How Books Solved Every Problem In My Life ?
Christina's Space Mission

COMMENTS

21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution
One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail. This picture book is a great way to teach kids summarizing and word choice as well as a problem-solution text structure! Sophia really wants a pet giraffe for her birthday. As a result, she sets out to convince her family, starting with her mother, a judge.
30 New and Notable Children's Books About Problem Solving
These children's books on problem solving for elementary students are engaging for primary and upper elementary kids. Books with lesson plans and activities linked. Picture books about problem solving with strategies, fiction, nonfiction, STEM and more for your kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth or fifth grade students.
Teaching Problem and Solution with Picture Books
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood. This is the second of two picture books with a problem and solution by Audrey Wood. The narrator attempts to convince a little mouse to share a recently picked succulent strawberry. Worried about a big, hungry bear, the mouse employs various strategies, including ...
21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution
Read mentor text picture books to teach problem and solution text structure. Understanding problem and solution improves comprehension and helps readers make informed predictions. (As well as helping children see the creative possibilities in problem-solving!) Of course, almost all stories have a problem and a solution with the exception of a concept book.
The 100 Best Problem Solving Kids Books
Because problem solving is important in all of life's stages, this list includes board, picture and chapter books. Board books are best for infants and toddlers. Picture books are excellent for toddlers and also include stories for kindergarten and early elementary students (although we think picture books are great for all ages!).
10 Problem Solving Picture Books for Elementary Teachers
Learn all about these problem solving picture books below and how you can use them to teach problem solving! 10 Problem Solving PIcture Books. Below are 10 quality problem solving children's books for elementary teachers. Your kids will love these read alouds! They are great for teaching problem solving, as well as many other concepts and skills.
15 Picture Books to Teach Problem Solving To Kids
15 Picture Books to Teach Problem Solving To Kids. The following books are a fun introduction to problem solving for preschoolers. In each of these stories, a character has a specific problem they are trying to solve. Reading about how the characters in stories solve their problems is a great way to help your little one learn how to deal with ...
Picture Books about Problem Solving
Here are a few picture books about problem solving to share with your class! This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. Flight School by Lita Judge. Little Penguin wants to fly! But his body wasn't meant to take to the skies. It takes some problem solving and perseverance to help him do what he really wants.
Picture Books about Creative Thinking & Problem-Solving
These picture books follow characters thinking independently, critically and creatively solving problems. Others show the importance of an open mind and listening to the ideas of others while still drawing their own conclusions. You will see characters who: Use knowledge to solve problems independently. Predict outcomes.
What's the Problem?: A Story Teaching Problem Solving (Executive
A Story Teaching Problem Solving (Executive Function) Paperback - Picture Book, March 18, 2019 by Bryan Smith (Author), Lisa Griffin (Illustrator) 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 138 ratings
Books with a Clear Problem and Solution
When teaching kids how to comprehend and/or write fiction text, often times it's good to start with books and stories that have a clear problem and solution text structure.. This means that the story line introduces characters and a problem at the beginning -> the character(s) try to solve the problem in the middle, which rises to a climax -> and at the end, the problem is solved, with ...
Books That Help Teach Kids Problem Solving
One of the most helpful and easy ways to do this is to read, fall in love with and make sense of books that help support problem-solving. Here are a few of our favorites along with why we love them and how they each support children in developing their problem-solving skills. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts.
10 of the Best Children's Books That Promote Critical Thinking
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young. In this Caldecott Honor winner, seven blind mice try to determine the identity of an unfamiliar object. In Young's take on the classic Indian tale, each mouse only gathers partial information. Of course, it takes the wisdom of the seventh mouse to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle.
58 Amazing Math Books for Young Mathematicians
54. Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving by Greg Tang. Help students master important skills while also gaining exposure to some of the world's most famous paintings. This book focuses on grouping numbers and creating different combinations using visuals. Buy it: Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving at Amazon
Picture Books That Model SEL
10 Picture books That Promote SEL. Clem and Crab, by Fiona Lumbers. While searching for treasures and trash on the beach, Clem discovers a crab. Crab hitches a ride back to Clem's house and ultimately becomes part of Clem's school show-and-tell presentation. Clem and Crab's story ultimately inspires her classmates to action to help clean ...
Favorite Math Picture Books
As an extension, challenge your students to identify math in the real world and create their own word problems. Math Appeal, The Grapes of Math, and Math Potatoes: This series of math riddles will stretch your students' problem solving abilities and encourage faster/easier math computations. Great Estimations: This book is such a hit!
Peaceful Reads: Picture Books About Conflict Resolution
A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems. This is the first of two picture books about conflict resolution by Mo Willems. Piggie finds a ball only for a 'big guy' (a whale) to take it. Gerald confronts the whale despite his apprehension due to its size. The whale thought the ball was unclaimed and happily shared it.
The PJ Library Blog
Picture Books That Teach Problem Solving. Children are natural problem solvers, and they often find creative solutions and workarounds that adults can miss. ... (optimism) is also a term used for the ability to solve problems. These nine picture books tackle all kinds of problems, from finding lost items to environmental issues. Each also ...
Problem Solving Picture Books for Math
Problem-solving picture books can boost your children's understanding of how to solve math problems and enhance general problem-solving skills. Both types of problem-solving involve deep thinking to recognize an issue and think through possible solutions to get to a resolution. We tend to call general problem-solving "logical thinking".
MOLLY'S MAGIC Problem Solving Children's Picture Book (Joan's Children
MOLLY'S MAGIC Problem Solving Children's Picture Book (Joan's Children's eBooks for Emotional and Cognitive Development) - Kindle edition by Paine, Penelope Colville, Maeno, Itoko, Marsh, Joan, Marsh, Joan, Marsh, Joan, Marsh, Joan, Marsh, Joan. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ...
3 Picture Books and Activities to Encourage Your Child's ...
This might even lead to a hobby of inventing with cardboard boxes, or participation in the Global Cardboard Challenge. Preorder from: Amazon. Barnes & Noble. Bookshop. Target. Walmart. Picture books and related activities can help build skills like problem solving, ideation, and connection making. Here are three of our favorite books, each with ...
Solving Problems Visually
Game 1: Not a game, an experiment. In the study, participants were asked to solve 12 simple arithmetic problems in as few steps as possible and to draw a picture that would help them understand and solve the problem. Here are two of these problems, and we invite you to solve them in the same way: in as few steps as possible, and with a drawing ...

21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Similar Posts

More Learning Apps for Kids

10 Best Retellings of the Goldilocks Fairy Tale

The New Rick Riordan Book (Norse Dwarves, Elves, and Gods, Oh, My!)

10 Fascinating Rocks and Minerals Books for Ages 3 to 12

Let’s Talk About Nurturing Empathy in Our Kids

Answer These 5 Questions to See If Your Child Is Ready to Read

30 New and Notable Children’s Books About Problem Solving

Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson

So Few Of Me by Peter H. Reynolds

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty

Journey by Aaron Becker

What Do You Do With A Problem? by Kobi Yamada

Flight School by Lita Judge

Jack’s Worry by Mark Zuppardi

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

Teach Us Your Name by Huda Essa

Boxes For Katje by Candace Fleming

Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin

City Green by Dyanne DiSalvo-Ryan

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna

The Three Questions by Jon Muth

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham

I Dissent by Debbie Levy

Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley

Biblioburro by Jeanette Winter

Energy Island by Allan Drummond

Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming

The Boy Who Grew a Forest by Sophia Gholz

Best Children’s Books About Problem Solving

Share with a Colleague:

Love Monster Resources

Snowflake Bentley Resources

Blue Resources

find what you need

find books you need

Get free training

Have a question?

membership info

21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Super Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe that Kids Will Eat

Book Platform

Authors & Illustrators

Follow Bookroo

10 Problem Solving Picture Books for Elementary Teachers – 2024

10 Problem Solving PIcture Books

1. Oona by Kelly DiPucchio

2. Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

3. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

4. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

5. What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

6. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

7. The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Stantat

8. Star in the Jar by Sam Hay and Sarah Massini

9. On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex

10. Harold and The Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Integrated SEL and Literacy Activities

SEL Book Companions

You might also like these posts...

LET'S CONNECT

FREEBIES FOR TEACHERS

Picture Books about Problem Solving

Flight School by Lita Judge

What Do You Do with a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

Get Your FREE Picture Book List!