Leader in Me Library Book List

Hi friends!

At my school, we’ll  start our second year of the Leader in Me ™ program next year. Other librarians in our district who’ve already implemented this initiative have shared their book lists with me, and now I’m sharing them with you!

You can get more information about this program by reading the book, The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time, or by visiting the Leader in Me website. In a nutshell, this is a plan to teach Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to children. I’m really excited about teaching our students the habits that will help them be successful at whatever they choose to do!

And I know that we’ll need great read-alouds to help discuss these Leader in Me ™ habits!

Books about Habits

Leader in Me books

The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Habit by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban

D. W., Picky Eater

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Be Proactive Leader in Me

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Salt in His Shoes by Michael Jordan

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville (chapter book)

On My Honor by Marion Bauer (chapter book)

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Leader in Me books

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats

Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin

Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle

Galimoto by Karen Williams

Bobby Baseball by Robert K. Smith (chapter book)

The School Story by Andrew Clements (chapter book)

Habit 3: First Things First

Leader in Me books

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London

The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Alejandro’s Gift by Richard E. Albert

Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill

Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (chapter book)

Habit 4 Think Win-Win

Leader in Me books

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle

Let’s Be Enemies by Janice May Udry

Habit 5: See First to Understand, then to be Understood

Leader in Me books

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino

Rules by Cynthia Lord (chapter book)

Habit 6: Synergize

Leader in Me books

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

A Chair for my Mother by Vera Williams

Clifford’s Spring Clean-Up by Norman Bridwell

How the Second Grade Got $8205.50 to Visit the Statue of Liberty by Nathan Zimelman

Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco

The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla (chapter book)

The View From Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg (chapter book)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle (chapter book)

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech (chapter book)

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Leader in Me books

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D. B. Johnson

Me I Am! by Jack Prelutsky

Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by DyAnne DiSalvo Ryan

What books do YOU use to teach the 7 Habits? Add them in a comment, and I’ll create a Google Doc with everyone’s suggestions on it!

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p.s.- I also have a Leader in Me Library board on Pinterest!

Follow Cari Young’s board Leader in Me Library on Pinterest.

 

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    24 Comments

    1. Way back in the 90’s, a very forward-thinking former principal of mine led a 7 Habits book study with our entire teaching staff. As a young classroom teacher, reading Covey added so much to my outlook, both professionally and personally. We use Responsive Classroom in my current school, but I’m certain I could find parallels between the two philosophies to incorporate into my library program. Thanks for sharing! Kristie

      1. Thanks for your comment, Kristie! I think that the 7 Habits are beneficial to students and teachers, whether you are officially a Leader in Me (TM) school or not!

    2. We are implementing Leader in Me this year! I was wondering if you had rules or expectations posted in your library that aligned with the 7 habits. I am thinking that is a direction I want to go and am looking for some ideas on wording. Thanks!!

      1. Danna,
        I’m working on this right now, as I prepare for the new year. I do have the library cards, with the statement “Think win-win. I return my library books so others can read them.” I’m working on a bulletin board for my everybody section that will say “Be proactive. Choose a just right book.” I’ll keep posting on what I come up with!
        Thanks for your question!
        Cari

    3. Hi! I’m so glad I’ve stumbled on this list! My co-teacher and I (5th grade) have been using the 7 Habits in our classrooms and lessons and have learned a lot these last two years! We are not a Leader in Me school, but have read the books and want to create an environment where our students are self learners and advocates as well as team players. I believe this list will help us continue this work and really get the kids talking about and using, living these habits. Thanks again!

    4. Do you have these images above in a pdf/poster format? Would love to print them and create a bulletin board in my elementary library. Thanks for the great resource!

    5. Thank you so much for doing the research on these Read Aloud resources for Dr. Convey’s 7 Habits. You just save me a ton of time looking for appropriate literature to introduce these habits to my kindergarten class in the fall!

    6. Hi Cari!

      I am such a follower of you – have stalked/mean followed you since 2012 living in VA – before I moved to Texas – and then moved here – and even asked my principal that first year – if I could come observe you – even though I was in Houston. 🙂 so, funny the first time that I am actually reaching out to you – and you may not see this – but I am feeling pretty convicted to do a book club with our upcoming 5th graders next year – that will hopefully help them to look inwardly and perhaps challenge them to consider instilling some positive leadership skills – in a “Google Search” of recommended books – your blog came up at the top of the list – I had thought about doing my book/lunch club with the 7 habits book by Covey -but not sure?? We are a capturing kids heart school – but do not follow the Leader in Me principles – what are your thoughts? if you don’t mind

      1. Hi Erin!
        I love the Leader in Me principles. I think that if I were introducing these ideas to my students on my own, I would read the picture book first, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. Then I’d read a good chapter book and talk about how the characters are showing (or not showing), one of the 7 Habits. I think that would help your students learn about the habits in the context of real life.
        Thanks for your question!
        Cari

    7. I’m working on a parent page on my school webpage. I’d love to use your book collage pics for the habits. Do you sell them on TPT? I didn’t see them in the store. If not, do you mind if I paste them onto the page and give her website credit?

      1. Jennifer, you are welcome to share the book collage pics with a link back to this LibraryLearners.com website.
        Thank you so much for asking!
        Cari

    8. Has anyone ever compiled a list of leader in me books in a spreadsheet? I feel like I keep looking at the same lists over and over! Would love an updated and expanded book list. Even if they’re not ‘official’ leader in me books!

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