Summary: Ali, a young Moroccan, is separated from his father and stranded on the vast Sahara Desert. He summons his courage and demonstrates his respect for tradition and close ties with nature.

Summary: In this unusual fantasy, a girl and her younger brother meet Harriet Tubman and learn how she and other courageous people helped slaves escape to freedom. Ringgold includes many history factoids in her text and an afterword provides a concise biography of Tubman and her important life's work.

Summary: Eastern philosophy, martial arts, and girl power propel this fascinating picture book set in 17th-century China. Mingyi is desperate to escape her arranged betrothal to the bandit Soong Ling. So she seeks counsel from Wu Mei, the respected Buddhist nun and Kung Fu master known as the beautiful warrior. Wu Mei helps Mingyi find inner peace and strength, and the courage and skill to outwit Soong Ling.

Summary: Courage and inner strength permeate this rich novel which won a Newbery Medal. Jess quickly befriends the new girl at school, Leslie. The two of them create a magical kingdom, Terabithia, a place in the woods where they can escape reality and have marvelous adventures. But when Leslie is killed in a freak accident, Jess must go on alone, learning to understand death and remembering the imaginative legacy of his dear friend.

Summary: Carlos, a young Mexican boy, must find the courage to play the role of innkeeper in this story portraying the sacred night of Los Posada, a celebration of the Christ story.

Summary: A thirteen-year-old boy displays courage when he joins the Union Army and experiences the ravages of the Civil War. He plays a bright marching tune to raise the spirits of the troops and muffle the sounds of the wounded.

Summary: Courage and determination go a long way in this story describing Charles Lindbergh’s remarkable solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927.

Summary: The extraordinary life experiences of abolitionist Frederick Douglass are presented in this clear, concise book which contains many historical photographs. Douglass's childhood of slavery, his escape to freedom, and his efforts to ensure equality for his people are all chronicled.

Summary: During the Great Depression, Lydia Grace's father loses his job and she is sent to the city to live with her uncle who owns a bakery. She maintains a sunny attitude about everything despite her uncle's gruff and crabby disposition. With cheerful determination and hope, Lydia Grace brings color and vibrance to her uncle's neighborhood--and to his life--by planting a beautiful roof-top garden. The story unfolds in Lydia Grace's warm letters to her family. Children will not soon forget this plucky character.

Summary: Hank Aaron is one of the courageous heroes produced by America’s favorite sport, baseball. This is the moving story of how he became a great ballplayer and an inspiration to us all.

Summary: In order to earn her yellow belt in Tae Kwan Do, JoJo must successfully perform a flying side kick. Everyone gives her advice on how to approach the move, but in the end, JoJo musters the confidence and courage to master it on her own.

Summary: It's man vs. machine when John Henry and his hammer take on a newfangled steam drill in a digging contest. But courageous John Henry is always up for a challenge and his physical strength and can-do spirit help him prevail this one last time. Children will cheer for Keats' dramatic and exciting artwork and story.

Summary: A wonderful story of hope and courage. Journey to Freedom tells the tale of Joshua and his family, runaway slaves from a tobacco plantation in Kentucky. With the help of Harriet Tubman they follow the Underground Railroad to freedom.

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Kate Shelley, an Iowa farm girl, "knew no fear," according to her sister. She proved that description true one night in 1881 when a terrible storm and flash flooding wiped out the railroad bridge and caused a train wreck near the Shelley farm. Kate braved the elements and struggled to the next town to warn oncoming trains as well as to gather help to rescue the crash survivors. Her heroic deeds are legendary in central Iowa where a park, museum and bridge are named for her.

Summary: A boy exhibits courage and gains respect for the environment when he confronts his fears and learns the secrets of the swamp from his aging grandfather.

Summary: Mandy Sue and her siblings have worked so hard on the family farm that each of them earns a day's reprieve from chores. Mandy Sue chooses to spend her special day grooming and riding her horse, her "best friend," Ben. Most amazing is that Mandy Sue embarks on all the preparations indpendently, even though she is blind. She can hear, feel, smell, taste and experience life just as well as a seeing person. This warm family story is filled with courage and respect.

Summary: When the eerie ‘ghost of Titus Dinworthy’ rises out of Quicksand Bottoms, young William gathers his courage to face this strange phenomenon. He comes out the winner, earning the respect of all.

Summary: This biography depicts the courage, pluck, and awareness of the world possessed by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Summary: The youngest and most sensitive of the Korean king's daughters weeps at the slightest reason. Because she is considered weak, her father threatens to marry her off to the village beggar, Pabo Ondal. The weeping princess takes the offer seriously and is disowned by her family. But her kindness and knowledge help her discover the goodness inside her new husband and transform him into the most worthy of men. She is brave to venture into the world without the comforts of her royal life and she gives hope to Pabo Ondal, that he might rise above his circumstances. They are both rewarded for their earnestness.

Summary: A girl speaks with love and pride about her female ancestors, all brave and wonderful in their own way. She describes women who built rich lives despite difficulty and nourished a strong family tree that will always be cherished.

Summary: This book presents the true story of Ruby Bridges, the lone 6-year-old African American girl who integrated William Frantz Elementary School in 1960. Amidst vicious racism and physical danger Ruby and her teacher withstood a year of hatred and formed a lasting bond.

Summary: Ten-year-old James wants to be a part of the K-Bones, a neighborhood gang of tough guys. But James also has to take care of his six-year-old brother Isaac every night while their mother is at work. But during his dangerous initiation into the K-Bones, James realizes he no longer wants to be a part of the gang. He finds the courage to tell the crew "Thanks, but no thanks." This picture book will especially hit home with many kids in urban and/or violent neighborhoods.