Decision Making

Discover picture books about reflection, focussing on giving thoughtful consideration to our actions, and analysing personal strengths and weaknesses.

Featured books are available at each D39 Elementary School Library.

The Bad Seed

This is a book about a bad seed. A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He's been bad since he can remember! 

The Bad Seed proves that positive change is possible for each and every one of us.

Grandfather's Journey

When he was a young man, Allen Say’s grandfather left his home in Japan to explore the world. He began his journey by crossing the Pacific Ocean on a steamship, then wandered the deserts, farmlands, and cities of North America. Allen Say lovingly tells the story of his own family’s cross-cultural history in elegant watercolor paintings that earned him a Caldecott Medal in 1994.

Leonardo the Terrible Monster

Leonardo is truly a terrible monster-terrible at being a monster that is. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to frighten anyone. Determined to succeed, Leonardo sets himself to training and research. Finally, he finds a nervous little boy, and scares the tuna salad out of him! But scaring people isn't quite as satisfying as he thought it would be. Leonardo realizes that he might be a terrible, awful monster-but he could be a really good friend.

Library Lion

Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse and its treasures to school and can't wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions. Lilly's fury leads to revenge and then to remorse and she sets out to make amends.

Rosie Revere, Engineer

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.


The Thank You Book

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.

Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.

Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In The Thank You Book!, Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone . . . someone important.

Titles Available in D39

Big Wolf and Little Wolf by Nicholas Oldland - Central
Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt - Harper and McKenzie
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett - McKenzie, Romona and Central
Ish by Peter Reynolds - Romona, Central and Harper
On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne - McKenzie, Romona and Harper
Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival - Romona
Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton - Romona
Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad by James Rumford, McKenzie
So Few of Me by Peter Reynolds - Romona
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth - Romona
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts - Harper
Tidy by Emily Gravett - Central
Zen Shorts by Jon Muth - Romona and Central

Other Book Suggestions

A Book by Mordicai Gerstein
A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker
Beautiful Moon -- Bella Luna by Dawn Jeffers
Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland
Bob the Artist by Marion Deuchars
First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch
Garmann’s Summer by Stian Hole
Kevin by Rob Biddulph
Life Without Nico by Andrea Maturana
The Liszts by Kyo Maclear
Martha Doesn’t Say Sorry by Samantha Berger
The Red Tree by Shaun Tan
The Silence Seeker by Ben Morley
Ten Tiny Things by Meg McKinlay
Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein
Would You Rather … by John Burnigham