Bravery in a children’s book almost never arrives with a sword. It looks like a hand going up in a quiet classroom, a small owl applying for a job that is three sizes too big, or a girl hauling a dress through a blizzard because she said she would. What makes these stories worth reading twice is that the fear stays in the room. Nobody stops shaking; they just decide the shaking is not the deciding vote.
Bookroo’s collection of 351 children’s books about bravery covers every version of that decision — going first, going back, telling the truth, standing between someone and trouble, and trying again after a bad landing. Our editors picked ten favorites below, ordered roughly from the youngest listener up. Below the shortlist you’ll find board books for toddlers, read-alouds for the preschool and early-elementary years, and chapter books where being brave has to hold up over three hundred pages.
Jabari has passed his swimming test. All that’s left is the ladder, the board, and the very long walk to the end of it.
The dressmaker is sick, the duchess needs her gown tonight, and the snow is already past Irene’s knees.
The castle needed knights. It did not specify how large. A very small owl fills out the application.
Sheila Rae isn’t scared of anything, which is easy to say right up until she takes the long way home.
A dragon has burned down Elizabeth’s castle and carried off Prince Ronald. She has one paper bag and a very good question.
Every child in the kingdom has grown a spectacular flower from the Emperor’s seed. Ping’s pot is empty.
Every morning in 1960, a six-year-old walked to first grade in New Orleans past a crowd that had come to shout at her.
First grade comes with a mean dog on the corner, a teacher who isn’t Miss Binney, and a bedroom Ramona now has all to herself.
A mouse born too small, with ears too big, goes down to the dungeon with a needle and a spool of thread.
Ten-year-old Annemarie has to lie convincingly to soldiers about the girl asleep in her sister’s bed.
Sturdy first stories about checkups, dark hallways, and the small, wobbly moments when a toddler goes ahead anyway — ages 0–4.
Three little bears explore a spooky old tree and encounter various obstacles.
A toddler conquers fears, embracing new experiences with courage.
Tortoise faces school fears. Will he find courage or crumble under worries?
Discover how small things can achieve big dreams in this inspiring tale.
Leo faces his first doctor's visit, learning patience and bravery.
A monster's scare tactics fail when a child finds it huggable.
Discover the courage in everyday moments and the hero within us all.
Egg refuses to hatch, fearing the world outside.
A little bear learns bravery on a hot day adventure with his dad.
A small boat faces big challenges on a daring adventure.
A timid shark must find courage to help a friend in need.
Discover the brave individuals who reshaped history for freedom.
Read-alouds about knights, high dives, first days, tall tales and the difference between saying you’re brave and being brave — ages 3–8.
A sled dog races through Alaska to deliver life-saving medicine.
A tiny knight must rescue a maiden from a dragonfly's clutches.
A young girl discovers unexpected bravery when faced with danger.
Discover Harriet Tubman's daring escapes and secret missions during the Civil War.
A young girl named Madeline has her appendix removed and her friends want to have the same experience.
A famous egg who fell off a wall recounts his journey to overcome his fears and learn to fly.
A parent reflects on their child's future and the possibilities that lie ahead.
A little rock's journey through ever-changing identities challenges her perspective and self-belief.
A grounded bird must find courage to soar to new heights.
A child learns courage by seizing missed chances, discovering the magic of new experiences.
A kitten seeks a mouse but faces unexpected challenges.
A boy flees from a mysterious sound, discovering courage in a magical jungle.
Longer stories where courage has to last — a wilderness winter, an occupied city, a race that can’t be lost — ages 7–12.
A young orphan is carried off by a dream-blowing giant, then must help him stop the man-eating ones.
A young mouse must uncover a hidden threat to save Camelot from destruction.
Alone on a desolate island, a girl battles nature and wild dogs for survival.
A young owl named Tag dreams of becoming an Owl of Valor and protecting his forest from the evil vulture Thorn, who is using dark magic to destroy Perodia.
A girl seeks the Old Man on the Moon to change her family's fortune.
A princess must find a prince to break a sleeping curse cast on her family.
A girl flees her destroyed sanctuary, seeking others like her in a mysterious world.
A boy races to save his farm, facing an undefeated rival in a high-stakes dogsled race.
A girl with a forgotten past joins a pirate quest to a mythical land, risking sea monsters and secrets.
Sam must face his fears when a ghost haunts his home.
A young girl must navigate a treacherous journey to deliver a secret message to a tavern owner in a small town.
A boy faces the sea to conquer fear and prove his courage.
