Books About Resourcefulness

The Best Resourcefulness Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Problem-Solving Books, featuring 10 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about resourcefulness? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

#1 in Series

#1 in Series

#56 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Resourcefulness

Sale price

$799

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2006

Roxie and the Hooligans

By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · Book #1 in the Roxie and the Hooligans series

Stranded on an island, Roxie must outwit bullies and crooks to survive.

128 pages· 12,376 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

6.0/7 Bookroo·3.9/5 Goodreads · 993 ratings

Kindle Edition

Summary: Roxie Warbler, armed with survival skills from Lord Thistlebottom's guide, faces her toughest challenge yet: Helvetia's Hooligans. Stranded on a deserted island with these bullies and two fugitives, Roxie must navigate treacherous terrain and unexpected alliances. Can her knowledge turn foes into friends and ensure their survival? Adventure and danger await as Roxie tests her wits against nature and human threats.

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2016

Gus's Garage

By Leo Timmers

A character named Gus helps his friends with various problems using items he has stored.

32 pages· 181 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

7.0/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 447 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a workshop brimming with odds and ends, Gus tackles his friends' vehicle woes with clever fixes. From a rhino's tiny scooter seat to other quirky challenges, Gus's solutions are ingenious. But as the day winds down and the workshop empties, Gus faces his own dilemma. Can he find a solution for himself when the shelves are bare? Dive into a world of creativity and resourcefulness where every problem has a unique answer, and discover if Gus can solve the final puzzle of his day.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 2–6 · 2018

Bunny Built

By Michael Slack

A bunny's giant carrot leads to a lesson in sharing and friendship.

40 pages· 355 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

5.3/7 Bookroo·3.7/5 Goodreads · 183 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: LaRue, a resourceful construction bunny, discovers a seed that grows into a gigantic carrot. Faced with more carrot than he can handle, LaRue must find a creative solution. Can he use his construction skills to turn this bounty into a lesson in generosity and friendship? Discover how one bunny's cleverness and kindness transform a simple vegetable into a heartwarming tale of sharing.

Sale price

$1449

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 1971

Stone Soup

By Ann McGovern

A mysterious soup made from stones unites a town.

32 pages· 938 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

4.3 Goodreads · 29,159 ratings

$15.25Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a quaint village, a clever traveler claims he can make soup from a stone. As curious townsfolk gather, each contributes an ingredient, transforming the simple stone into a hearty feast. What begins as a trick becomes a lesson in community and sharing. Can one man's ingenuity bring a town together over a pot of soup?

Sale price

$759

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1997

Mailing May

By Michael O. Tunnell

In 1914, a girl embarks on a unique journey to visit her grandma using the U.S. mail.

32 pages· 1,111 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud

4.2 Goodreads · 843 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1914 Idaho, young Charlotte May Pierstorff dreams of visiting her grandma, but the journey across the mountains is costly. With no highway and a train ticket beyond reach, her father's clever plan and her own courage lead to an extraordinary adventure. Discover how May becomes a special 'package' in the U.S. mail, defying the odds to reach her destination. Will this unconventional journey succeed, or will unforeseen challenges derail her plans? Experience a heartwarming true story of ingenuity and determination.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2000

A Year Down Yonder

By Richard Peck · Book #2 in the A Long Way from Chicago series

A teen's year with her unpredictable grandmother promises unexpected adventures and life lessons.

Newbery Medal (2001)

130 pages· 29,885 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 31,342 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1937, Mary Alice, a fifteen-year-old, is sent to live with her eccentric grandmother in rural Illinois. As she navigates a year filled with surprises and challenges, Mary Alice discovers the true nature of her formidable Grandma Dowdel. Will she find a way to connect with this larger-than-life woman, or will the year be more than she can handle? Amidst the backdrop of a small town, their relationship unfolds with humor and heart, revealing the complexities of family and the unexpected bonds that form in the most unlikely of places.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 1977

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

By Simms Taback

An old coat transforms into new garments. What comes next?

Caldecott Medal (2000)Sydney Taylor Book Honor (1999)

40 pages· 184 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

5.2/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 18,126 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Joseph's overcoat is worn and full of holes, but he sees potential. As it transforms from coat to jacket and beyond, each page invites you to guess the next creation. Discover how Joseph turns nothing into something, sparking laughter and creativity with every turn.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–10 · 2000

Meet Kit

By Valerie Tripp, Walter Rane (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the American Girl: Kit series

A young girl's life unravels amid unexpected guests and family turmoil.

70 pages· 10,017 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 6,077 ratings

$6.95Save 3%

Paperback

Summary: Nine-year-old Kit faces upheaval as her father's business collapses and her home fills with unexpected guests. Amidst the chaos of the Depression, she turns to writing her own newspaper stories. Can Kit find stability in a world turned upside down?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1997

The Firehouse Mystery

Book #56 in the The Boxcar Children series

Can the Boxcar Children save the historic firehouse from demolition?

128 pages· 15,842 words· Est. 2 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 805 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: The Boxcar Children discover that Greenfield's historic firehouse is under threat of demolition by the town council. As they rally to save it, mysterious sabotage threatens their efforts. Can they uncover the saboteur and preserve the firehouse's legacy? Join the Aldens on a thrilling quest filled with unexpected twists and community spirit.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2000

Hostage

By Willo Davis Roberts

A girl and her neighbor are kidnapped during a burglary. Can they escape their captors?

176 pages· 30,839 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

3.6 Goodreads · 672 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Sixth-grader Kaci Drummond craves excitement, but not like this. After stumbling upon a burglary, she and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Banducci, are kidnapped. Trapped by desperate criminals, they must rely on each other to outsmart their captors. Can Kaci and Mrs. Banducci find a way to freedom before it's too late? The stakes are high, and their courage is tested in this gripping thriller.

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