Teaching Persistence Using Picture Books

Teach kids persistence and they'll practice it in their own lives.

Calvin Coolidge said in 1932, "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "Press On." has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." Begin teaching the virtues of persistence and perseverance to children through the stories you read to them when they are young.

Fables and Myths

Aesop valued persistence.

Much of ancient storytelling celebrated heroic persistence. Aesop's fable of the tortoise who wins the race against the hare by doggedly taking step after step while the faster hare sprints and rests is a classic tale of persistence and endurance that has been retold and illustrated in many children's books, such as the Angela McAllister version that uses Jonathan Heale's woodcuts.

Willy Pogany illustrated the Padraic Colum masterpiece, "The King of Ireland's Son," which weaves stories of princes enduring trials and journeys to rescue their loves or to find "The Unique Tale." Colum's retelling of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," capture the valor of persistence in detailing Odysseus's seven-year effort to find his home and family.

Traditional Favorites

Kids love trains and the story of the "Little Engine That Could."

Stories from the turn of the twentieth century into the fifties still inspire families to the virtues of persistence. Many were published in the now visually nostalgic "Little Golden Books" series. The story of "The Little Red Hen" follows a hen that patiently asks for help in baking her bread at every step of the process, even though she finds no helpers. "The Little Engine That Could," written by Arnold Munk and first published in 1930 and possibly connected with a sermon, has had children reciting, "I think I can, I think I can," for decades. "The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown and memorably illustrated in bracing colors by Clement Hurd resonates with children as persistence is shown as the mother's virtue, driven by love for her "little bunny."

Biographies and Living History

Edison's light bulb and phonograph took persistence to make successful.

Thomas Alva Edison's famous quote, "Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration," reminds us of his life story. Edison continued to work despite early failures. His light bulb took hundreds of tries before it worked to his satisfaction. Biographies of great men and women who endured for years before achieving their aims are great inspirations for children, who identify with an underdog who wins in the end.

Bethlehem Books republish histories that novelize the lives of historical figures. "Living history" books teach the best of life by bringing children stories from people in the past. "Herodotus and the Road to History" follows the ancient Greek historian as he does his work with persistence and fortitude.

Humorous

Gina and Mercer Mayer have contributed lively drawing and clever stories to contemporary children's literature. Dig through their "Little Critter" series books to find humorous takes on values like persistence. "Just a Secret" tells of a brother's persistence in hiding a secret gift from prying eyes, a virtue he practices so well he eventually loses track of the gift himself.

References

• In Search of Watty Piper: A Brief History of the "Little Engine" Story
• Our Daily Bread: "The Runaway Bunny"
• Library Thing: "A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison"
• Talking Philosophy: "The Little Red Hen"
• Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum
• Fantastic Fiction: "The Tortoise and the Hare"

Resources

• Mercer Mayer Reads: "Just a Secret"
• Maureen Whittmann: Herodotus and the Road to History
• Bethlehem Books: Living History
• Sacred Texts: "The King of Ireland's Son"
• English Forums: Thomas Alva Edison