British Children's Books About Perseverance

Stick Man

Julia Donaldson

Ages 3–6

Stick Man

Julia Donaldson · Axel Scheffler

Stick Man is repeatedly mistaken for an ordinary stick and carried farther from his family tree.

Picture Book2008

Willy the Wimp

Anthony Browne

Ages 4–8

Willy the Wimp

Anthony Browne

Choose Willy the Wimp by Anthony Browne for children aged 4 to 8. This picture book is shelved with books about courage, self-reliance and perseverance.

Picture Book1984

The Worst Witch

Jill Murphy

Ages 7–10

The Worst Witch

Jill Murphy

Mildred Hubble is a pupil at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches, where spells, broomstick lessons, and school rules rarely go according to plan.

Chapter Book1974

Fantastic Mr Fox

Roald Dahl

Ages 6–9

Fantastic Mr Fox

Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake

First published in 1970, Fantastic Mr Fox is a chapter book by Roald Dahl for children aged 6 to 9. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. Its themes include courage, humour, perseverance and family.

Chapter Book1970

Matilda

Roald Dahl

Ages 7–11

Matilda

Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake

Matilda is a gifted reader whose dismissive parents fail to recognise her abilities.

Chapter Book1988

The Witches

Roald Dahl

Ages 7–11

The Witches

Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake

Choose The Witches by Roald Dahl for children aged 7 to 11. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. This chapter book is shelved with books about courage, humour and perseverance.

Chapter Book1983

War Horse

Michael Morpurgo

Ages 10–16

War Horse

Michael Morpurgo

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is a novel for readers aged 10+. A useful choice for reading about courage, loyalty, perseverance and heritage.

Novel1982

Coraline

Neil Gaiman

Ages 9–12

Coraline

Neil Gaiman

Coraline, a novel by Neil Gaiman, is selected for children aged 9 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring courage, adventure and perseverance.

Novel2002

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness

Ages 12–16

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness · Jim Kay

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a novel for readers aged 12+. It is illustrated by Jim Kay. A useful choice for reading about courage, family, perseverance and honesty.

Novel2011

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Patrick Ness

Ages 13–16

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness is a novel for readers aged 13+. A useful choice for reading about courage, adventure, perseverance and loyalty.

Novel2008

The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett

First published in 1911, The Secret Garden is a classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett for children aged 8 to 12. Its themes include friendship, nature, perseverance and wonder.

Classic1911

A Little Princess

Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess

Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess, a classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is selected for children aged 8 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring courage, imagination, kindness and perseverance.

Classic1905

The Sheep-Pig

Dick King-Smith

Ages 6–10

The Sheep-Pig

Dick King-Smith

For readers interested in kindness, perseverance and courage, compare The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith. It is a chapter book for children aged 6 to 10.

Chapter Book1983

The Hodgeheg

Dick King-Smith

Ages 5–8

The Hodgeheg

Dick King-Smith

The Hodgeheg, a chapter book by Dick King-Smith, is selected for children aged 5 to 8. Compare it with other books exploring courage, family and perseverance.

Chapter Book1987

Stormbreaker

Anthony Horowitz

Stormbreaker

Anthony Horowitz

First published in 2000, Stormbreaker is a novel by Anthony Horowitz for children aged 10 to 14. Its themes include courage, adventure and perseverance.

Novel2000

Point Blanc

Anthony Horowitz

Point Blanc

Anthony Horowitz

For readers interested in courage, adventure and perseverance, compare Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz. It is a novel for children aged 10 to 14.

Novel2001

Varjak Paw

S. F. Said

Varjak Paw

S. F. Said · Dave McKean

Choose Varjak Paw by S. F. Said for children aged 8 to 12. It is illustrated by Dave McKean. This novel is shelved with books about courage, adventure, friendship and perseverance.

Novel2003

Letters from the Lighthouse

Emma Carroll

Ages 9–12

Letters from the Lighthouse

Emma Carroll

For readers interested in courage, family, perseverance and heritage, compare Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.

Novel2017

The Explorer

Katherine Rundell

Ages 9–12

The Explorer

Katherine Rundell

For readers interested in adventure, courage, friendship and perseverance, compare The Explorer by Katherine Rundell. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.

Novel2017

Pig Heart Boy

Malorie Blackman

Pig Heart Boy

Malorie Blackman

On the shelf for children aged 10 to 14: Pig Heart Boy, a novel by Malorie Blackman. It connects with courage, family, justice and perseverance.

Novel1997

How to Train Your Dragon

Cressida Cowell

How to Train Your Dragon

Cressida Cowell

Hiccup must capture and train a dragon as part of becoming a Viking hero, despite being smaller and less confident than his peers.

Novel2003

The London Eye Mystery

Siobhan Dowd

Ages 9–13

The London Eye Mystery

Siobhan Dowd

Choose The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd for children aged 9 to 13. This novel is shelved with books about family, perseverance and justice.

Novel2007

Giraffes Can't Dance

Giles Andreae

Ages 3–6

Giraffes Can't Dance

Giles Andreae · Guy Parker-Rees

Choose Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae for children aged 3 to 6. It is illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. This picture book is shelved with books about perseverance, self-reliance and kindness.

Picture Book1999

How to Catch a Star

Oliver Jeffers

Ages 3–6

How to Catch a Star

Oliver Jeffers

How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers is a picture book for children aged 3 to 6. A useful choice for reading about perseverance, wonder and imagination.

Picture Book2004

First Term at Malory Towers

Enid Blyton

Ages 8–11

First Term at Malory Towers

Enid Blyton

For readers interested in friendship and perseverance, compare First Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton. It is a chapter book for children aged 8 to 11.

Chapter Book1946

Thomas the Tank Engine

Rev. W. Awdry

Ages 2–6

Thomas the Tank Engine

Rev. W. Awdry

Thomas the Tank Engine, a picture book by Rev. W. Awdry, is selected for children aged 2 to 6. Compare it with other books exploring friendship and perseverance.

Picture Book1946

Ballet Shoes

Noel Streatfeild

Ballet Shoes

Noel Streatfeild

Choose Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild for children aged 8 to 12. This classic is shelved with books about family, perseverance and creativity.

Classic1936

Flour Babies

Anne Fine

Flour Babies

Anne Fine

First published in 1992, Flour Babies is a novel by Anne Fine for children aged 10 to 14. Its themes include family, perseverance and humour.

Novel1992

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat

Ursula Moray Williams

Ages 6–9

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat

Ursula Moray Williams

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat by Ursula Moray Williams is a classic for children aged 6 to 9. A useful choice for reading about kindness and perseverance.

Classic1942

Girl, Missing

Sophie McKenzie

Ages 12–16

Girl, Missing

Sophie McKenzie

Girl, Missing, a novel by Sophie McKenzie, is selected for readers aged 12+. Compare it with other books exploring courage, family and perseverance.

Novel2006