15 Goal Setting Picture Books for the New Year
The start of a new year is the perfect time to help students set goals and dream big! Reading picture books about goal setting can inspire kids to think about what they want to achieve and how to work toward those aspirations.
Whether it’s learning a new skill, overcoming challenges, or finding creative solutions, these stories offer relatable characters and meaningful lessons to motivate young learners. With themes like persistence, courage, and creative problem-solving, these books provide a great way to introduce discussions about setting goals in a way that’s engaging and fun.
15 Picture Books about Goal Setting to Read in January
1. Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller
Age Range: 4-8 years
Squirrel learns what a resolution is and sets out to find her own. Along the way, she helps her friends achieve their goals. This story introduces children to the idea of resolutions and encourages them to think about goals that involve helping others.
2. The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett
Age Range: 4-8 years
A wordless book about a girl who works hard to save money for a bicycle, only to gift it to someone else in the end. This story teaches the value of perseverance, delayed gratification, and kindness while modeling the importance of setting goals and sticking to them.
3. Ambitious Ninja by Mary Nhin
Age Range: 3-11 years
Ambitious Ninja explores how to set realistic goals and achieve them step by step. It provides relatable examples of overcoming distractions and challenges, giving kids practical tools for goal setting.
4. The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Age Range: 3-8 years
Liam discovers an abandoned garden and nurtures it, transforming the entire city. This book illustrates how consistent effort and small goals can lead to big changes, inspiring kids to stick with their plans even when progress feels slow.
5. Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Age Range: 3-7 years
Peter wants to learn how to whistle and practices persistently until he succeeds. This story encourages kids to keep trying and not give up on their goals, even if the process feels frustrating at first.
6. Dream Big, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi
Age Range: 4-8 years
Poppy the pig dreams of becoming a figure skater, and although she faces setbacks, she keeps practicing. This uplifting tale shows kids that hard work and determination can help them achieve their dreams.
7. Brave Irene by William Steig
Age Range: 4-8 years
Irene sets out to deliver a dress to the duchess despite a fierce snowstorm. Her resilience and determination to complete her task teach kids the importance of staying committed to their goals, even when obstacles arise.
8. Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan
Age Range: 4-8 years
A young Michael Jordan dreams of becoming a great basketball player. With his family’s encouragement, he learns that practice, patience, and perseverance are the keys to reaching his goals. This inspiring story helps kids understand the value of hard work.
9. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
Age Range: 3-7 years
A girl is determined to build the most magnificent invention but faces multiple failures along the way. This book emphasizes problem-solving, persistence, and the importance of learning from mistakes while pursuing goals.
10. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
Age Range: 4-8 years
Gerald the giraffe wants to dance but struggles until he finds his own rhythm. The story inspires kids to embrace their individuality, work towards their goals, and overcome self-doubt.
11. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Age Range: 5-9 years
This classic encourages kids to set their sights high and navigate life’s ups and downs. It provides motivation to keep moving forward and tackle challenges with confidence, making it perfect for goal setting discussions.
12. Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson
Age Range: 4-8 years
Based on the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who bicycled across Ghana with one leg, this book inspires kids to set ambitious goals and face challenges with determination and courage.
13. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Age Range: 4-8 years
Jabari sets a goal to jump off the diving board and faces his fear step by step. This story highlights the importance of bravery, preparation, and achieving goals by breaking them into manageable parts.
14. Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Age Range: 4-8 years
Leo struggles to reach milestones but eventually blooms in his own time. This book teaches kids that everyone progresses at their own pace, encouraging them to set personal goals without comparing themselves to others.
15. Flight School by Lita Judge
Age Range: 4-8 years
A penguin dreams of flying and attends flight school to achieve his goal. Though he cannot fly like other birds, he finds a creative solution to fulfill his dream. This story emphasizes determination, adaptability, and creative problem-solving.
Each of these books provides a meaningful way to discuss goal setting, determination, and perseverance with elementary students. These themes are ideal for motivating kids at the start of a new year!
Teaching Suggestions for These GOal Setting Picture Books
- Start with a Discussion: Before reading, talk with your students about what goals are and why people set them. Encourage them to share examples of goals they might have set in the past or would like to set now.
- Create a Goal-Setting Anchor Chart: While reading, identify the steps the characters take to achieve their goals. Write these down on a chart to use as a reference for students when they begin setting their own goals.
- Relate the Book to Personal Experiences: After reading, ask students how they relate to the characters. For example, “Have you ever had to keep trying like Peter in Whistle for Willie?” or “What’s a dream you’ve worked hard to achieve?”
- Brainstorm Goals as a Class: Use the books to inspire students to come up with their own personal or academic goals. Help them break down their goals into smaller, achievable steps.
- Art Projects: Have students create a visual representation of their goals, like a “goal tree” where each leaf represents a step toward their objective, or a “goal road” with milestones marked along the way.
- Reflection Activities: As students work toward their goals throughout the month, set aside time for them to reflect on their progress. You can use journal prompts, group discussions, or one-on-one conferences.
- Celebrate Successes: When students reach their goals, celebrate their achievements with certificates, classroom shout-outs, or a small celebration.
Goal setting is an important life skill, and picture books provide a fun and approachable way to introduce it to young learners. These stories entertain and teach valuable lessons about perseverance, problem-solving, and self-belief.
By pairing engaging books with meaningful activities, you can help your students start the new year feeling motivated and empowered. Whether they’re working toward academic milestones or personal achievements, these lessons will stick with them long after January has passed.
Jessica BOschen
Jessica is a teacher, homeschool parent, and entrepreneur. She shares her passion for teaching and education on What I Have Learned. Jessica has 16 years of experience teaching elementary school and currently homeschools her two middle and high school boys. She enjoys scaffolding learning for students, focusing on helping our most challenging learners achieve success in all academic areas.