March Theme: Resilience & Growth
At Liberty Woodland School, we place huge value on children developing resilience — the confidence to face challenge, adapt to change, and grow through experience. We encourage our pupils to see setbacks not as failures, but as opportunities to learn, reflect and try again. This month, we’re celebrating resilience in all its forms: from perseverance and problem-solving to courage, self-belief and emotional growth. Our recommendations include:
- A core recommendation
- A challenge read
- A dyslexia-friendly title
- A non-fiction pick
- And one for parents too
Reading at Liberty Woodland is never just about ticking a box — it’s about opening doors.
| Book Picks | Why we chose this book |
|---|---|
| Core Book: After the Fall By Dan Santat | Humpty’s story reimagined: facing fear, falling again, and learning to climb back up—gentle, funny, and profoundly resilient. |
| Stretch Book: What Do You Do With a Problem? By Kobi Yamada | A simple parable: approach, examine, and transform problems into possibilities. |
| Dyslexia-Friendly: Meg and Merlin: Making Friends By Tanya Landman, Barrington Stoke Little Gems | Small steps, set-backs, and trying again—kind, confidence-building early fiction. |
| Non-Fiction: Little People, Big Dreams: Wilma Rudolph By Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara | From childhood illness to Olympic gold—a clear picture-biography of perseverance. |
| Book Picks | Why we chose this book |
|---|---|
| Core Book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo | A proud porcelain rabbit learns—through loss and love—how hearts grow after they break. |
| Stretch Book: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend | Courage under pressure: failing, retrying, and discovering who you are when rules shift. |
| Dyslexia-Friendly: Mr Birdsnest and the House Next Door by Julia Donaldson, Barrington Stoke Little Gems | Moving, muddles, and making do—short, high-confidence read about adapting to change. |
| Non-Fiction: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (Kate Pankhurst) | Bite-size life stories showing grit in action. |
| Book Picks | Why we chose this book |
|---|---|
| Core Book: The Wolf Wilder by Kiran Millwood Hargrave | In frozen Russia, a girl defies fear, learns from failure, and fights for what matters. |
| Stretch Book: A Monster Calls By Patrick Ness | Grief, truth, and the courage to face what hurts—emotionally demanding and deeply rewarding. |
| Dyslexia-Friendly: D-Day Dog by Tom Palmer, Barrington Stoke | A modern boy’s project becomes a lesson in sacrifice and everyday bravery. |
| Non-Fiction: Survivors: Extraordinary Tales from the Wild and Beyond by David Long | True stories of people who persevered when the odds said no. |
| Book Picks | Why we chose this book |
|---|---|
Core Book:The Crossover by Kwame Alexander | Verse novel about brothers, setbacks, and showing up; resilience on and off the court. |
Stretch Book: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton | Loyalty, loss, and the hard work of choosing who you become. |
Dyslexia-Friendly: Unboxed by Non Pratt, Barrington Stoke | Old friends reunite; grief and change tested by one night of honest conversation. |
Non-Fiction: Black and British: A Short, Essential History by David Olusoga, young readers | Clear, cogent history that models intellectual resilience and perspective-taking. |
| Book Picks | Why we chose this book |
|---|---|
Core Book: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo | A Dominican-American teen finds her voice through poetry—agency, setbacks, growth. |
Stretch Book: A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi | Prejudice, hope, and rebuilding trust; resilient love story with bite. |
| Dyslexia-Friendly Book: Rook by Anthony McGowan, Barrington Stoke | Brothers, bullying, and a rescued rook—quiet courage and second chances. |
Non-Fiction: Quiet Power: Growing Up as an Introvert by Susan Cain, young readers | Practical strategies for thriving by leaning into who you are. |
| The Book | Why we chose it |
|---|---|
| Grit: Why Passion and Perseverance Matter By Angela Duckworth |
|