24 books to teach RESPONSIBILITY for elementary/middle readers

 Each month our school focuses on a character trait to teach, practice, and discuss with our students. September is all about RESPONSIBILITY.  Our students are learning to be responsible in many ways: how to manage their time, supplies, events, friendships, and being part of a community.  Here are the books I recommend to my teachers to read to their classes.  These range from picture books to chapter books and all provide a rich context for how RESPONSIBILITY plays a role in all of our lives:

With all of these books readers can identify the ways that the main characters are being responsible and how that effects others in the story.  They can also relate the plot to their own lives. Have they been asked to take care of something in a similar way?  What happens when we don't live up to our responsibilities? How can we fix it?  These are powerful conversations that will have our children thinking about their actions.

If you have other favorites please add them in the comments!