Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
Kids who are high in appreciation of beauty and excellence naturally appreciate beauty and excellence all around in everyday life. This may be physical beauty, like spotting a striking night sky, a lovely quilt or coat. They may also be moved by artistic beauty like beautiful writing or the elegant footwork of an athlete. Another form of beauty they may notice is moral beauty, such as a powerful speech or an act of virtue. Beauty and excellence can produce awe and wonder, inspire us, and elevate us to act.
Owl Moon
Replete with rich sensory detail, Owl Moon is an ode to wonder and beauty. In the story, a little girl is deemed brave enough to go on an owl quest with her father on a late winter night. Beauty can be found in the figurative language, sensitive illustrations, and in the story’s deep reverence to the animals and woods at nighttime.
The quest evokes a visceral sense of wonder: the wonder of staying up late, the wisdom of adults, the magical world of nocturnal animals.
This is a night the girl has long waited for. Readers experience her appreciation of the beauty around her and her savoring of this rite of passage.
Companion strengths include Bravery, Hope and Self-Regulation.
Artist: Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr
Nothing Ever Happens on a Gray Day
Journey from boredom to awe and wonder on an ordinary, gray-sky day. Inspire mindfulness and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder at the natural world around us. The illustrations are colorful and very charming, with small moments carefully drawn, and the book inspires savoring and open awareness.
Artist: Grant Snider
When the Sky Glows
Beautiful illustrations of glowing skies are paired with fascinating scientific detail. This picture book revels in the beauty of the natural world and shows the sky lit up by awesome volcanoes, dreamy fireflies, mysterious lights, and more. Accompanying each resplendent scene is a brief, clear explanation of the science that creates such natural beauty.
Companion strengths are Gratitude and Love of Learning. Nell Cross Beckerman also has a curriculum guide for the book, and others inspiring wonder, on her website here.
Artist: Nell Cross Beckerman and David Litchfield
