WOW Dozen: Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
A proverb or a noteworthy saying is often used to teach important lessons and can help children connect to human experiences in simple, yet profound, ways. This WOW Dozen is centered around the Japanese proverb, "Fall down seven times, get up eight," another way to convey the message "never give up." This theme of hard work, perseverance or persistence is reflected through different means -- whether overcoming small challenges, dealing with human relationships, standing up for oneself to make a significant change in laws to fight for the rights of others, inventing something new that builds confidence or creating an innovation that makes a big impact in the world. This list introduces biographies of meaningful people who overcame big challenges as well as fictional stories that are fun and whimsical. Reading these books aloud may inspire children to see themselves as capable and resilient beings in the world.
Everything two lifelong friends build together ends in disaster, but they persevere and discover that what is really important is, “built to last.”
The true story of a group of children who helped pass a law that recognized the Kamehameha butterfly as the state insect to protect it as an endangered species.
This biography highlights Patsy Takemoto Mink’s involvement in the passage of Title IX, her lifelong battle for girl’s and women’s rights.
Congressional leader, Patsy Takemoto Mink, fought for equal rights for women using her favorite cheer, “gambatte” (go for it).
The true story of Momofuku Ando, who through perseverance, creativity and inspiration developed a noodle soup to feed the hungry and believed that “peace follows from a full stomach.”
Niki is doubted by everyone around her but continues to strive and fulfill her goal as a kaiseki (Japanese cuisine) chef.
A young girl who uses her creativity and innovation to master her greatest challenge: using chopsticks.
Soichi Sakamoto coaches a group of Maui students who swim in the sugar cane irrigation ditches to Olympic glory.
A stray cat is befriended by a sumo wrestler and together they help each other overcome obstacles and what it means to “fall down seven times, get up eight.”
A young boy learns that through perseverance, failure can be a powerful impetus for growth.
As the first Asian American professional basketball player, Wat Misaka uses his fatherʻs words, “gambatte” (do your best) when things get difficult.
The latest in Drummond's Green Power series on innovative sustainability projects, this title describes a village in Japan whose goal is to have zero waste. (US)
WOW Dozen features a list of 12 global books for children and adolescents around a theme, topic, issue or personal favorites. Each Dozen consists of ten newly-published titles with two older "must have" books. Please share or recommend additional books that fit the theme in the comments section or on social media using #WOWDozen. Use the printer icon in the upper left corner of this post to print or save this list as a PDF.
