self-reliance

In the absence of his older brother, the Great Brain, J.D. finds that his own little brain can accomplish feats on a somewhat lesser scale.

Four-year-old Katie seeks to prove her independence to her family by trying to pour her milk, hold Grandma's yarn, and perform other tasks all by herself.

Anxious to try out his new camping gear, Christopher sleeps out alone on his first night in the country and almost regrets that he didn't wait for his father to come along.

Because of his success surviving alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days, fifteen-year-old Brian, profoundly changed by his time in the wild, is asked to undergo a similar experience to help scientists learn more about the psychology of survival.

Feeling as though he does not belong there, Tink leaves Crow Cove, only to return with the drunken Burd, who teaches Tink to fish and to have confidence in himself and his place in the community.

When her class goes on a wilderness overnight trip, fourth-grader Amy worries about how she will fare since she has never gone camping.

After finally being promoted to fourth grade in the middle of the year, Joshua is so worried about the bully who rules the fourth grade boys that he makes some unwise decisions.

Krissy learns many things about self-reliance and helpfulness while trying to earn money to go to the theater with the rest of her Brownie troop.

The experiences of two young sisters traveling alone on the train to their great-aunt Lulu's house.

When a boy is not allowed to have a dog, he teaches his fish to do the things he wanted a dog to do.