So wonderful--Huffington Post has a slideshow of 11 classic children's book titles and how their stories can help us be better writers.
It begins with The Little Engine that Could:
"'The Little Engine That Could' is one of the best examples of the power of positive thinking. Even when all the other bigger trains tell him he can't make it up the mountain pulling all that weight, the Little Engine succeeds because he is just as fueled by determination and optimism as he is by coal. Although it's an obvious choice for this list, The Little Engine's affirmation is too important not to be included."
(The list of 11 books includes, "Everyone Poops", "Alexander and the No Good, Very Bad Day" and "The Velveteen Rabbit".)