Top 10 Children's Books About Self Esteem Updated 04 /2024

As a parent, it's important to read books to your kids about why it's important to love yourself. They are 30 of the best children's books about self-esteem, value, and being true to yourself. There were a lot of factors that went into choosing each book. The main reason was that each one had a good message and was popular with both kids and parents.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

One of the best-known picture books of all time is about a girl named Grace. Her favorite thing to do is write her own stories to act out for her family and friends. It breaks Grace's heart to hear that she can't be Peter Pan because she's a girl and black. Grace's grandmother tells her that if she has enough confidence and determination, she can be anything she wants to be.

Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

When Nate sees a ballet, he gets so excited that he signs up for dance class. Friends and even his brother start making fun of his newfound passion, which makes Nate lose both his confidence and the desire to do what he loves. His mother and a new friend helped Nate realize that it's important to follow your dreams, no matter how strange or different they are.

Calvin Can’t Fly by Jennifer Berne

Calvin may be a bird, but he doesn't have wings. Reading books makes him more happy than anything else. As soon as it is time to move, Calvin finds that he can't do it alone. He needs help from his siblings. The whole family comes to see how important it is to be different when Calvin's love of books and learning helps them save the day.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Among Kevin Henkes' best-loved books for kids is Chrysanthemum, which tells the story of a little mouse with a name that comes from the beauty of nature. Until she goes to school and is teased about her name. When children try to smell Chrysanthemum like they would a flower, Chrysanthemum thinks she would be better off with a name that is more "normal." The good news is that Chrysanthemum is reminded by a caring teacher that being different can be a great thing to be.

The Crown on Your Head by Nancy Tillman

Her stories about how much parents love their kids are very well-known. The Crown on Your Head is no different. Throughout this story, all kinds of people say that their children have crowns on their heads, which is something that makes us unique and never goes away.Exclamation Mark

Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Exclamation Point is the first of two Amy Krouse Rosenthal books that made our list of the best children's books about self-esteem. It's the story of an exclamation point who wants to be something else but can't figure out how to do it. But the more he tries to change, the more he realizes how important and important he is.

Flight School by Lita Judge

Flight School is about a young penguin who wants to learn how to fly even though he doesn't look like a bird that can fly. The penguin is able to make his dream of flying like an eagle come true thanks to a lot of hard work, a lot of confidence, and a lot of good friends.

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

A picture book written by Giles Andreae is a big hit. Gerald the giraffe wants nothing more than to join in on the annual dance party. So Gerald gets self-conscious when other animals make fun of his clumsiness, which makes him feel bad. In the end, Gerald learns that "we all can dance when we find the music that we like."

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett

Mark Pett's book, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, can help young people understand that no one is truly perfect, and that's OK, too. She has to decide how to act when she makes a very big mistake in front of a lot of people.

Good Little Wolf by Nadia Shireen

As soon as the Big Bad Wolf tells Rolf that he needs to do bad things to show he's a real wolf, Rolf doesn't know what to do. If you make mistakes, you know it's better to be kind, even if that means going against the crowd or being seen as different.

I Like Me!Nancy Carlson

All kids will love Nancy Carlson's book I Like Me!, which is full of a confidence-filled pig. People should be happy with how they look and what they can do. She is happy about that, as well as how they can get back up after they make a mistake.

I Like Myself

Karen Beaumont

Karen Beaumont's I Like Myself is a funny book about a girl who loves herself and has a lot of confidence. This book, which talks about how to love yourself for who you are, has a lot of fun and colorful pictures that young people will enjoy.

I Want Your Moo: A Story for Children About Self-Esteem

 Marcella Baker Weiner

Nothing about Toodles the turkey is good about her. During her search for new characteristics and features, Toodles comes to realize that everything about her is exactly how it should be. She thinks that these new things will make her happy. I Want Your Moo is a fun, sometimes even silly, book that helps young people learn to accept their own bodies.

I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell

If you want to show your kids that they can be happy with who they are and that it's OK to like themselves, this book is for you. In this book, both a boy and a girl talk to the reader about why they like themselves and how being confident in yourself makes you happy. They both share their stories with the reader.

 

I’m Not. by Pam Smallcomb

She is very proud of her best friend, Evelyn, in this cute book for kids about self-esteem and friendship. The girl doesn't seem to think she's as good as Evelyn, even though she talks about all the things that make her special. Evelyn is also very good at being a good friend, and she helps the girl see how great she is.

It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr

Children love Todd Parr, and It's OK to Be Different is one of his best works. This fun book shows typical Parr-style illustrations. It shows how it's not only okay, but also great to be different.

Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco

It turns out that the students in a special education class call themselves "the Junkyard." When this happens, the teacher takes the kids to a real junkyard, where she shows them that it's a great place to look for hidden treasures. Parents and kids will love that Junkyard Wonders is based on the real-life experiences of its best-selling author, Patricia Polacco. The story and illustrations are both great.

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

Robert Kraus's book, Leo the Late Bloomer, tells the story of a young, cute tiger who doesn't seem to fit in with other tigers his age. It's his mother who tells Leo that not everyone is the same and that it's okay to take some time to become like a tiger.

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match / Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown

Olli says that because Marisol McDonald is both Peruvian and Scottish, she doesn't fit in with the rest of the group. When Ollie tells her to be more normal, Marisol realizes how unique all of her mismatched features are and that she is happier just being herself. This beautiful book, which is written in both English and Spanish, is very appealing. It has a lot of colorful pictures.

Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds

She isn't like the other birds. Nerdy Birdy, on the other hand, likes to read books and play video games. Cardinal, Robin, and Eagle all like things that are "cool." As long as he has friends who share his interests, he is happy. When a new bird comes and needs to be accepted, his character is put to the test.

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple.

You should read Not All Princesses Dress in Pink if you're a young girl who likes books about princesses who do things like farm, dance, and fight sorcerers in a colorful way. Fun rhymes in this book show that not all girls need to look and act the same to be a princess, and that's OK.

Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el

There are other dragons, but Crispin isn't the same as them. Crispin doesn't breathe fire. Instead, he breathes things like whipped cream and bubbles. Because they both try to live up to certain rules, they become friends. A lot of people don't know that it's OK to be different.

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