Children's Books > Issues > Self-Esteem & Fitting In

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are the best of friends. But they are different in almost every way ...Pearl likes solving mysteries and moves rather fast in the world. Charlie likes taking baths and watching his garden grow. So how can Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsely be such goods friends? A delightfully uplifting tale about self-belief, courage - and above all - the power of friendship.

This second edition of the highly successful Helping Children to Build Self-Esteem is packed with fun and effective activities to help children develop and maintain healthy self-esteem.
New and updated material has been added including a section on running parent groups alongside children's groups, as well as a brand new layout, fresh illustrations, an expanded theoretical section and extra activities.
Based on the author's extensive clinical experience, this activities book will equip and support teaching staff, therap... read more

Teaches children how to hold on to the no-limit thinking the author believes they were born with, rather than just trying to "fit in." This book features 10 important lessons that include the value of taking risks, dealing with stress and anxiety, and learning to enjoy each moment.

Many kids struggle with low confidence. The good news is, Being Me can help kids tackle everyday challenges and build confidence and self-esteem. This handy guide gives kids the tools they need to explore their strengths, feel successful, and be confident in school, with friends, and importantly, with themselves. Loaded with kid-relevant examples, real-life stories, and easy-to-do tips and tricks, Being Me will empower kids to feel happier and more secure and confident with themselves and with everyone else in their lives.

The Adventures of the Little Tin Tortoise is a practical, interactive storybook for building and maintaining self-esteem in children aged seven to nine.
Using the tradition of oral story-telling, Deborah Plummer encourages children to consider the self-esteem issues encountered by a little tin tortoise on a journey to discover who he really is.
The various obstacles and helpers he encounters along the way include worries, bullying, making decisions, and friendship and children, will gain age-appropriate insights from th... read more

Stanley Paste is small. Really small. And he hates it. But when a new girl arrives at school, Stanley learns that perhaps being small is not so bad after all.

Say Goodbye to Being Shy is a book for children who struggle with extreme to occasional shyness. Shyness is a barrier to social and academic development which can prevent children from reaching their greatest potential. Say Goodbye to Being Shy offers focused activities with clearly stated purposes designed to move children from feelings of shyness to developing competence and skill. Simple, fun activites to help kids: Accept themselves; Be assertive when necessary; Make new friends.

Toodles is a turkey who despises the sound of her "gobble gobble," her spindly legs, and her brown feathers. She just doesn't like herself at all! So she goes in search of a new voice, thinking it will bring her happiness.
In this goofy, fun-filled quest, Toodles discovers that she's just the way she's meant to be, "gobble gobble" and all. Kids will identify with Toodles' struggle with insecurity.
I Want Your Moo is a silly and funny lesson in self-acceptance and self-esteem. And it's perfect to read aloud to kids! T... read more

Although it is a beautiful day, all the animals in the barn complain about each other. The mouse doesn't like the way the dog stands on his tail, the cat doesn't like the goat’s milk, the dog thinks the pig is boring, the pig thinks the rooster is too busy thinking of himself. So they decide to make a better animal, one they all like.

You Can Do It Too! -- Karen Baicker's can-do heroine is back. This time, instead of figuring out what she has to learn, as she did in I Can Do It Too!, she is teaching her young sibling everything she thinks he needs to know. From banging a spoon on the back of a pan for music to march by to spitting straight into the sink when it is tooth-brushing time, the big sister is very busy

These heartwarming stories remind us how satisfying it is to grow up surrounded by love. I Can Do It Too! affirms a little girl's growing independence as she, too, can begin to do all the things she sees her parents, relatives and neighbors do: pouring juice at breakfast, strumming a guitar, and even riding a bike! The simple cadence of text and direct-to-the-heart art result in two books as warm and generous as their message, providing reading pleasure for toddlers, older siblings, and the grown-ups who love them.

Sometimes the smallest and most unexpected things have the greatest value, as shown in this stylish feminist fable. This is a story of one farmer, his three children, Franz, Hans and Mary, and an ingenious competition that will determine who should inherit the farm. Which of the farmer's children will be able to fill the house with something that costs a mere penny? Will straw do the trick? Will feathers be sufficient? Or will it take something a little more creative?

A delightful book that introduces the endearing message of self-love. It?s a book for everybody but one especially that children both boys and girls will truly enjoy. 'I Love Myself' is all about feeling good and leaves children with the sense of knowing who they are as it takes them on a magical journey of discovery. The added bonus of delightful illustrations from little and big kids alike bring a guaranteed glow to your heart.

Covers issues of self esteem and peer pressure. Despite his Mum's insistence, Sam doesn't want to be friends with Davey, he thinks Davey's a first class, grade A, top of the dung heap moron. But one day Davey saves Sam's life and a bond is formed between them. Sam is still embarrassed to be seen with Davey, but little by little he has to admit, when it's just the two of them, Davey is a lot of fun. But then something terrible happens to Davey. . . Told in verse, in first person, this is the touching story of an extraordina... read more

This is the heart-warming tale of a gorilla and his tiny friend, from a master artist and storyteller. A very special gorilla is taught a very special skill - sign language. He appears to have everything he needs, but one day he signs that he is sad and needs a friend. His keepers bring him a tiny cat called Beauty and the two of them become inseparable. But when the gorilla gets angry and causes damage to the TV, will his keepers think him unfit to be friends with such a small, defenceless animal? Not if Beauty can think fast ... read more

Gerald would love to join in with the other animals at the Jungle Dance, but everyone knows that giraffes can't dance ...or can they? A funny, touching and triumphant story from an award-winning creative team. 2009 sees the 10th anniversary of this bestselling picture book loved by children everywhere.

The story of five misfits who discover the old truth that what you look like doesn't matter as much as what you do and that being happy is a matter of attitude.Toad, Bat, Spider, and Rat all complain about their looks until Hyena persuades them to have a great party with offbeat music and loads of pancakes. A simple and elegant story.

Can Dog's friends teach him to be less of a show-off? Find out in this brilliantly original picture book from Lucy Cousins, creator of Maisy. Dog loves his friends. He thinks they're brilliant. But he also thinks that he's the best, and he just won't stop telling them! So what happens when his friends decide to teach him a lesson, by showing him all the things they are best at? Illustrated in Lucy Cousins' signature art style - bold, vibrant and child-like, this is an energetic and sympathetic examination of boasting for very you... read more

Tuck is stressed out. His parents are divorced, he misses his father, and he has moved to a new house and school. When he decides to try out for the basketball team, the neighborhood boys won't let him use 'their' court to practice. With so many problems, Tuck is having a hard time feeling confident and dealing with his upsets. Then Walton shows up. Taking on the role of coach, Walton teaches Tuck not only how to play better basketball, but also how to manage his anxiety and self-doubt. Soon Tuck is feeling in control of his life a... read more

Good things come in threes, especially with best friends Lindsey, Bella, and Kate. But friendships of three come with their own problems, like feeling left out, having to choose one friend over another, and feeling jealous when other people come into your circle. Lindsey, Bella, and Kate go though these and other problems, fighting, making amends, finding solutions, and becoming better friends.