Self Esteem For Kids

"I know big sisters. Zora, the boss, she's mine," explains Lee as he and Zora head to the library, where Mrs. C is teaching the children how to sew. Though Zora sews a beautiful flower on her cloth square, little Lee makes a mess out of the half-moon he is trying to stitch. That night, when he can't sleep, he gives sewing another try...and succeeds, even mending the hole in his pants pocket! The next morning, he sneaks into Zora's room and sews the ear back on Bess, her stuffed bear.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) children need validation and support on their journey toward self-discovery. Unfortunately, due to stigma and misinformation, these kids can be especially vulnerable to bullying, discrimination, and even mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. The good news is that there are steps you can take to empower your child as they explore, understand, and affirm their gender identity. In this guide, a licensed social worker who specializes in gender-nonconforming youth offers real tools to help your child thrive in all aspects of life.

It’s bedtime for baby. But before baby goes to sleep, he tells Mom about all the things he wants to dream about. From soaring across clouds of vanilla ice cream to driving a train across the ocean, baby can do anything! Including seeing his beloved Dada again.

Twelve-year-old Elliot Bloom doesn’t look like a rapper. He’s shy. He blends in. But after a fall at a neighborhood rec center, something strange happens—he wakes up with rhymes in his head, a new rhythm in his heart, and a voice that won’t stay quiet. As his lyrics begin to spread and his confidence grows, Elliot finds himself navigating stages, showdowns, and friendships that test everything he thought he knew about himself. But when the spotlight turns hot and old doubts come creeping back, he has to decide: Will he speak his truth or fade into the background again?

When Shay's family gathers for a day at Granny’s house, there's one thing she can count on: there will be Double Dutch. Shay would much prefer if her family would join her in another activity, like rollerblading or hula hooping (the stuff Shay does best!). But there's no convincing her cousins, or her aunties, who can't wait to join the fun! Luckily, Shay's family is supportive, and with just the right balance of encouragement and bravery, Shay might be able to conquer her fears. She may even have what it takes to be a Double Dutch Queen!

Inspired by the famous White House photograph of five-year-old Jacob Philadelphia touching then-president Barack Obama’s hair, Weatherford’s powerful text is an ode to all the things that make Black and brown kids beautiful. Young listeners will learn about many inspiring figures in Black history up to the present day, gaining confidence in their abilities and their cultural legacy as they learn.

Meet Tariq, a kind and talented tortoise who worries his Tourette’s makes him different. As we learn more about his condition, his friends help him realize he has nothing to worry about, and that he is brilliant, just the way he is.

Meet Alice, a kind-hearted and caring aardvark, who worries being autistic makes her different. As we learn more about her condition, her friends help her realize she has nothing to worry about, and that she is brilliant, just the way she is.

Ruby's mind is always full of ideas. One day, she finds some old boards and decides to build something. She invites her brothers to help, but they just laugh and tell her she doesn't know how to build. "Then I'll learn," she says. And she does! When she creates a dazzling fort that they all want to play in, it is Ruby who has the last laugh. This modern spin on the timeless favorite The Little Red Hen celebrates the pluck and ingenuity of young creators everywhere!

Buffalo Fluffalo arrives on the scene puffed up with self-importance. Stomping around and raising billows of dust, Buffalo Fluffalo proclaims his superiority to the other creatures—the ram, the prairie dog, and the crow—who just want to be his friend. So Buffalo Fluffalo, who has had enuffalo, heads off to grumble to himself. Suddenly, a rain shower pours down from the clouds and—what’s this? All of his fluffalo is a soggy mess! There Fluffalo stands, a drenched pip-squeak without his disguise.

Words for believing in yourself are the stars of this sweet book that empowers children of all abilities and backgrounds to not only believe in themselves but to be strong and resilient in the pursuit of their dreams. A teacher, a scientist or an activist—could this be you? Through lyrical rhymes, This Could Be You says yes, it very well could be.

Raymond is moving with his family from Kingston, Jamaica, to Queens, New York, and he can't wait to show everyone how American he can be! Whether it's through books, magazines, music videos and movies, he learns about America in any way he can, even if some of his sources of information are out-dated. However, on Raymond's first day of school in America, his every attempt to impress everyone with his “American-ness” backfires. What's worse, his new classmates doubt if he's Jamaican at all.

Gigi loves to sing, and is good at it! But she is held back by terrible stage fright. In spite of this, she signs up for the school talent show, hoping to overcome her fear and find her voice.

From My Head to My Toes gently introduces young listeners to the topics of consent and bodily autonomy in a positive way. Cheerful and informative, this story focuses on the powerful message of self-love. Aly’s inspiring words are paired with expert-vetted resources, giving adults the tools to begin having these essential conversations with kids from a young age.

There once was a young boy who had trouble with words. He paused and stuttered and stammered, which made school really tough. But with encouragement from his mom and a paintbrush in hand, he learns that finding your voice isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being true to yourself. For fans of I Talk Like a River and Amanda Gorman, The Boy Who Found His Voice is a joyful and empowering testament to art, empathy, and having self-confidence even in the face of doubt.

Kat is excited to sleep in her own room—the big girl room—for the very first time. But her younger sister, Tina, is nervous to sleep in their old room without her. So Kat comes up with a plan: she'll give all of her stuffed animals to her younger sister, and every time Tina gets scared, she should hold them close and be reminded of all the wonderful things each animal represents: bravery, creativity, love, and imagination. But that night, as a storm thunders outside their windows, it turns out that the big girl room can feel a bit lonely. And Kat might be the one who needs the extra support.

For all parents, caretakers, teachers and mentors of young black girls, Positive Affirmations for Young Melanated Queens, Volume 2 is a collection of 50 empowering and confidence-boosting statements for them to listen and repeat out loud or by writing them down. These emboldening statements give young black girls tools to take charge of their mindset and, through repetition, feel the truth in these words. Words that celebrate their skin, hair, potential, brilliance, compassion, and leadership.

Bedtime Bonnet gives listeners a heartwarming peek into quintessential Black nighttime hair traditions and celebrates the love between all the members of this close-knit, multi-generational family.

Big Al and Annie join Fr. Joe Kempf in offering support for those days when life gets difficult. Young and old have to face some tough issues at times. Suffering is a part of life, but we don’t have to suffer alone. The prayers, reflections, and activities lead children and those who accompany them through difficulties toward hope. With hope comes healing. The message in Sometimes Life Is Just Not Fair reminds us that God is and will always be with us.

Every morning as her mom brushes her hair, Scarlett recites her daily affirmations. Those powerful words travel with her throughout her day, helping her replace negative thoughts with positive ones and live out the truth that she is beautiful, strong, brave, kind, and worthy of love. This fun-filled and inspiring kids’ book also includes a list of uplifting and child-friendly statements your child can use to create their own daily affirmation routine.