I don’t know about you, maybe you’re all extremely secure and self-loving, but I tend more toward the critical, self-deprecating school of thinking. After spending the last seven years at home with my kids, I often feel like the least intelligent person in the room. As I inch closer to forty, I step onto the scale and groan aloud over the growing number, and I spend way too much time grimacing in the mirror instead of smiling. My kids are with me all the time. It’s impossible that they’re not picking up on this. In my quiet moments alone, so approximately once a month, it tears me up to think that I’m passing on this lack of self-esteem to them.
I sincerely hope this isn’t an issue for you, but in case it is, here are ten books to teach your kids about the importance of self-esteem, being yourself, etc. while you work on your own self-acceptance.
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees– With adorable illustrations and rhymes, this book tells the story of Gerald the Giraffe. He was mocked by all of the other animals for his horrible dancing, until he found his own music and basically became Africa’s So You Think You Can Dance Champion. Suck it, haters!
Unloveable by Dan Yaccarino-Alfred the pug is made fun of for his short legs and pug nose until he feels that he must be unloveable. Then he meets another dog who teaches him about friendship and just how lovable he really is. This book is a great intro to self-love for toddlers and preschoolers. Hey, it’s never too early!
It’s Ok to be Different and It’s OK to Make Mistakes by Todd Parr-I LOVE all of Todd Parr’s books. Each one is designed to make kids, and parents, feel good about themselves and the world around them. This is a guy I’d love to grab a beer with.
I Like Me-by Nancy Carlson-This book stars a lovable pig who tells readers all about how much she loves her body and how it moves. I credit this book as being part of the eason my five year old knows she is hot shit. Right on, piggy! Now, if only I could bottle some of her confidence to save for her teen years.
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy and Kathy Hiatt–
This book does a good job of teaching a few important lessons. It teaches about the importance of being kind to others, even when they’re not kind in return. It also teaches kids to keep doing what makes them happy, even if other people think they’re strange. I am an odd person with quirky kids, so I embrace this kind of thinking.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes-Chrysanthemum has always been proud of her name, but when she starts school she is teased. She wonders if she’d be better off with a “normal” name until she meets her music teacher, Delphineum. I love that this book teaches children that, even when we feel alone, there is often someone else who is going or has gone through the same thing, and that sharing our problems can take some of the load off our own shoulders.
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon-We celebrate David Shannon’s entire collection in our house, but this thoughtful book is our favorite. Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but never eats them because she desperately wants to fit in. After listening too much to others and going through many uncomfortable changes, she eventually learns to accept herself. I think the book is a great metaphor for the way we feel when we try to please others instead of ourselves.
Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen– Violet is a young inventor who builds a flying machine and uses it to rescue a boy scout troop in danger. So much of the fiction our kids are exposed to from birth shows male characters saving the poor, defenseless female. F that noise! I like that this book could lead to discussions about gender stereotypes, especially if your kids are like mine and use your weakness for discussing such topics as a way to delay their bedtime.
I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt-This is one of my kids’ favorites about a child who asks his mother if she would still love him if he was a series of disgusting and/or terrifying creatures. Of course she would, and she informs him how she’d take care of him in each of the scenarios he creates. After spending much of my day yelling at my kids, I like to try to make sure they understand that I can dislike their behavior, but always love them. This book does a great job of capturing that sentiment.
The Olivia books by Ian Falconer-These books were one of my son’s earliest obsessions so, not to brag, but I consider myself something of an expert. Olivia the pig is a straight up, take no prisoners, bad-ass character. She is uber-confident and marches to the beat of her own drummer. Basically, she is my role model.
If we could just love ourselves like we love our kids, we’d be golden. I wish you all self-acceptance and the wisdom to teach your children, not just how awesome they are, but how great you are as well. Good night.
🙂 Erin
