Find yourself, accept yourself, love yourself. That’s what we want for children. Actually, it’s a message many of us adults need too. Fill your read aloud sessions with books that celebrating being yourself! Be you will inspire and affirm our children.
Love Your Unique Self Books for Kids
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Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a beautiful collection of poetry about finding youur unique self.
This book also happens to be the featured book in our Be Your Unique Self Family Dinner Book Club selection too.
Get conversation for the book and theme HERE.
Kick Push by Frank Morrison is the story of a young boy trying to find new friends in a new neighborhood. His encouraging family encourages him to be himself and do things he loves. In turn, new friends will gravitate to him.
Sometimes it’s hard to define who we are because we are each lots of things. We are each unique changing beings. But, I can say I’m part of the universe. Explore all the things we are depending on the circumstances in What I Am by Divya Srinivasan.
Sometimes we find ourselves through our heritage and that is just what a young girl does in Leila in Saffron by Rukhsanna Guidroz.
Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor is an empowering book about loving the body you are in, appreciate it, and be kind to it. It’s also a great reminder to adults that kids are listening and watching us. We need to make sure we are being body positive for our kids too.
Strong by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood is based on a real-life strongman who chose to be himself.
Joy Ride by Sherri Duskey Rinker is the story of a young girl and her grandfather who rebuild a bike that screams joy. It’s unique and one of a kind and the girl is very proud of it. But, while riding it the other kids make fun of her so she decides to ditch the bike. That doesn’t feel good or true to her though. Will she be able to embrace her unique bike and be proud of how she feels when she rides it? You bet!
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles is a beautiful poem highlighting the beauty and importance of each and every Black child in the world.
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes is a story of being proud of who you are during the easy times and hard times.
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho is a beautiful story of loving yourself. A young girl notices that her eyes look different from her friends and this sets her on an exploration of noticing the beauty of her mom, grandmother, and sister.
In Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand, Laxmi is upset when classmates point out her mooch (the Indian word for mustache) but then she learns about the line of women in her family who have the same thing and she find pride instead of shame.
Being you means playing and exploring without sterotypical constraints. And, that is what Peter Brown brings us in Fred Gets Dressed. Fred enjoys dressing in his mom’s clothes and his family embraces his curiosity and exploration. This is a beautifully illustrated book.
Big Bob, Little Bob by James Howe pushes the stereotypes of what boys and girls should like. Girls can like trucks. Boys can like dolls. Be who you are and accept others for who they choose to be.
You Matter by Robinson reminds us that no matter how small, seemingly insignificant, lost, or confused you feel you still matter. Everything, everyone, everywhere matters.
Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds is the perfect book to read anytime you want to emphasize the importance of just being you. Reynolds is known for his books of positivity. Plus, it would make a perfect graduation gift book.
Find your gifts, explore, experiment, and try are just a few of the messages you’ll take away from This Could Be You by Cindy Williams Schrauben. Discussion questions are included in the book along with reframing statements. Plus, a bonus mirror for kids to see themselves in the book.
Black Boy, Black Boy: Celebrate the Power of You by Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond invites us to celebrate ourselves and recognize the shoulders we stand on from Martin Luther King to Elijah McCoy. Full of inspiration and affirmation, this book practically leaps off the pages and into your heart.
You Can! Kids Empowering Kids by Alexandra Strick shines the light on the fact that you can be whatever you want to be or need to be. Be brave. Challenge yourself. Surprise yourself. Be you!
Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph is about just being you whether you fit in with the crowd or not. Sometimes you have to get away to discover yourself. But, ultimately be you no matter your surroundings.
Chameleon Can Be by Carolina Farías is the story of a chameleon who wonders what it would be other than itself. In the end, the lesson that you don’t want to be something you are not is learned. It’s really just best to be YOU.
Sometimes we pretend to be someone we aren’t. But, don’t hide who you truly are is the message in It’s OK to be a Unicorn by Jason Tharp. Cornelius makes creative hats, but those hats are hiding a secret about Cornelius. Everyone in town thinks Cornelius is a horse, but who is he really?
Thanks to my friend Jenn for recommending another unicorn book for this list. Shine like a Unicorn by Shelli Johannes gives us step by step directions for being unique. I think I loved step number seven the best which is to love yourself!
A Tiger Without Stripes by Jaimie Whitbread is the story of a tiger born without stripes. At first, this is viewed as missing out but the tiger comes to realize that not having stripes is truly a gift. The tiger may never had experienced all that life had to offer if it weren’t for being born without stripes.
Dare to BE Me by Kaci Bolls and Nathan Meckel begs for kids to get up and move during the read-aloud. Scan the QR code at the back of the book to jam the “Dare to Be Me” song. My favorite line of the book, “For every basket of fries covered in ketchup, there’s a tater tot like me saying, ‘Hey mustard. Wassup?!'”
I Can Be…Me! by Lesléa Newman is filled with rhythm and rhyme encouraging kiddos to dream and believe they can be anything they choose.
And, if you need a middle grade recommendation, check out Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Being yourself often comes with finding yourself and that’s just what we get to witness in Finding Langston, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book.
Be Your Unique Self Printable Book List
Grab a printable list of the books shared above and coversation starters to take to the library or to stick in your lessons plans.
Be you and read books that affirm your choice to be yourself.