Welcome to Bookstr’s Three to Read Jr.! In this series, we’ll be exploring three books for young readers centered around a weekly theme — one for early readers, one for elementary readers, and one for middle-grade readers. This week, we’re focusing on children’s books that empower young bookworms by developing their sense of self-love and positive self-esteem.
EARLY READER
I Am Kind to Myself by Eileen Spinelli, Illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan
SYNOPSIS:
Preschool and kindergarten are a critical time for little ones to start developing their sense of kindness: kindness to family and friends, to animals, and to themselves. In this extremely accessible book, developing readers are encouraged to show themselves kindness and self-care in many ways, like forgiving themselves for making mistakes or learning how to manage unpleasant emotions like anger and jealousy.
WHY:
Children begin developing their sense of self from toddlerhood, from their physical appearance to their personal preferences to understanding their “big feelings.” I Am Kind to Myself approaches how this sense of self relates to self-love and self-care in an age-appropriate way that allows children to feel validated, not only in making good choices but also with the confirmation that their emotions — even negative ones — are perfectly normal. Illustrations are eye-catching yet simple and offer diverse representations of skin tones and hair textures. Even the construction of the book is well thought-out for little ones: the pages are sturdy cardstock for kiddos who haven’t quite mastered their fine motor skills.
ELEMENTARY READER
All I Need to Be by Rachel Ricketts, Illustrated by Tiffany Rose
SYNOPSIS:
The lyrical narrative of this title follows an ebullient brown-skinned child and their friends as they practice self-love in the face of bullying. The gentle rhyming text walks the children through a series of coping strategies, from deep breathing to meditation to self-affirmations. Ultimately, the child concludes that they will honor themselves regardless of outside messaging: “I’m enough. I am me!”
WHY:
All I Need to Be takes a very holistic approach to self-love, offering various actionable strategies for children dealing with negative self-esteem beyond the mental and emotional. While the book’s jacket blurb notes that the message is geared especially toward children of color, the language and coping strategies are universal, and inclusive illustrations feature children who are intersectional representations of differing abilities, cultural dress, and gender presentation. Ultimately, the book not only offers a practical roadmap to dealing with negative self-regard but also a reminder to children with marginalized identities that they are worthy of care, love, and respect.
MIDDLE-GRADE READER
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, Illustrated by Tim Miller
SYNOPSIS:
Zeke and his fellow monitor lizard friends have been moved to a new school this year as part of a district blending program. At a school full of mammals and birds, Zeke is somewhat offended when the principal immediately designates all monitor lizards as hall monitors; she insists that she’s not stereotyping them, though (even if it sure feels like it). After a disastrous shift leads to Zeke starting beef with the school bully — and secret supervillain — Pelicarnassus, our unlikely reptilian hero must decide what is worth standing up for … and if he has what it takes to be a hero.
WHY:
In this series kickoff, Ness creates the type of world that middle-grade readers can’t help but be drawn to, one that is equal parts hilarious fantasy and deeply relatable realism. What seems like a fanciful story of anthropomorphic animal middle-schoolers quickly draws the audience in with emotional depth, covering topics like grief, mental health, bullying, prejudice, and cross-cultural empathy. The way the narrative weaves these serious topics in with deadpan wit and clever surprises — along with Miller’s fantastic ink drawings — creates a compelling and entertaining story of heroism that begins with Zeke learning to love himself for who he is.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read Jr.! We hope you’ll join us in future installments to see more of our recommendations for young bookworms.
To read our other Three to Read articles, click here!
Browse these books and more reads handpicked by the Bookstr team on our Three to Read bookshelf on Bookshop!
