A "New Year, Same Me (And That's OK)" Picture Book List

There are many many picture books about self esteem. Kids are constantly figuring out who they are and how they fit into the world, trying on various "selves" and learning how to be authentic AND kind/friendly (sometimes their authenticity borders on blunt honesty that could use a little tempering, but they're learning!). I'm here to tell you tweens, teens, and full grown adults are also (still) figuring out who they are - and they (you) too can learn from picture books about being your full self.

I took a few of these to the middle school that my public library serves for a read-aloud program, and the eighth grade students I read to loved getting into the various stories and guessing what was going to happen to protagonists. No one felt like I was babying them by reading from picture books - they were excited to sit back, relax, and be read to! Let that be permission for all of us to enjoy stories in every form - and these ones in particular, as we forge our ways into a new year with our same just-fine-the-way-they-are selves.


Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Norman feels perfectly normal...until he grows wings. He tries to hide them, but can't get comfortable with something covering his wings. Letting his wings free, Norman learns how to accept his whole self, and realizes that there is no such thing as "normal" - just perfectly Norman.


How To Be A Lion by Ed Vere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Leonard is a lion, but other animals aren't so sure of that. They tell him his kind ways and soft roar aren't very lion-like. But what does it mean to be a lion? With help from his friend, Marianne the duck, Leonard shows there is more than one way to be a lion and a friend.



Giraffe Problems by Jory John
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Edward feels bad about his neck. It's just so...necky. He's tried scarves and bow ties, but nothing changes who he is: a giraffe. After envying other animals' necks, Edward meets Cyrus the turtle. Cyrus helps Edward sees how useful his neck can be and both Edward and Cyrus learn to appreciate what makes them who they are.


Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Giraffes aren't supposed to be dancers - at least, according to all the other jungle animals. Gerald doesn't listen to them. He knows "Sometimes when you're different you just need a different song."

The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Each of Minnow's 49 sisters is remarkable. Minnow, however, is only curious. She seems to have unending questions, but has no talents for gardening or singing or fish training. What is Minnow good for? When a shoe shows up, seemingly good for nothing either, Minnow sets out to prove both she and the shoe have a purpose.


Extras: One More Giraffe Book, One More Mermaid Book, A Bunch of Picture Books for All Ages, or View All My Reviews