What is one children’s book that is good for boosting body image and self love in kids?
To help you make the best selection of books for boosting body image and self love in kids, we asked publishers and avid readers this question for their best picks. From The Skin I’m in by Sharon G. Flake to Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, there are several books for kids that are especially recommended for helping kids develop self love and great body image.
Here are 10 books these leaders recommend to boost body image and self love in kids:
- The Skin I’m in by Sharon G. Flake
- I Am Enough by Grace Byers
- Leo Handles Teasing by Autism Accessible Book
- Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
- The Second Life of Abigail Walker by O’Roark Dowell
- What I Like About Me! by Allia Zobel Nolan
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
- Being You by Charlotte Markey
- You Are Awesome by Susann Hoffmann
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
The Skin I’m in by Sharon G. Flake
In my opinion, The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake is one of the best books for boosting body image and self love in kids. It revolves around Maleeka Madison, a young girl who has low self-esteem because of her dark skin and suffers from bullying at school. She finds an unlikely ally in her new teacher, Miss Saunders. Miss Saunders helps her see that she is beautiful just the way she is without needing to change anything about herself. The story is told with such grace and depth that it will stay with you long after you finish reading it, which makes it perfect for parents looking to give their children a message about body image.
Shaun Connell, Connell Media
I Am Enough by Grace Byers
This is a must-read for every kid out there. As its name suggests, it is a book that focuses on accepting who you are. This is especially important for every kid to start loving and accepting themselves for who they are. It is an excellent book for small kids who have just graduated from pre-grade level. It is a lovely book to gift mothers for baby showers and small kids.
Gisera Matanda, WeLoans
Leo Handles Teasing by Autism Accessible Book
Leo Handles Teasing is one of the books I’m most proud of because it helps neurodiverse children to conceptualize and prepare for a world in which people aren’t always kind to us.
The book focuses on the reactions we have when a negative interaction makes us feel bad, sad, or angry towards ourselves, and offers concrete solutions for working through the emotions experienced as a result of teasing or bullying.
While building self love is of great importance, that alone isn’t enough to make us immune to feeling embarrassed, othered, or belittled. So it’s equally important to teach our children how to manage their emotions and behaviors when we encounter those feelings.
Sara Alshamsi, Big Heart Toys
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Childhood is a very delicate phase. Every little thing impacts the thoughts and views of the little kid. One thing we must teach them is the acceptance of ourselves. One of the best books that will inspire and teach your kid to be confident for who they are is Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. This insightful book contains fascinating illustrations done by David Catrow. This book is ideal for 2 to 9 year kids. As parents and guardians, boosting body image and self-love in the child are crucial. This book is about a little girl with a funny voice, clumsy and short look. When the little girl joins the school, she gets bullied. But she stands tall with pride because of her confidence and determination.
Shivanshi Srivastava, Payday Loans UK
The Second Life of Abigail Walker by O’Roark Dowell
This is a great book authored by O’Roark Dowell for teenagers. It states the life of a character by the name of Abigail who weighs a few pounds more than her peers. She refuses to be let down by their teasing remarks because she has embraced herself fully. She befriends a kid who is being homeschooled because of PTSD as a way to also make herself feel as being at her best. This is a great book for teenagers who go through the difficult face of accepting their bodies at this stage in life where their identity is at stake.
Leah Wanjiku Gathoni, NearbyMovers
What I Like About Me! by Allia Zobel Nolan
One book I recommend is What I Like About Me! by Allia Zobel Nolan. This book shows kids that it is okay if their body changes with time, age, and life experiences. The story teaches kids that knowing their bodies can show them what is good about themselves and makes them feel confident in the way they look.
Saunav Kaushik, VinPit
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is an excellent children’s book for boosting body image and self-love in kids. The story follows Woodson’s own childhood, growing up as an African-American girl in the 1960s and ’70s.
Throughout the book, Woodson writes about her struggles with self-acceptance and her eventual realization that she is perfect just the way she is.
This is an important message for all kids, but it is particularly powerful for those who struggle with their body image. Brown Girl Dreaming is a beautiful and moving book that will help kids to appreciate their own unique beauty.
Sher Jan, US Installment Loans
Being You by Charlotte Markey
Being You by Charlotte Markey is an excellent book focusing on body image for boys. It’s a quick and fun read that concentrates on developing a healthy pre-teen boys’ body image. In addition, it’s refreshing to discuss the downside of peer pressure on appearance. Finally, a book focused on the science and psychology of this topic is fun to read at bedtime with your children, especially boys.
Benjamin Earley, HOLT
You Are Awesome by Susann Hoffmann
I recently read a children’s book, You Are Awesome, authored by Susann Hoffmann. It is about finding hope in life’s little things that help us build resilience and perseverance. The little humans embark on different adventures that open a new door to them; and thus, they learn the valuable aspects of life. You Are Awesome is an excellent book that chronicles the journey of self-love with beautiful stories and vibrant illustrations. It shows that children can do anything when determined to excel in the field. Additionally, the book’s characters talk about important topics like body image, mental health, diversity, and inclusion. Therefore, I recommend this book to children who want to learn the art of self-love by appreciating and accepting themselves.
Praphulla Kumar, RealPeopleSearch
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
Sulwe is a colorful book that aims at lifting the self-esteem of kids that are adversely affected by colorism. It gives an exciting account of being a minority in reference to skin complexions where little girls get to explore the beauty of being different. It also borrows from explanations that use stars to give the little kids an uplifting knowledge of astronomy and life.
yongming Song, Imgkits
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.