Children's Bookshelf
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The Fancy Flamingo
By: Maygon Lucart
🦩This is a must have!!🦩 I read this one with my second graders and they loved it! It’s fun and silly but also carries a clear message about self acceptance and individuality 🤩 It tells the story of a unique flamingo who loves to dress fancy. She loves her hot pink boa, a large beautiful hat, and sparkly sunglasses. She adorns herself with bracelets and necklaces, always carrying a bright purse to keep her book close. However she does feel different from the other flamingos and questions her fancy appearance and wonders if being different is a good thing. After giving it a lot of thought she comes to the conclusion that it’s important for her to just be herself. From that day forward, she unapologetically embraced her super fancy style with her head held high! Beautifully illustrated and cleverly written in rhyme, the story is a gentle reminder for our young ones that it’s okay to be different and to embrace who they are. Also that we should accept others for who they are. 💖 Most children at some point have insecurities about fitting in at school, so books like this play a key part in early education. We really enjoyed this one and highly recommend adding it to your collection. Let’s encourage our kids to shine in all their unique ways!

I'd Rather Be Me
By: Emily Peace Harrison
Here’s a great book about confidence, self acceptance and embracing individuality. Written in rhyme, featuring a dog and a little flea. This flea keeps whispering in his ear. He asks the dog who he’d rather be. The dog says he’d rather be himself. However the flea keeps asking the same thing over and over, suggesting different possibilities… would you rather be a whale, bird, lion? Hank always proudly declares, “I’d rather be me!”. Finally in the end the dog confidently asserts himself in a very mature way… (I love this ⬇️) “Now listen up, flea! Listen to me! I like who I am! I want to be me! Not a bird not a whale, nor a chimpanzee. So you be you and I’ll be me the very best flea and me we can be.” Hank’s unwavering self-acceptance is a wonderful model for little ones who are still discovering who they are. It’s a book that inspires pride and helps children understand that they don’t need to change to fit in—they’re perfect just as they are! I love the simple presentation and clear positive message. Books like this truly are amazing tools for parents and teachers to help our children grow up to become happy, confident human beings who love and respect themselves. Definitely a book worth adding to your collection!


The Girl Who Loved To Paint
By: Jasmine Jewell-Washington
Here’s a great book about embracing our unique talents. Passionate about painting, she spends her days creating colorful scenes with her dog, Freckles, by her side. After a tough experience sharing her art at school, Isabella is comforted by her mother’s words about the strength in being different. That night, as she gazes at the sky, she finds a mysterious, glowing paintbrush that sparks her imagination like never before allowing her to bring to life anything that she paints. With her newfound gift, Isabella creates wonders, bringing animals and nature back to life in a forest affected by development. When her town faces a severe drought, Isabella uses the brush’s magic to fill the river with water, helping her community. Surrounded by grateful townspeople, Isabella realizes that her courage and creativity make her special and that embracing who she truly is can make a real difference. I like the message in this story. Being different is a strength, and embracing one’s individuality can lead to great things. Go check this one out!

Silly-Dilly Pickle learns to be himself
By: Emily Peace Harrison
Here’s a great book about confidence, self acceptance and embracing individuality. Written in rhyme, featuring a dog and a little flea. This flea keeps whispering in his ear. He asks the dog who he’d rather be. The dog says he’d rather be himself. However the flea keeps asking the same thing over and over, suggesting different possibilities… would you rather be a whale, bird, lion? Hank always proudly declares, “I’d rather be me!”. Finally in the end the dog confidently asserts himself in a very mature way… (I love this ⬇️) “Now listen up, flea! Listen to me! I like who I am! I want to be me! Not a bird not a whale, nor a chimpanzee. So you be you and I’ll be me the very best flea and me we can be.” Hank’s unwavering self-acceptance is a wonderful model for little ones who are still discovering who they are. It’s a book that inspires pride and helps children understand that they don’t need to change to fit in—they’re perfect just as they are! I love the simple presentation and clear positive message. Books like this truly are amazing tools for parents and teachers to help our children grow up to become happy, confident human beings who love and respect themselves. Definitely a book worth adding to your collection!

A Bear Is A Bear (Except when he's not)
By: Karl Newson
Here’s an excellent book you’ll want to add to your collection. About a bear who wakes up early from hibernation. He’s a little groggy and confused about the whole situation. In fact he’s so discombobulated, he’s not even sure if he’s a bear. He sees different animals and one by one, tries his best to be like them. Inevitably failing to be a bird or a moose or a fox etc. Eventually, the bear gives up because he’s so tired and he’s not used to being awake in December. He goes back to his cave and falls deeply asleep and back into hibernation. The story ends with the bear emerging from his cave in the spring, happy and well aware that he’s a bear again. This can be a great way to introduce the idea of hibernation. The writing flows really well and is presented in a repeating fashion. “What would a bear be if a bear forgot?”is the mantra for the story. Very simple concept, lots of humor, perfect illustrations… go check this one out, I’m super happy to add this to my Children’s Bookshelf!

Pink Is For Boys
By: Robb Pearlman
This book rethinks and reframes the stereotypical blue/pink gender binary and empowers kids-and their grown-ups-to express themselves in every color of the rainbow. Featuring a diverse group of relatable characters, Pink Is for Boys invites and encourages children to enjoy what they love to do, whether it's racing cars and playing baseball, or loving unicorns and dressing up. Simple, repetitive concept, fun illustrations and a great message about the colorful world we live in and how colors don’t belong to any gender… so enjoy life and express yourself as colorfully as you like!
Just Being Fred
By: Emily Peace Harrison
This is a beautiful story with an empowering message about acceptance and self discovery. About an adorable little frog who feels like a duck on the inside. He tells his peers he’s a duck but they always laugh at him and tell him he isn’t. This understandably makes him feel sad and confused. He eventually goes to his parents upset and tells them what’s been happening. They’re actually very understanding and supportive, offering him some very important words of wisdom. He feels more confident after speaking to his parents and goes back to his friends. He explains to them in a way that helps them understand that… “It’s not what you look like, or how you behave, it’s the feeling inside and the strength to be brave.” This book left me with a big smile on my face. The illustrations are excellent and the rhyming text flows really well. The message is powerful and easy for children to understand.