Love Yourself, Be Courageous & Stay Authentic – 10 inspiring reads for kids.

This Valentine’s day, I wanted to blog about an aspect of the idea of love – not the over represented romantic version. I am talking about a healthy love for oneself. Let’s explore the possibilities of what happens when we have courage to stand up to what we truly believe in, to face our fears, and most of all the be true to ourselves. Read these books, all of them rank high on my favorites list, to inspire your kids and yourself to do just that!

1) Courage by Bernard Waber – There isn’t just one kind of courage. Every day we exhibit courage in different ways, like sleeping without a night light, riding a bike or firefighters putting out a fire for the first time. This book explores the different definitions of courage. It shows kids how courage can come in different forms, and celebrates moments that bring out the hero in each of us.

2) Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall – Jabari is scared to jump off the diving board. His dad teaches him to take a deep breath and be ready for a surprise. Jabari surprises himself when he finally jumps! A great book to teach kids to try something new that is safe but takes courage.

3) Hannah and Sugar, by Kate Berube – A sweet book about how Hannah conquers her fears of dogs. One day Sugar (the dog) goes missing. Hannah finds a way to face her fears and becomes friends with Sugar.

4) After the Fall, by Dan Santat – We all know about how Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happens when he recovers? Is he brave enough to climb the wall again and face his fear of heights?

5) Spaghetti in A Hot Dog Bun, by Maria Dismondy- A wonderful book about having the courage to be who you are and doing the right thing. Lucy is one of a kind and she discovers how its cool to be authentic even in challenging situations.

6) Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, by Patty Lovell – It’s Molly Lou’s first day of school and a bully picks on her. She stands tall and stays true to herself. The book teaches us that we are all different and our differences need to be celebrated.

7) Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai - A beautifully illustrated book based on Malala’s own life. It teaches kids how this little girl from Pakistan held on to hope in difficult times and was able to make her voice heard.

8) Brave Irene, by William Steig – Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker's daughter braves a fierce snow storm to get the gown her mother made to the palace on time. She overcomes many obstacles and we can’t help but cheer her on.

9) The Princess Knight, by Cornelia Funke – Princess Violetta breaks stereotypes by proving that girls can do whatever they want. With hard work and sheer determination, she overcomes her brothers teasing, chooses her own freedom and decides how she wants to live her life.

10) Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, ‎Paris Rosenthal – Be true to you, no matter what. There doesn’t have to be rules to follow on what to wear or how to do your hair. This book encourages girls to be confident and to be authentic. Check out Dear Boy for encouraging boys to be confident and become their own person.