Not sure how to talk to your kiddos about *gestures vaguely* everything? Me either. These books have helped me have conversations with my preschooler about standing up for what you believe in and finding courage when you need it. I hope they will help you too.
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These books are generally great for 3-6 year olds, and are listed in alphabetical order.
Picture Books for Being Brave:
The Empty Pot by Demi is the story of a boy who is brave enough to show up when something doesn’t go as planned. And wow does it turn out well for him! This is a great one for kids who have friends who are doing “better” than they are, or who have a little trouble with not being the best or knowing the right answer. If you’re looking for another way to read the story, there’s a great read aloud by Rami Malek on YouTube.
Maddi’s Fridge is a household favorite. We quote this book all the time. “Burritos are good for backpacks!” The through line about one friend not having enough food has helped us introduce so many giving opportunities to our kiddo. This book stands out here because Sophia has to make a tough choice about whether to tell her mom a secret. Spoiler alert: she’s brave enough to do it. A total gem from Lois Brandt and Vin Vogel.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno. I loved learning the story of why we carry the rainbow flag. Harvey Milk was right, it does give us hope! This book is a bit long for our four-year-old’s attention span, so we took the story in over a couple of days. Trigger warning that it also deals with Harvey Milk’s assassination (we loved the way this page transitions into the candlelight ceremony). It is ultimately an inspiring story about a person who was the epitome of brave. If this book is too big for today, I’ve heard great things about Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart and illustrated by Anne Passchier.
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds (of The Word Collector) is just such a great little book. Powerful words can be a whisper! This book has great ideas for how kids can do something, from planting to poetry to fashion. You can also see Peter Reynolds read this book himself in a fabulous read aloud: #ReadTogether with Peter Reynolds: Say Something!
Fun bonus fact: Peter H. Reynolds is about to release a new book! Peace Train is written by Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam. Here’s Reynolds’ announcement on Instagram, the book comes out in May 2021.
Sheila Rae: The Brave is such a sweet story of finding ways to be brave! Eating the eyes of dead bears? Oh my! I love that when things get a bit scary, Sheila Rae asks for help and her little sister comes to her aid! By Kevin Henkes.
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are is a favorite around here. The kiddo loves the idea of a spaghetti sandwich. He also loves that Lucy helps Ralph when he feels scared at the playground, even though he was mean to her before. This one really resonates. Written by Maria Dismondy and illustrated by Kimberly Shaw-Peterson.
Looking for more? See if you can check off all 100 Children’s Books to Read in 2021!
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash.