School and friends can sometimes cause people to not be themselves. Friends can have a good and positive influence on lives, and they can be a not so great influence as well.
As a kid it is sometimes hard to be you. To admit to friends that you like vegetables or lima beans can be tough. For some people they struggle to really be themself up into their adult years. However, I do believe the sooner you realize that it is always best to BE YOU the better off you'll be.
I've always been a fan of books helping us and teaching us. This week I'm giving you 6 awesome picture books that would work perfectly for a parent, teacher, or librarian trying to get a message and lesson across that it is okay, and great actually, to be you.
Books that Teach There's Nothing Better than You.
Be Yourself!
This pink dog is pink, but no dogs are pink. So, of course she doesn’t want to be pink and
tries to hide who she really is. However, she soon learns
that it hurts to not be yourself, and that being you is pretty fantastic really.
Best for Toddlers to 3rd grade.
Camilla wakes up rainbow striped from head to toe. All different kinds of doctors try and help
her, but it isn’t until she learns that it’s okay to be you and like the things
you like when she becomes herself again.
Best for Kindergarten to 6th grade.
Cutesy, Blinky, and Bob live at the zoo, but these chipmunks
seem to be the only animals not getting any attention. The zebras, lions, and elephants have loads of fans taking their
pictures; even the sloth has
groupies. These chipmunks are desperate
for attention and do all sorts of crazy things to try and get it. Once they finally do they realize it isn’t
all it’s cracked up to be and being yourself is a lot better.
Best for Toddlers to 5th grade.
Mr. Fish is miserable, and feels he has to be b/c he’s a
Pout Pout Fish. He has a lot of
underwater friends that try to get him to smile and be happy, but it isn’t
until an unexpected fish shows him in an unexpected way who he really is.
Best for Toddlers to 4th grade.
Everyone wants to be a princess, but Olivia doesn’t want to
be like everyone else. She points out all of
the different ethnic princesses one could be.
However, by the end of the book Olivia realizes that even though she
once wanted to be a princess like everyone else, she now knows what she really
wants to be…a Queen.
Best for Toddlers to 3rd Grade.
Two chickens, Marge and Lola, want to win the barnyard
talent show for tickets to see the famous Elvis Poultry. However, chickens can’t surf waves and jump
the moon like the other animals. After
trying to do what everyone else can do and failing they soon learn that being
themselves is really what is best.
Best for Toddlers to 4th grade.
These picture books are perfect way to start or introduce a lesson; I've taught several different subjects (reading strategies, 6-Trait writing, and of course a lesson on being yourself) using these books. These awesome books are great read-alouds for boy and girls alike for all of the elementary school ages. They are fun and engaging reads everyone will enjoy; you'll even find yourself laughing along.
Happy Be You reading!
If I were to add a book or two to this list I'd add Woolbur by Helakoski (perfect for being you) and Tacky the Penguin by Lester.
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