12 picture books about confidence

1. Giraffes Can’t Dance

   by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

   Gerald the giraffe gets laughed off the dance floor, then finds that he can dance after all once he hears music that fits him. If your child loved Rodney, start here.

2. The Dot

   by Peter H. Reynolds

   Vashti is sure she can’t draw. A teacher asks her to make one mark and sign it, and that dot becomes the start of something big. A short, perfect book for kids who freeze up before they even try.

3. Ish

   by Peter H. Reynolds

   Ramon stops drawing after his brother laughs at his work, until he discovers that “ish” is more than good enough. Great for perfectionists.

4. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

   by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow

   Molly Lou is short, has buck teeth and a voice like a bullfrog, and she doesn’t care one bit. Funny, bold and full of grandma’s good advice.

5. Jabari Jumps

   by Gaia Cornwall

   Jabari is ready to jump off the high diving board… almost. A warm story about nerves, patience and a dad who knows when to wait.

6. The Most Magnificent Thing

   by Ashley Spires

   A girl sets out to build something magnificent and gets furious when it keeps going wrong. A great conversation starter about frustration and trying again.

7. Beautiful Oops!

   by Barney Saltzberg

   A lift-the-flap book that turns spills, tears and smudges into something new. Fun for the youngest readers who worry about getting it “wrong.”

8. Chrysanthemum

   by Kevin Henkes

   Chrysanthemum loves her name until her classmates make fun of it. A classic about teasing, and about the grown-up who helps her love her name again.

9. Spoon

   by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon

   Spoon thinks everyone else has it better: Knife gets to spread, Fork gets to twirl. A clever, gentle story about seeing what makes you special.

10. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes

    by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

    Beatrice has never made a mistake, ever, and she’s a little worried about it. What happens when she finally does makes kids laugh out loud.

11. Ruby Finds a Worry

    by Tom Percival

    Ruby’s small worry grows bigger every day she ignores it. A clear, kind way to show kids that talking about a worry makes it shrink.

12. Rodney the Rockin’ Rhino

    by Eric J. Valdes (that’s me)

    Rodney loves to sing and dance, but only where no one can see, because he’s sure the jungle will laugh. When Miss Mel the mockingbird hears his secret song, the whole jungle turns up to listen. I wrote it for every kid who has something that makes them light up and isn’t sure it’s safe to show.

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Tips for reading books about confidence with kids

• Pause at the scary part. Ask how the character feels right before the brave moment, and whether your child has ever felt that way.
• Name the helpers. In almost every one of these books, someone cheers the character on. Ask who that person is in your child’s life.
• Share your own story. Kids love hearing about a time a grown-up was nervous and did it anyway.
• Read it again. Confidence books land differently the third time, once the ending isn’t a surprise.

Teachers and librarians: Rodney has six discussion questions ready for story time, free to use with your class.