Peter Reynolds Books (Self-Esteem & Kindness )

Peter Reynolds Books (Self-Esteem & Kindness )
Have your child draw a self portrait after reading the Peter Reynold's book "Be You!"

Peter Reynolds writes many books that are great for reminding kids about how special and unique they are. They are great for building confidence and self esteem. Incorporate these books into a Social Emotional learning lesson in the classroom. You and your child will love the whimsical illustrations and positive messages.

These Peter Reynolds' book recommendations for kids focus on stories that celebrate individuality, confidence, kindness, and self-acceptance. Each book encourages children to embrace who they are while learning to appreciate the differences in others.

These titles are perfect for classroom read-alouds, social-emotional learning lessons, counseling groups, and at-home reading.


Why Peter Reynolds Books Matter

Books that focus on self-esteem and kindness help children:

  • 💛 Build confidence and self-acceptance
  • 🧠 Develop social-emotional learning (SEL) skills
  • 🗣️ Understand emotions and empathy
  • 👧👦 Appreciate differences and uniqueness

Reading these books regularly helps reinforce positive messages in a meaningful, age-appropriate way.

Favorite Peter Reynolds Book Recommendations for Kids

  1. "Be you!" by Peter Reynolds is a great book that reminds kids how amazing they are and to celebrate their individuality. This book celebrates the good traits we all have, but reminds us that we all have other traits too. It is okay to be you!

After reading have your child draw a self portrait on this free download.

✨ Free Be You Template PDF — Click to Download!

  1. "The Word Collector" by Peter Reynolds: This book is about Jerome who loves to collect words. He loves everything about them.
  1. "Go Left" by Peter Reynolds: When things go wrong, and they will, you can always go left. This book teaches an important lesson about knowing you always have a choice.
  1. "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds: This book encourages kids to be creative. A dot can be turned into anything you want, just use your imagination.

5. "ish" by Peter Reynolds: Ramon's sister show him that a small mistake can be turned into a masterpiece.

Learning Extensions & Discussion Ideas

After reading, try these simple extensions:

🗣️ Discussion Prompts

  • What makes you special?
  • How are we the same and different?
  • Why is it important to be yourself?

✍️ Simple Follow-Up Activities

  • Draw a picture of something that makes you unique
  • Write or dictate: “I am proud of myself because…”
  • Create a classroom “Be You” display

Perfect For

  • Social-emotional learning (SEL) units
  • Kindness and character education
  • Back-to-school lessons
  • Counseling and guidance time
  • Inclusive classroom discussions

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