Positive Qualities

Picture Books Library < Positive Qualities

Picture books about Positive Qualities from the Little Parachutes reviews library

Books that promote positive qualities such as kindness, resilience, courage, confidence and gratitude.

Acceptance & Inclusion

A collection of picture books that encourage children to be accepting and welcoming to all.

A collection of picture books that champion confidence and self-esteem, encouraging children to appreciate their own self-worth and positively appraise their own appearance, emotions, beliefs and behaviours.

Courage

These children’s picture books contain characters who have shown courage, or contain messages that encourage children to be brave.

Curiosity & Creativity

Picture books that will foster children's natural curiosity and creativity, encouraging them to ask questions, discover and appreciate the new, and inspire them to create and develop their own ideas.

Gratitude

Picture books that encourage children to show gratitude and appreciate what they have. Scientific studies have shown that people with a strong sense of gratitude have better physical and psychological health, higher self-esteem and are able to empathise with others.

Kindness

These children's picture books contain characters which show kindness, or contain messages that encourage children to be kind to others.

Resilience / adaptability

Picture books that show resilient characters, or encourage children to recover from difficulty or change.

Mighty Mara

Mighty Mara celebrates diversity and also explores themes about tenacity, self-confidence, and disability inclusion. The protagonist, a young disabled girl, encounters doubt and some bullying when she signs up to perform in her school talent show. Readers will see how she overcomes biases and ableism to embrace what makes her uniquely herself.

The River

A beautiful, hopeful picture book that supports and acknowledges children struggling with complex emotions. The boy in the story experiences (and recovers from) a prolonged period of sadness following the death of his pet dog, but the themes in the story would be useful for many scenarios.

Medieval Mashup: Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures

In this charming picture book, a group of children (including Leigh, a wheelchair user) work together to support each other to make costumes for a school event. Leigh is struggling with feelings of self-consciousness and frustration, but he successfully overcomes this.

The Happiest Kid

A gentle, reassuring picture book that helps children to recognise and normalise sadness and talk about big feelings

Henrietta’s Thistleberry Boots

A picture book that acknowledges that a change in routine can be challenging for many children, while at the same time demonstrating that with patience and support, it is possible to get through difficult times. A useful springboard for a conversation about uncomfortable changes, the story promotes patience, resilience and courage to face the unknown or new.

The Invisible Boy

This beautiful book promotes inclusivity and empathy, encouraging children to 'leave no-one behind' in friendship groups and to consider other people's feelings.

Charlie and the Dog Who Came to Stay: A Book About Depression

This gentle and reassuring story should chime with any young child who is living with depression, whether it is themselves or someone else who has been affected by it. A useful tool to help children to understand depression and how it can change people's feelings and behaviour, containing practical non-preachy guidance and coping strategies.

Mum’s Jumper

A thoughtful, sensitive and realistic portrayal of the thoughts and feelings of a young girl following the death of her mother.

Those Shoes

A brilliant book that puts the reader in the shoes of a child in poverty, acknowledging the frustration and sense of injustice a child feels when they can’t have the things their friends take for granted.

Squishy Sand

This engaging picture book features Leigh, a disabled child who uses a wheelchair. It highlights some of the everyday obstacles that wheelchair users have to cope with. A great choice for any child, reinforcing the importance of empathy, resilience, teamwork, kindness and creative thinking.

The Worrysaurus

There are a lot of helpful messages in this picture book for a child experiencing anxiety. The Worrysaurus is full of fears and 'What If's', but he learns some useful ways to cope with challenging emotions and is able to get on with his day. A useful and entertaining way to introduce the concept of mindfulness to young children.

The Perfect Shelter

A beautiful picture book that explores the complicated and sometimes contradictory emotions that children can feel when they have a loved one with a serious illness.

Me and My Fear

A beautifully imagined exploration of fear and how it can change a child's behaviour and perception of the world around them. An excellent springboard for a discussion about emotions, empathy, talking through your worries with others and coping with change.

The World Made a Rainbow

This reassuring book may help children who are struggling to adapt to social distancing, or who are finding it hard to be separated from friends or family due to the Coronavirus pandemic

My Special Eye

A vibrant, positive picture book narrated by Bruno, an active little boy who has a prosthetic eye. Any child could learn a good deal from this picture book about why people have prostheses, how the eye is cared for, and what it means for the wearer. 'My Special Eye' gives a much-needed voice to monocular children.

Impossible!

Perfect to share with children who hide their fears and worries behind "I CAN'T" or "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE', this charming picture book may encourage more of a growth mindset, help to overcome a challenge, or motivate a child to take the first step on the road to a new adventure or experience.

Hair Love

A positive story of how a father and daughter work together to create the perfect hairstyle for a very special day. There are many helpful messages within which could apply to a child who is dealing with an absent or ill parent, or who is simply finding it hard not to give up on a challenging task.

The Only Way is Badger

A book about acceptance, difference and learning to say sorry.

Sneaky Beak

An entertaining picture book about learning to be happy with what you have.

Jabari Jumps

A lovely exploration of how it feels to face your fears.

The Itchy-saurus

A funny story book that any child who suffers from eczema or itchy skin is likely to find comforting and reassuring.

Amazing

A joyful book that celebrates friendship, play and acceptance. The story features 'incidental' inclusion: the central character uses a wheelchair, which features prominently in the illustrations but is not mentioned in the text.

The Hospital Hoppities

This story gives a voice to children in long-term hospital care and normalises the hospital environment. It recognises how many selfless acts of kindness are performed in hospitals every day by staff, volunteers and the families of sick children. It also encourages children to be kind and helpful.

All the Ways to be Smart

So often children are led to believe that being smart is all about academic achievement. This delightful, positive and diverse picture book re-frames the concept of being smart to include many other wonderful qualities.

Through the Eyes of Me

A useful picture book to simply explain autism to children, it is a positive exploration of how a young girl with autism perceives the world.

Sweep

This captivating picture book is a thought-provoking exploration of a young boy's bad mood and how it takes hold of him.

The Day War Came

A haunting, emotional story of a young refugee, this picture book could be a springboard for a conversation about kindness and tolerance. Encourages empathy.

Ruby’s Worry

'A reassuring and sensitive book - the perfect springboard for talking to children about sharing their hidden worries no matter how big or small they may be'

The Memory Tree

'A celebration of life and memories that live on when a loved one dies'. This gentle and comforting book is a good choice for a child who has been affected by the loss of an elderly relative or friend.

By the Light of the Moon

This lovely picture book by Tom Percival acknowledges that it can be difficult for children to move to a new home, and serves as a gentle reminder that it takes time to get used to new situations.

The Squirrels Who Squabbled

A laugh-out-loud tale about friendship and learning to share, two squirrels squabble over one nut but ultimately put their differences aside and co-operate.

The Suitcase

This simple and powerful story about the arrival of a stranger could be a catalyst for exploring so many concepts and themes with young children: trust, curiosity, tolerance, hope, kindness, making amends, friendship, ‘doing the right thing’ and telling the truth to name just a few.

The Unstoppable Maggie McGee

A warm, positive reflection of the imagination, friendship and trust of children in long-term hospital care.

Tilly’s At Home Holiday

This picture book acknowledges that not every child is able to go on holiday and shows that it is possible to have fun at home for free with a little bit of creativity and imagination.

And Tango Makes Three

This classic picture book shows children that every family looks different and all family groups are equally valid and wonderful regardless of shape and size, colour or gender: love is all they need!

The Garden of Hope

A poignant yet positive story about a grieving daughter and father and how tending a garden together helps them to begin the healing process and find hope for the future.

The Tide

A warm, reassuring story which helps a child to understand the changes in a loved one who is living with dementia.

The Last Chip

Sharing this story with a child would be a good catalyst for a conversation about kindness and resilience. The Last Chip has important messages about the harmful effects of bullying and violence, and challenges negative stereotypes of homeless people and those in poverty.

Grandma

A comforting (yet realistic) story of the relationship between a young boy and his Grandma who has dementia. Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, this would be a great choice for any child who has a loved one who is suffering from dementia or is going into a care home.

Kind

A beautiful picture book which explores and encourages kindness in many forms. It promotes sharing, acceptance, tolerance and empathy.

Benny’s Hat

A beautiful, sensitively written book that could be used to support and comfort children who have a seriously ill sibling or friend, or have experienced bereavement.

How to be a Lion

A brilliant and entertaining story with a strong and clear message: Don't be afraid to be yourself; embrace the differences in yourself and others.

What’s worrying you?

A great picture book to help children explore their worries. While it is normal to feel anxious now and then, when anxiety escalates and can't be controlled, sitting down with your child and reading this book together should help.

The Dot

A wonderful picture book that encourages children to try new or challenging things, to explore their creativity and to have confidence in their abilities.

Almost Anything

Encourages young children to believe in themselves and to persevere. Promotes resilience and higher self-esteem.

The Journey

This powerful story about a family's forced migration to a new country gives children the chance to empathise with people in difficult circumstances. It promotes greater understanding and respect for those with different origins and cultures. Children who are refugees themselves may recognise something of their own story here.

The Koala Who Could

An entertaining story that encourages children to try something new. Perfect for children who find change difficult.

Dogger

This is a charming story that addresses the loss of a special toy, and how a sibling's kindness saves the day. The book highlights the unique bond some children have with specific toys, and allows an adult reader to see the significance of such a toy through a child's eyes.

Perfectly Norman

"Find the courage to be yourself"

A Safe Place for Rufus

This book would be a good choice for children who have experienced trauma in their lives which has left them feeling anxious in new situations. Also relevant for children who are struggling with transitions such as moving house, changing school or moving from one family to another.