These books have been found to help children get a sense of self.

Something Beautiful – Author, Sharon Dennis Wyeth (Age Range 3-7 Years)

Something beautiful is a picture book about a girl that is eager to see something beautiful in her neighborhood where she is surrounded by scary streets and angry scribbling on her building. As her friends and neighbors show her simple things that make the community beautiful, like the best-fried fish sandwich or a simple stone that a neighbor carries with him all the time, she determines what beautiful means to her, “something that when you have it, your heart is happy,.” This book is a touching and moving story about finding beauty in the most unlikely places and things.

Precious and the Boo Hag – Author Patricia C. Mckissack and Onawumi Jean Moss (Age Range 4-8 Years)

Precious and the Boo Hag is a book about a girl named, Precious, who is left home alone with a stomachache while her mother and brother going to pick corn in the fields. Her mother warns not to let anyone in the house while she is alone and her brother gives her an even stronger warning not to let the Boo Hag in the house. He says that “Boo Hag’s got a voice that rumbles like thunder and hair that shoots out like lightning and she can disguise herself to look like anything.” Throughout the book, you learn how precious deals with Boo Hag when she comes calling.

Princess Truly and the hungry bunny problem – Author Kelly Greenawalt (Age Range 4-8 Years)

This is a delightful picture book about a clever, problem-solving Princess with magical curly hair. The illustrations will keep your child engrossed with every page turn.

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream – Author Deloris Jordan (Age Range 4-8 Years)

This is the story of how Michael Jordan almost gave up his basketball dreams due to his short stature. It shows you the wisdom his mother and father shared with him. They demonstrate to him in a heartwarming and loving way the invaluable lesson of what goes into the making of a champion — patience, determination, and hard work.

You Can Do It! – Author Tony Dungy (Age Range 4-7 Years)

Linden, the younger brother of Tony, was asked in school one day what he would like to be when he gets older. He didn’t have an answer. His older brother Tony says a prayer to God to help them find the answer. The next day Lyndon went to the dentist because of a toothache and determined that is what he would like to be. This is a story of faith, family, and love.