Building Confidence and Following My Dreams

She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name. Chrysanthemum. When she was old enough to appreciate it, Chrysanthemum loved her name. And then she started school. “I’m named after my grandmother,” said Victoria. “But you’re named after a flower.” Chrysanthemum wilted. Then the students were introduced to their music teacher, Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly, Chrysanthemum blossomed…

Grace loves to act, but one day some kids tell her she can’t play the part of Peter Pan because of the way she looks. Grace’s grandmother helps this young girl realize that with effort anything can be achieved. An inspiring and heartwarming story.

This clever tale follows two child artists, Vashti and Ramon, through the creative process. Though they are influenced by encouraging teachers and discouraging siblings, they ultimately discover that everyone sees a piece of art a little bit differently. The important lesson is finding the beauty in your own work.

The exclamation mark knew he was different from the moment he arrived. When he conversed with the question mark, however, a world of possibilities opened up! Seeing punctuation in action has never been more fun than with these emotive punctuation marks as characters!

Meet Hiromi, a young girl who wants to follow in her father’s footsteps as a sushi chef in New York City. Although Papa is reluctant to take Hiromi to the fish market at first, he soon realizes that she is truly interested in his craft, and he begins to train his daughter, who will eventually become one of the first female sushi chefs in New York. Based on a true story, this story offers a kid-friendly and fascinating look into the art of sushi, as well as the possibilities that America offers in bringing different cultures together.

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. This simple tale about overcoming your fears captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy.

The well-known fable about how the smallest creature — a mouse — saves the majestic lion is a tale of kindness returned. Here it is effectively recast as a wordless story in a new setting. Stunning illustrations are expressive and emotive, evoking Africa’s Serengeti while retaining the tale’s power. (2010 Caldecott Medal Winner)

Young Rosie wants nothing more than to invent, to be an engineer. Her confidence is shaken until her great-aunt Rosie (strongly echoing Rosie the Riveter of WWII fame) helps restore it. Told in rhyme with verve and humorous illustrations, this story is sure to inspire and engage.

Her “travelin’ eye” doesn’t bother the narrator at all but it does mean that she has trouble focusing in school. The patch and eyeglasses prescribed by the ophthalmologist give her classmates something to tease her about — until she makes them her own fashion statement. Naïve illustrations are eye-catching and capture the child’s world, what she sees, and how she sees it.

Owen’s neighbor thinks that Owen is getting too old to take Fuzzy, his beloved yellow blanket, to kindergarten. With a snip, however, Owen’s inspired mom comes up with a creative solution for all.

The son of superhero parents, Max is frustrated when even his cape and encouragement from his parents aren’t enough to help him learn to fly. But everything changes on the day he saves ababy bird and discovers that he, too, is a hero. Gently lined and colored illustrations depict slightlyfrumpy, appealing, characters in this engaging andencouraging tale.

A young girl learns to find beauty in her sometimes gritty urban neighborhood, showing how the way one sees makes a difference that affects others. Luminous watercolors detail the child, her neighborhood, and suggest what she sees around her.

Gerald, the giraffe, is told by the other jungle animals that he can’t dance. Of course, they’re proven wrong as Gerald does his thing in this rhyming tale. This book may also inspire alliterative use of language.

Shy Lili is so soft spoken she has been marked absent and has a tough time standing up for herself — especially when partnered with bold Cassidy. Lili finds her voice, however, when just in time to help the class pet from disaster. Well told and gently illustrated, all readers are likely to empathize with the well-drawn characters.

“What is love?” a young boy asks. “I can’t answer that,” his grandmother says, and so the boy goes out into the world to find out. But while each person he meets — from the fisherman to the actor to everyone in between — has an answer to his question, not one seems quite right. The boy must find his own answers in this timeless affirmation of familial and familiar bonds.

Freddie Ramos’ super running and jumping powers and his confidence disappear after the loss of his zapatos. When his special-soled shoes are found, Freddie is able to successfully confront a bully as well as his own swimming fears. Easy but lively language and line drawings present an engaging story for new readers.

A young boy, Leigh, begins writing letters to a famous author, Mr. Henshaw, revealing what’s going on in his life — like his parents’ divorce — as he gradually matures and finds his place in the world. Leigh’s voice is plausible and poignant.

Punky Aloha is a Polynesian girl who carries her culture in her heart and in everything she does. Punky loves to do a lot of things — except meeting new friends. She doesn’t feel brave enough. So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother’s magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a big adventure for the very first time.

Sixth-grader Raina falls and severely damages her two front teeth. Through middle school and into high school, she struggles with peer relationships, discovering her own strengths while enduring painful orthodontia. The concluding pages reveal a self-assured high school student who can indeed smile. Full-color comic panels perfectly capture young adolescence.

Astrid realizes that her interests differ from those of her best friend but decides to pursue them anyway. How the girls’ friendship weathers this is key to this story as much as information about the sport in this engaging graphic novel.

Future rock star or friendless misfit? That’s no choice at all. Twelve-year-old Apple grapples with being different, with friends and backstabbers, and with following her dreams. A story about family, friendship, popularity, and going your own way.

For Antonia MacPherson, lying is a way of life. If it weren’t for her best friend, Harrison, and a tiny ball of fluff named Pistachio, she would be miserable. Her older sister, Your Highness Elizabeth, says Ant is in training to be a juvenile delinquent, Harrison smells like a salami sandwich, and Pistachio should be put out of his misery. When a teacher takes Ant under her wing, Ant’s way of life may have to change.

Clayton Byrd adores his grandfather, loves the jazz Cool Papa plays with the other bluesmen in the park; Clayton wants to be musician, too. But when Cool Papa Byrd dies suddenly, Clayton is overcome with grief. His mother who has never resolved her own childhood remains at arm’s length though his father attempts to reach the boy. Clayton tries to join the park bluesmen but instead finds a different kind of music with a gang of street kids in the New York subway. Likeable characters populate this fast-paced novel.

The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He’s got big plans, and no doubt he’ll see them through — as he’s creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. There are superheroes in our midst!

Meet Marisol McDonald, a spunky young girl with fiery red hair and brown skin who wears green polka dots with purple stripes, mixes English and Spanish, and eats peanut butter and jelly burritos. Everyone tells her she doesn’t match, until one day she tries matching — and discovers that it makes her miserable. At the end of the day, however, her teacher shares a special secret with her and lets her know she likes Marisol for who she is: a creative, bilingual Peruvian-Scottish-American! This poignant story, based on Monica Brown’s childhood, celebrates each individual’s uniqueness and reminds children that it’s ok not to fit into boxes that other people may put you into. Bilingual text.

Bree overcomes her fear of water and learns to swim with the help of an older neighbor in this handsome, powerful graphic novel. The girl learns a lot about herself and her new community in this engaging, handsome presentation.

Can winning a cooking contest allow 12-year-old Cici to bring her Taiwanese grandmother to the U.S. for her 70th birthday? Will it interfere with her parents’ inviolable motto of “good grades, good college, good job”? Readers are sure to see themselves and their families in this engaging graphic portrait of an immigrant family and an aspiring chef who is bridging two cultures.

Marisol has a vivid imagination. She names most things, including a backyard tree which she is afraid to climb. Illustrated by the author, Kelly makes Marisol and her family and friends come to life in a quiet but engaging story in which readers will see themselves as well as common concerns, and overcoming fear.

Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find … nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary — and finding it in a manner you’d never expect.

The women in Senator Gillibrand’s family inspired this examination of those active in the women’s suffrage movement from the late 19^th to early 20^th century. Some like Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman are well known. Others such as Inez Mulholland and Lucy Burns are lesser known. Together, these portraits present an accessible look at early activists. Stylized illustrations enhance the presentation.

After his initial fall and being put back together, Humpty Dumpty becomes more fragile. He’s now afraid of heights but longs to fly. How he climbs back to the top of the wall and is able to go beyond is surprising and exhilarating. Illustrations from varied perspectives add depth and dimension to an inventive story.

Young Rubin lives in Bolivia where he is intrigued by his town’s small orchestra. When he tries to play the violin, however, the sounds create laughter. Undaunted, however, Rubin practices (with a growing audience of yowling cats) until he masters the music. Lighthearted illustrations complement this joy filled tale of music, perseverance, and felines.