20 Inspirational Books for Kids
If there is one thing our children can never have enough of its book. They’re the gift that keeps giving, an endless treasure trove of knowledge, hope, imagination and inspiration.
Never have books shown their worth more than these last few months, creating a welcome form of escapism during this challenging time. In light of this, we've searched our libraries far and wide to find 20 of the most beautiful children's books with inspiring and life-affirming messages your kids are sure to love.
BOOKS TO BRING CALM TO AN ANXIOUS MIND
by Bronwen Ballard £11.99
Your mind is like the sky. Sometimes it's clear and blue - but sometimes a raincloud thought comes along and makes everything seem dark. So, what can we do about rainclouds?
We adore this beautiful picture book, written by psychologist Bronwen Ballard and illustrated by award-winning artist Laura Carlin. The perfect first introduction to Mindfulness, it shows children that worries and negative thoughts are normal and helps them develop healthy thinking habits.
by Rachel Bright £6.99
It's a beautiful day and Worrysaurus has planned a special picnic.
But it isn't long before a small butterfly of worry starts fluttering in his tummy . . .
What if he hasn't brought enough to eat?
What if he gets lost in the jungle?
What if he trips and falls?
What if it rains?!
Can Worrysaurus find a way to chase his fears away and have fun?
By the author of the bestselling The Lion Inside, The Worrysaurus is a fun and reassuring tale about dealing with worries, letting go of fears and feeling happy in the moment
by Susan Verde £7
Encouraging kids to find a moment of calm, I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness has been put together to help kids feel grounded and restored, by teaching them to explore their senses and take a closer look at nature around them. An ideal read for quiet time or pre-bed, kids will learn to breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present.
by Rachel Williams £17
All around us, nature is working, growing and transforming. Every day, hour by hour, magical natural events occur - a wave crests, the moon waxes and wanes, bees create hives and spiders spin webs.
Slow Down Bring Calm To A Busy World encourages children to slow down and take a closer look at the nature around them by zooming in and dramatising 50 incredible natural stories in ways young kids can understand..
by Eoin McLaughlin £6.99
Hedgehog and Tortoise were the best of friends.
They wanted to give each other a great, big hug.
But they weren't allowed to touch.
"Don't worry," said Owl, "there are lots of ways to show someone you love them."
From the team behind the bestselling The Hug, this fun, charming tale about how to show someone you love them whilst maintaining social distancing. Ideal for helping little ones make sense of the current pandemic.
BOOKS OF HOPE & INSPIRATION
by Onjali Q.Rauf £6.99
When a new boy joins their class, a group of children try to befriend him. They soon learn that Ahmet is a refugee and has been separated from his family. None of the grown-ups seem to be able to help him, so the friends come up with a daring plan, embarking on an extraordinary adventure.
Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2019 and based in part on the stories Onjali encountered when working in refugee camps, The Boy at the Back of the Class is an inspiring story of friendship, humour, hope and the importance of kindness.
from Born This Way Foundation Reporters with Lady Gaga £20
Collated by Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, Channel Kindness features over fifty stories of kindness from children, both of the everyday variety and also involving actions that have kickstarted social movements. Demonstrating that kindness and compassion really are the cornerstones of humanity and providing positive hope for the future, this is a moving and powerful collection of stories guaranteed to inspire hope and positivity.
Little People, Big Dreams 42 £9.99
The youngest of ten children, Jesse grew up working in the cotton fields of Alabama. Discovered by his high school track and field coach, Jesse quickly rose to fame as an athlete. He went on the challenge racism on the world stage at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and made new world records.
From the best-selling range of collect books, no 42 is all about the life of Jesse Owens, the great track and field star. Featuring stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete and activist's life.
By Oliver Jeffers £15
Our world can be a bewildering place, especially if you've only just got here. Your head will be filled with questions, so let's explore what makes our planet and how we live on it.... Some things about our planet are pretty complicated, but things can be simple, too: you've just got to be kind.
#1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 TIME Best Book of the Year for 2017, Here We Are is beautifully illustrated tale written by Jeffers for his newborn son as a way to tell him about all the things he thought his son would need to know about this planet we call home.
A great book for preschoolers about to make the transition to school, this book helps to prepare them for their own journey in the world with a strong emphasis on being kind.
BOOKS ABOUT LOVING OUR PLANET
By Neal Layton £6.99
Our world is drowning in plastic, and it's a big problem.
Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain where plastic comes from, why it doesn't biodegrade, and why that's dangerous for animals and humans alike. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. Layton’s book is one of hope and FULL of ideas of how children help too!
From giving up straws in juice cartons to recycling all we can and taking part in a beach clean, A Planet Full of Plastic will get young readers excited about how they can make a difference to keep Planet Earth happy
by Zoe Tucker £6.99
Greta is a little girl who lives in a beautiful forest threatened by Giants. When the Giants first came to the forest, they chopped down trees to make houses. Then they chopped down more trees and made even bigger homes. The houses grew into towns and the towns grew into cities, until now there is hardly any forest left. Greta knows she has to help the animals who live in the forest, but how? Luckily, Greta has an idea...
Retelling the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg--the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world's climate crisis--using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children.
by Lily Dyu £9.88
When faced with climate change, the biggest threat that our planet has ever confronted, it's easy to feel as if nothing you do can really make a difference . . . but this book proves that individual people can change the world. With twenty inspirational stories celebrating the pioneering work of a selection of Earth Heroes from all around the globe, from Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to Yin Yuzhen and Isatou Ceesay, each tale is a beacon of hope in the fight for the future of our planet, proving that one person, no matter how small, can make a difference.
by Patricia MacLachlan £13
Personifying the earth as a girl who does wonderful things, from tending to animals to sprinkling powdery snow over the ground, My Friend Earth introduces topics of our natural world and environmentalism in an easy to grasp way to preschoolers.
Using bold illustrations and poetic text t it encourages young children to appreciate the Earth and learn to be a good friend in return.
BOOKS ABOUT RACE & EQUALITY
by Zazu, Ziwelene & Zindzi Mandela £7.99
Seen through a child's perspective, authored jointly by Nelson Mandela's great-grandchildren and daughter, and published in collaboration with Mandela Legacy Media, this book brings Nelson Mandela's incredible story alive for a new generation of children. A must read for children big and small.
by Hannah Lee £6.99
My birthday's coming up so soon, I'll need new clothes to wear. But most of all, I need to know, How shall I style my hair? Will it be dreads or a twist out? Braids or a high-top fade?
A great introduction to the subject of race and ethnicity, this Joyous and vibrant debut from an exciting new partnership who both emerged from the FAB Prize for undiscovered BAME writers and illustrators, is a beautiful simple story that all children should read to see diversity in hair and the styles worn in different cultures.
by Nikesh Shukla £9.99
Talking about race is often discouraged, but this book aims to bring everyone into the conversation. Exploring the history of race and society, it gives context to how racist attitudes come into being, from belonging and identity, to the damaging effects of stereotyping and the benefits of positive representation. Nikesh talks sensitively about how to identify and challenge racism, and how to protect against and stop racist behaviour.
Aimed at children aged 10 and upwards, this is an in important and timely book on race and racism, encouraging children to think for themselves about the issues involved.
by Jamia Wilson £9.99
A collection of stories about inspirational changemakers to encourage, inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers.
Written in the spirit of Nina Simone's song "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black," this vibrant book is a perfect introduction to both historic and present-day icons and heroes such as Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams.
BOOK TO SHOW GIRLS THEY CAN DO ANYTHING
by Rachel Ignotofsky £12.99
Profiling extraordinary and notable women like the physicist and chemist Marie Curie, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon; Woman in Science is a gloriously illustrated celebration of trailblazing women, that should find its way to every little girls book shelf.
With fascinating infographics and an illustrated scientific glossary.
by Yelena Moroz Alpert £15
Start them young with this beautiful image-led book that celebrates 25 stand out women who have done amazing things throughout history. The simple words and bright illustrations will keep little readers captivated as they become familiar with inspiring artists, politician, athletes and much more.
by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick £6.99
Raised in a changing Pakistan by an enlightened father from a poor background and a beautiful, illiterate mother, Malala was taught to stand up for her beliefs. When terrorists took control of her region and declared that girls were forbidden from going to school, Malala refused to sacrifice her education. And on 9 October 2012, she nearly paid the ultimate price for her courage when she was shot on her way home from school.
This illustrated adaptation of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai's bestselling memoir, I Am Malala, introduces readers of 7+ to the remarkable story of a girl who risked her life for the right to go to school. An incredible testament to what can be achieved when we stand up for what we believe in.
