Accepting Yourself: Two Picturebooks for Helping Children Accept Themselves

Accepting yourself is an important lesson to learn through life. Children should be encouraged to learn about their personality, interests, and dislikes to begin to understand what makes them unique. When I was a teacher, I taught a unit about acceptance that included reading texts that circled around the theme of accepting oneself, accepting one's family, and accepting others. It was one of the best units I ever taught. 

Children want to be accepting and are naturally curious about others and the world around them. I am linking two picturebooks today that help being conversations about acceptance and help students see that who they are is valued and supported. 

Six Dots: A Story of Louis Braille by Jennifer Fisher Bryant

I love this book so much! I saw this book mentioned in the American Library Association's annual awards and could not wait to get my hands on it. This week, that finally happened. This is the true story of Louis Braille, a young boy who loses his sight at the age of five. Braille was born with sight and lost it, not blind from birth. yet, he lost his vision at a critical time when children often learn to read. While his peers around him were learning to read, he could not. 

Braille decided to create his own alphabet and system to allow him to read and engage in what he lost. This became the system we know today. The book also includes the Braille alphabet and allows students to feel how to read the letters. I love that tactile approach to understanding how the alphabet works. 

This book is great for teaching acceptance because it shows students that just because they do something differently, does not mean they are less capable. Braille showed great courage and perseverance when he decided to create his own alphabet. It also helps children see how important reading can be. Braille was missing out and did not want to be hindered. 

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy

There are hardly words to describe how much I love this book. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun is the story of a young girl who is a bit different from many of her classmates. She has curly brown hair and eats spaghetti served in a hot dog bun for lunch. Her classmates make fun of her for both of these traits. She is especially teased by a young boy who does not accept her. Her father talks with her and helps her see that she is wonderful the way she is and that she should not let someone else bring her down. As it turns out, the bully she is dealing with may need her help in the future.

This book is truly about being yourself and staying true to your family values and customs, even if they are not accepted by your peers. People are afraid of what they do not understand, but that does not mean things others do not understand is wrong. Lucy, the main character, learns to remain true to who she is and not be affected by others.

This is a great book for helping children be okay with their unique qualities. It also provides a model for how to handle bullying in a respectful way. This is a great book to use in a classroom setting to help begin a conversation about differences in cultures and customs. 

Happy Reading!