12 Jewish Children's Books To Inspire Self-Confidence

Sometimes, despite the best efforts of parents, children have trouble feeling as amazing as those who love them know they are. The Hebrew phrase, adam yehidi nivra means “every person is a unique creation,” and underscores the value that each person brings to the world.  Stories with themes of acceptance can help kids embrace the qualities that make them stand out. Snuggle up with one of the stories below to help your little find their inner confidence.

All Kinds of Strong by Sharon Baker

 

Recommended for ages 6 to 7

Sadie Rose isn’t very big. She can’t run that fast and she can’t lift heavy things. But when emergency strikes, Sadie Rose learns, along with the rest of her community, that there are many kinds of strength -- and it turns out that she’s very strong.


The Apple Tree’s Discovery by Peninnah Schram and Rachayl Eckstein Davis

 

Recommended for ages 5 to 6

A little apple tree wants to be like the other trees in the oak forest. The tree asks God for stars, and in response, God tries to let the tree know how many other gifts it has.


Flying High by Julian Edelman

 

Recommended for ages 5 to 6

Jules the squirrel wants to play football, but the eagle, buffalo, and bear tell him he's all wrong for the game. But then the goat tells him that a wise person once said, "If you will it, it is no dream." Jules decides to work hard and give it his best shot, despite all the discouragement. And guess what happens?


Hammerin' Hank by Yona Zeldis McDonough

 

Recommended for ages 8 and up

This story introduces Hank Greenberg, baseball superstar and the first Jewish inductee to the Hall of Fame. Greenberg’s story takes place at a time when “outsiders” were breaking through barriers in American professional sports.


The Importance of Wings by Robin Friedman

 

Recommended for ages 10 and up

What do Israeli-born Roxanne and her sister Gayle want more than anything else? To be American and to fit in. Roxanne and Gayle spend most of their time watching reruns of old TV shows about perfect all-American families. That's until a new girl moves into the “cursed” pink house next door. Beautiful, cool, athletic Liat is also Jewish and Israeli, and over the course of their friendship she teaches Roxanne the importance of being true to herself.


The Littlest Levine by Sandy Lanton

 

Recommended for ages 4 to 5

Poor Hannah. She’s always being told she’s too little for this, too little for that. But now that Passover is almost here, the day is coming when being the littlest Levine means having a very big role indeed.


The Littlest Pair by Sylvia Rouss

 

Recommended for ages 2 to 4

There isn’t one animal happy to see a pair of termites come aboard their temporary floating home. When things aboard the ark get slippery and uncomfortable and the little termites have a solution to their problem, all those creatures quickly change their tune.


Maddie The Mitzvah Clown by Karen Rostoker-Gruber

 

Recommended for ages 4 to 5

Maddie wants to do a mitzvah (good deed), but she's very shy. Dressing up as a clown makes her feel a lot more confident, though, and clowns can do a special mitzvah--cheering people up at her grandma's senior center!


The Only One Club by Jane Naliboff

 

Recommended for ages 4 to 5

As the only Jewish child in her class, a young girl not only learns that each person is unique but is able to share this understanding with her classmates.


A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney

 

Recommended for ages 8 and up

When Ezra Jack Keats was growing up, he knew what it was like to feel different and left out. So when he created his famous picture book, A Snowy Day, he had an idea about how to write and draw his main character, Peter.


The Rooster Prince of Breslov by Ann Stampler

 

Recommended for ages 7 to 8

In this variation on a well-known Yiddish tale, a young prince takes on the ways of a rooster. His frantic parents try everything they can think of to cure their son. At last, a wise and patient old man tries something very different.


Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy

 

Recommended for ages 9 and up

Being struck by lightning leaves seventh grader Lilah able to communicate with the dead. And life gets pretty interesting when she starts delivering messages from the great beyond. Will the deceased Mr. Finkel be able to help Lilah with her huge crush on his son, Andrew? Can Bubby Dora help Lilah’s lonely father find a new wife? This is a lighthearted coming-of-age book with a fun, supernatural twist.