Reddit mentions: The best self-esteem books for children

The only book I can think of is called Don't Cry, Big Bird BUT I would ask you to preview it to see if you think it's acceptable because I don't remember all the details and I don't want to be held responsible for traumatizing your cousin!
From what I can remember, it's a picture book where Big Bird is very sad because he's too tall to join in games (jump ropes are too short, etc.). He's all sad about it, but then Mr. Snuffleupagus, who is also really big, says that he likes Big Bird's size. He helps Big Bird modify games (tying two jump ropes together) and eventually Big Bird likes his size and finds it useful-- he rescues his friend's kite from a tree when no one else can.
The reasons I can remember for not recommending this book wholeheartedly-- I believe they use the word "big" instead of "tall." It seems like a little thing, but for a girl who is already feeling self-conscious, it might not be the best choice of words. (And yes, no one should be ashamed of their body, regardless-- but I know that personally, when I was called "big" as an underweight but tall preteen, it stung.)

Another resource-- not specifically for tall girls, but adhering to the theme of loving yourself for who you are-- I found this list of "Positive Princess" books really helpful when I started nannying for a very appearances-centered kindergartener. She loves princess books, but a lot of them weren't sending a very positive message. These princess books focus more on having a healthy view of yourself rather than idolizing some airbrushed "Princess" character. I haven't read all of these, but Jane Yolen's and Heidi Stemple's Not All Princesses Dress in Pink is phenomenal.

More awesome picture books celebrating differences and diversity (Amazon has most of these for less than $3 used, and they're mostly popular enough that I would think your library would have them):
It's Okay to be Different
What I Like About Me
I Like Myself!

To take a different approach-- I know this sounds shallow, but when I was still growing and way more self-conscious about my height, I LOVED the fact that Nicole Kidman was (well, is) 5'11" (I was obsessed with Moulin Rouge). I ordinarily do not care about celebrity...stuff, but I thought it was so awesome that she was the same height as I was! Depending on what your cousin's interested in, consider showing her some pictures of tall girls to boost her confidence. For example, if she's familiar with the President's family, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama are all quite tall (Michelle and Malia are both 5'11", and Malia's only 14!) The Obama girls are gorgeous and stylin, and I know I would have loved to see photos of tall younger girls when I was a kid (as opposed to tall women). Hell yeah, tall first family!
5 is too young for The Hunger Games, but Jennifer Lawrence is 5'9 and taller than her costar. She also seems to have a fairly positive view of health/body image as well.
There are a lot of tall women in the media-- Queen Latifah and Tyra Banks are 5'10, Taylor Swift (if she's into her music) and Karen Gillan (I love Doctor Who too much to not include her) are 5'11... and that's just a start! Look at Olympic athletes (Missy Franklin is only 18, 6'1, and a 4-time gold medalist) for other tall role models!

But at the end of the day, more than any books or media, you are the one who will have the most positive impact on your cousin! Make sure to talk about your own height in a positive manner, don't set a bad example by saying anything negative about your own body (or anyone else's), and be sure to mention how much you like being tall when you're around your cousin. I outgrew my mom, sister, aunts, uncles, and all my male and female cousins as a kid-- I would have loved to have a role model like you! Your own personal relationship with your cousin will be by far the most powerful and long-lasting influence on her self image.

I've posted a few times about brilliant work I've found in the YA section of the book store. I'll try to help you out here. I've done all my homework and read the adult fantasy greats, WoT, SoIaF, LotR, Sanderson, LeGuin, Wolfe, Feist, and countless others. I'll always say that if you need a breath of fresh air head over to YA and enjoy a lighter read with fascinating characters, plots, and magic. Authors seem to be given a bit more creative freedom with YA novels.

Here we go:

Sabriel still stands up as one of my favorite novels of all time. As a junior high student who hated to read, this is the book that opened my eyes to a world of literature. The novel reads very well as a stand a lone but the are also two sequels (Lariel and Abhorsen) that expand te story and the world. No book i have EVER read has painted a more fascinating view of the undead. It's not anything like you're expecting and won't be like anything else you ever read. Garth Nix is also working on a few more novels set in this world. I can't wait to get my hands on them!

Foundling, Monster Blood Tattoo book 1 This novel begins a compelling story by a passionate new author. D.M. Cornish has been crafting this world for years and you will be amazed by how deep and well thought out it is. Unique use of language and dark themes make this a rather intense book for the YA crowd. I threw up a post about this a few weeks ago in /fantasy if you'd care to see more of my thoughts on it.

Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians This is the YA series written by rising fantasy juggernaut Brandon Sanderson. If you're a fantasy fan I dearly hope you've read Elantris, Mistborn, and the Way of Kings. Also finishing the Wheel of Time is a pretty solid credential. Compared to the two previous suggestions these stories are perhaps aimed at the youngest age group. Still Sanderson is a brilliant writer with a brain full of more interesting ideas than any one man has right to. Give them a shot, they're light easy reads that are actually a lot of fun.

Anything by Diana Wynne Jones should work for you also. She wrote Howl's Moving Castle, which was made into an amazing movie by studio Ghibli. Her works are bassed on traditional fantasy themes but with refreshing new perspectives that set her works miles apart from the traditional lands of wizards and elves. There was another post here in /fantasy about her. Oh my god... as I was writing this I looked at her wikipedia article and saw that she passed away in march... how did I miss this? Ok you're required to read at least one of her novels now. Her books are without equal and without her I think there may be a chasm of creativity in the fantasy world.

So I've gone on for quite a bit there. I hope you find something you can use in those suggestions. This is something I've said before and I'll say again. The YA section can easily be one of the most interesting places in the entire book store. It seems you're no exception to the rule that most adults are stuck in their ways about what they like to read. I'm an adult and I only read X. My fantasy needs to have dragons and elves in it fighting a dark lord because that's how Tolken did it and damn it if that's not the way everyone else should.

Thankfully the publishers believe that young adults are still flexible about what they'll read. Flip through a few YA books and you'll find exciting new ideas, visionary new authors, compelling new worlds waiting to suck you in and take you on a journey like none you've ever experienced before. I strongly support what your professor is doing by asking you to go outside of your literary comfort zone. He's not restricting your genera he's just asking you to take a completely different look at it.

So pick up one of my recommendations or do yourself a favor and cast doubt to the wind, get in your, car drive to the book store, and spend the afternoon exploring what's new, and even what's old in the Young Adult section. I promise you you'll be glad you did.

Okay so, YA books are my jam, and I'll get to those in a second. But if you want a fun summer read you'll have trouble putting down, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is great. It's a really fun read, especially for people who like books. It's got mystery, humor, and you'll stay up way too late reading to figure out what's going to happen next. It's not the deepest or most challenging book in the world, but it's real fun and well paced.

For YA, anything by Laurie Halse-Anderson is amazing. I've read Speak more times than any other book. Her book Catalyst is also really awesome. And I just finished her book Twisted a few days ago, and it was a great, quick read. (I actually finished it in one lazy day!)

Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is heartbreaking. If you liked Fault in Our Stars, I'm sure you'll love this. It's a great concept (girl who kills herself gives a series of tapes to a boy to explain why she did it), and it's just superbly well written. Along the same lines, Markus Zusak's I am the Messenger is also a great high-concept, all-the-feels read.

If you like the more fantasy-esque YA books, the best series I've found is Clive Barker's Abarat series. If you end up getting these, make sure to get the hardcover versions. The writing is great itself, but what really makes the series is that each book has over 300 paintings and illustrations done by the author himself. It's a great epic, and the third book of five just came out last year. The series gets darker as it goes, which is great.

And, finally, not a YA novel, but Adam Rapp's The Metal Children is an awesome play about a guy who wrote a YA book that's the focus of a censorship argument in a small town. It's got some great points in it, and is a fast, fun read.

Hope this helps! Sorry if I used the word 'great' too much. :P

Oh! I love reading books!

Adult Dystopian Recommendations:

• Oryx and Crake – Jimmy/Snowman coasts through life fueled mainly by ennui. His only rebellion is to be mediocre when his advantages in society (white, upper (maybe middle) class, Western male) have him poised for success. Glenn/Crake deliberately turns himself into the Big Bad in order to correct the wrongs he sees in society. Whether his main issue is with human nature, sucking the planet dry, socially stratified capitalist society, willful ignorance, or insatiety and curiosity is unclear. Oryx sees it all and accepts them all, knowing that she’s too unimportant to do anything except pick up the pieces and provide comfort in the meantime.
  
  
• The Year of the Flood – The world and especially capitalist society is stacked against you, but resourcefulness and an open mind will serve you well.
  
  
• The Handmaid’s Tale – Quiet rebellions like memory and record-keeping can be subversive also. But it’s only actions that set the stage for change. And the people you (maybe?) save will interpret everything differently from your intentions anyways.
  
  
• Never Let Me Go – Is it truly a dystopia when only a small group is affected? If you’re thinking of reading this, do not under any circumstances watch the movie trailer. The slow build to “something is not quite right” is part of the charm.
  
  
• Into the Forest – Literary fiction. More about acceptance and regression to a [“natural”](#s "and feminist, which apparently means incestuous but Deep! and Thematically! incestuous") state.
  
  
• Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress – Historical fiction about Chinese reeducation camps, but still pretty dystopian. Bourgeois teenage boy questions his educated, upper-class roots and teaches peasant love interest about Western literature. [She](#s "abandons him for a capitalist dream because the lesson she took from it was that love was worthless. Basically, they both take away the worst parts of each other’s starting philosophies and smash them together.")
  
  
• Wild Ginger – If historical fiction is happening, why not another Cultural Revolution one? If you keep your head down, you might just survive long enough to grow up and really see the hypocrisy – stuff even greater than what you saw as a kid.
  
  
• 1984 – Isn’t this more about how the system will break you and leave you a husk of your former self if you trust anyone completely? So you should be smart and skeptical and never assume things are in your best interest just because someone’s telling you so.
  
  
• Brave New World – Have to admit, at 12 this had me thinking that maybe fascism wasn’t such a bad idea after all. The despair and existential crisis aspects weren’t hitting me then: I just noticed how happy almost everyone else was.
  
  
• The Road – All about bleakness and futility and carrying on because the hope of family’s the only good thing left?
  
  
• Fahrenheit 451, where the people in charge are corrupt specifically concerning that thing you're fighting against.
  
  
• World War Z – I’m almost hesitant to call this dystopian, because even though it’s about a freaking zombie apocalypse, it’s uplifting to hear all the stories of human resourcefulness and ingenuity and the mental strength you didn’t think was there. Of course, some of the stories covered are “logical responses” gone bad.
  
  YA-ish Dystopian Recommendations:
  
  
• Feed – It doesn’t work out for the only [person](#s "(Violet)") who truly fought the system (she’s beaten down so horribly that it’s heartbreaking that even the reader wants to look away), but she does technically inspire one other person to at least notice what’s going on in the world, even if it’s probably too late.
  
  
• Hunger Games – Katniss is really only involved because she has nowhere else to go. Side characters have real motivations for being involved, but she really is a figurehead along for the ride and that’s OK. The story is about that and how she copes.
  
  
• The Selection – cough Popcorn cough. America is highly motivated by money (For her struggling family, of course). Ignoring the love triangle stuff, her ideal is to move from serfdom to literally any other [political system.](#s "And this never happens. The political buildup you see in The Selection and The Elite is stomped all over in the vapid cheesecake of the love hexagon finale.")
  
  
• Incarceron & Sapphique – Finn’s rebellion is that he just wants out to someplace that must be better. Claudia lives in artificial luxury and rebels mostly just for personal rebellion, not anyone else’s sake.
  
  
• The Giver – Probably more MG, but how did running away from one collective society automatically become “capitalism is best?” Jonah runs away because he’s learned enough to make his own moral decisions about one of the helpless members of his society (and artificial protection sounds socialist to me). I can’t remember reading the sequels.
  
  
• The Book Thief – Again, MG and historical fiction about a bombed out German town in WWII, but I think a setting like that qualifies it as dystopian. Technically, Liesl fights the system by stealing (possibly forbidden) books from the wealthy and by not reporting the Jew in the basement, but that last one is just showing loyalty to her new family. Her entire upbringing predisposed her to not trust the System, especially a War System, anyways.
  
  Other Dystopias:
  
  
• Matched and Delirium will be considered together because they are the same damn book, right down to the Boy-Who-Could-Have-Been-Chosen-If-Not-For-Rebellion! and the protagonist’s government-approved hobby. Delirium has better writing. Matched is easier to read and has more likable characters. We get it, teenagers should be allowed to date who they like and mommy and daddy non-biological guardians shouldn’t say no. Also, it sucks to have a guidance counselor Make A Schedule for you in order to prepare you for an office job equivalent that’s full of busywork but one of the few respectable positions left. The horror! Seriously, in what world is that rebelling against socialism? You know, that thing that promotes trade schools and equal rights for everyone, even the people you don’t personally like?
  
  
• Divergent – I’m going to let someone else handle that one because urgh. I know a lot of people like it, and it’s YA, so someone else, please support, qualify, or refute.
  
  I’d also be curious to hear what /u/bethrevis has to say about the societies on Godspeed and elsewhere and where they fit into this opinion piece.
  
  Guys, I think I just wrote an English essay. And probably put more work into it than I did in high school. And I won’t even get an A because it’s the internet and we deal solely in lolcats.
  
  But tl;dr: Adult dystopias (that I’ve read) tend to be about the futility of existence or the necessity of self-sacrifice to get a result. The YA dystopias I liked were a little more hopeful (usually) and didn’t support this opinion piece’s thesis. The ones I didn’t like made me understand the hate for dystopias.

No need to discriminate, or maybe I just can't choose, but if I'm summoning one, I shall summon all.

My family reads a TON of graphic novels, (pro tip - Humble Bundle has some great deals on them fairly frequently), but my all time favorite is probably the Zita the Space Girl series. Granted, I have a ten year old, so my reading list lately is mostly things like Tiny Titans, Princeless and Abigail & the Snowman, but I've read the Zita series multiple times, and can't wait for the next one! I like all of Ben Hatke's stuff, full disclosure, but I have a soft spot for Zita, a space traveling little girl just trying to do the right thing for her friends, and encountering intergalactic shenanigans along the way. The robots are fun, the art is gorgeous, and the chickens don't try and kill you. # winning

Of course, Zita's not as swashbuckly as Delilah Durk, and it's not as gorgeously well illustrated as The Mouse Guard, but it's a fun, quick read, and stands up to multiple re-reads.

I am biased, and admit it - I love graphic novels, so I've a long list of suggestions that are favorites - if I had to pick just one, I'd take Zita, but I'm also partial to:

[Fables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fables_(comics) - fairly dark, and I'm a native New Yorker, so an adult fairy tale recasting in Manhattan was bound to appeal...

[The Jane Foster Thor saga - female reboot of Thor by Marvel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Foster_(comics) - I just dig it - cancer survivor, badass, and the holder of Mjolnir because the original Thor is an arrogant ass - what's not to love?

Anything by Raina Telgemeier, since this is my mini's favorite author and she will sit anytime, any place, and read these to me.

If you speak Italian, Lupo Alberto is hilarious, and good slapstick fun.

Man, I could go on for days. I've got Monstress and Delilah Dirk on my WL, but I'll definitely be perusing this thread as it grows and adding more. Long live picturebooks!

If she likes Adventure Time (or if she hasn't heard of it) they did a fun run from their gender-bent AU called Fionna and Cake, and a run called Marceline and the Scream Queens. Lots more in the Adventure Time universe, but those in particular are great for a 10 y.o. girl.

Anya's Ghost is a great YA graphic novel.

OOOOoooo Bone! That's what got me started. It's a giant fantasy epic that is HUGE! It is all available to read for free on that website, but I recommend checking it out of the library because it's much more fun to read in book form - get the color reprint volumes. I didn't like it in black and white. (Even if your local library doesn't have it, one in your state should, and usually you can put it on hold and they will send it to your local library for you to pick up).

Editing to second the Tintin recommendation! I ate those up in 5th grade. Again - I really think the library is the way to go for some of these because they add up fast! The Tintin collection will run you out a few hundred if you get the best editions (the single story, full-size prints).

HAPPY FREAKIN' CAKEDAY !

Best gift I ever got was probably my dog. I categorize it as a gift, even though my parents made me earn her by getting all A's in school 3 times in a row, but that was a gift. They didn't have to do that and give me that incentive, they could have just expected me to get good grades. Anyways, she is the gift that keeps on giving. Still alive and kicking and the sweetest little brat in the world. Love her to death !

Linky for winny

/u/purrImacatpurpur get your butt in here and talk about the best gift you ever got. Which was totally me naming a fish after you. Totally. Yep. I'm just gonna keep on believing that :p

Is there anything in particular you're leaning to?

Author Cherie Priest has a couple excellent books.

• Boneshaker, first book in her Clockwork Century series. It's a steampunk setting with zombies and all sorts of wonderful stuff. This book is actually on sale through the end of the month for $2.99.
  
• Bloodshot, first book in her Cheshire Red Reports series. It's about a vampire gal who is a thief-for-hire.
  
  The Dresden Files series, by Jim Butcher, is a wonderful series. It's about a wizard-for-hire in the modern world, and delves into the wonderful magic environment that Jim has created. Jim likes to put his characters through trouble and turmoil, and it's good for character development! The series starts off with Storm Front.
  
  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is another great series. It's a post-apocalyptic/oppressed setting, centering around something called 'The Hunger Games' - an annual battle that captivates the capitol and all twelve remaining districts. There is a movie releasing next year, as well.
  
  The Name of the Wind is a terrific book by Patrick Rothfuss, the first entry into his series The Kingkiller Chronicles. It's a fantasy setting, and is about a character named Kvothe recounting his life. The writing style has an absolutely artistic writing style that is captivating to read, and such interesting and progressing events that make you eagerly turn the page. I have not yet read the sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, but I'm told it's even better in every way.
  
  Terry Pratchett is an amazing and renowned author. He has been knighted, an event for which he created his own sword for by hand, battles against Alzheimer's in a most respectable and commendable way, and has created such an interesting and provoking world that provides a lot of laughs and curious perspectives on matters. Where you start is a more difficult choice. A couple choice options might be as follows (I haven't read others yet, so I can't attest to others, but there are many!).
  
  
• Guards! Guards! which is the first installment to the City Watch sequence.
  
• The Reaper Man trails after Death, after he has been fired from his job.
  
  I haven't started this book yet, nor looked into it, but I have heard terrific reviews. The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch, is his first book in his Gentleman Bastard Sequence series.
  
  And of course, if you haven't entered George RR Martin's world of Westeros, the series A Song of Ice and Fire could be a wonderful read. It's very complex and very long and not yet complete (five books so far). It starts off with Game of Thrones, which is what the recently-aired HBO series was based upon.
  
  In the science fiction sphere, I would recommend Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. It's the first in his Ender's series, and there are quite a few books set in the world. I have only read the first one, and it was an excellent read, insightful and thought-provoking.
  
  ...anyway, that should be a few to peek at!

Yay, so glad that you and your son are enjoying Red! If you liked that one I suspect you'll like Neither as well :)

I am somewhat familiar with Are You A Boy or Are You a Girl?, but it's not one of my favorites - it's fine, but it's just a bit dry, you know? I think it's tough to write a more factual book that's actually engaging for kids. Jamie is Jamie is slightly more successful at that (similar concept, the main character's gender is never specified and they demonstrate that there's no such thing as gendered toys, activities, etc). And there are a lot more books about gender non-conforming kids than trans kids - some good ones are Jacob's New Dress, Julian is a Mermaid, Annie's Plaid Shirt, Sparkle Boy, and Teddy's Favorite Toy. There's also the book Worm Loves Worm, which is probably intended as a metaphor for same-sex marriage, but arguably works more broadly as well (since the whole point is the worms don't have genders!).

...and I could go on about other books showing different family structures, but I'll stop there for now :P Let me know if you'd like any more recs, I'm always more than happy to talk about picture books!

I’m mixed (Italian and Haitian) and grew up with a lot of identity issues starting very young, including not truly feeling like a part of either side of my family because I didn’t look like them. I get mistaken for Indian and Dominican often, my dad is very dark and my mom white with dark long straight hair. I was never made to feel outcasted by a family member and there was so much love on both sides, but I still felt like I’d never truly be apart of or understand either culture.

Out of everything ever given to me the ONE book that has actually stuck with me when I got it at 5 years old was Shades of Black by Sandra Pinkey.

It’s a beautifully written book filled with pictures of mixed race kids of all the different shades you could imagine and comparing their skin tones and hair textures to beautiful things you find in nature and everyday life. Implying that there is no specific look to being partially black, that every shade of biracial/multiracial is beautiful and should be embraced.

I still enjoy looking back at it now at 25 years old so I think all the kids might enjoy it. Older ones will have a more introspective look at it.

I know this isn’t exactly what you were looking for but this post hit close to home and this is a book that has stuck with me through all these years.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask! Everyone’s experience is different but it’s good to get insight from all sides.

You're in the First 100 Days of Darkness https://www.scarymommy.com/100-days-darkness-new-baby/

Today, my 2 year old told me she loved me, that she wanted to hug and cuddle me. She also practiced for 20 straight minutes all of the emotional regulation techniques I've taught her (embrace Daniel Tiger for toddlers, omg it's the best tool). She said how she felt, why she felt that way, started singing the relevant song, and did breathing exercises, and declared that she felt better. All on her own.

It does get better, little by little. It's all really freaking hard but one day you are able to sleep in increments of more than an hour, live in moments of more than 10 minutes at a time, and eat hot food and drink hot beverages without being interrupted. There will be a day where you're not touched out.

You've got this. You may not feel like it but you've got this. You're not alone.

And in case no one has told you, invasive thoughts are common. If you get them, you can go "hello thought, fuck you" or think the opposite of the thought. Or notice things around your room using all of your senses.

One thing that helped me get through the first two years is Pokémon Go on my phone for making sure I get outside. (I'm sure this is probably harder with twins)

Hugs and love to you. You'll get through this.

Edit: c&p from my comment below:
Sure! First of all, I got these books:

• Little Monkey Calms Down https://www.amazon.com/Little-Monkey-Calms-Hello-Genius/dp/1479522864
  
  
• Calm Down Time https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Down-Toddler-Tools-Elizabeth-Verdick/dp/1575423162/
  
  
• Bye Bye Time https://www.amazon.com/Bye-Bye-Toddler-Tools-Elizabeth-Verdick/dp/1575422999/
  
  ​
  
  Daniel Tiger, the show, is on Prime Video, but there's DT apps for iOS and android. I highly recommend the Daniel Tiger Parents app as it has all the songs/episode clips. We embraced the ipad long ago so she can use it independently and will go to that app and play the songs.
  
  I tried to memorize the DT songs for different emotions like mad, frustrated, and sad. Then when she's feeling a certain way, I would ask her how she feels, then say "Are you feeling mad/sad/frustrated/etc?" then sing the song, and say something like "let's reset", "how many blows do you think you would need to blow out...4 candles?" and held up 4 fingers. If she's feeling uncooperative, I'll go "can you help me blow out the candles?" and then we count as we blow them out. Or I'll ask her to help a stuffed animal.
  
  ​
  
  We also talk about choices a lot, good and bad choices. When she's making a bad choice, I tell her that she's making a bad choice and needs to reset herself and make good choices. "Kicking me is a bad choice. It hurts me. I cannot allow you to kick me or kick people. Are we allowed to kick others? Let's reset and take big breaths"
  
  I ask her a lot of open-ended questions, how are you feeling, what kind of choice are you making/was that, what was the bad choice, what can you do to make good choices next time? What can you do to reset?
  
  This morning, what she was doing was bringing me magnetic blocks, saying I needed to make a ladder or a house for a giraffe. Then it broke as she grabbed it. "I'm mad! Roar! I do breathing exercises." then she blew out several times, got off the couch, said something about how the blocks broke and she could make something else (I've reiterated to her that "The best thing about blocks breaking apart is that you get to make something new") and said she felt better and happy.
  
  ​
  
  Hope this helps! Sometimes it helps to have something physical for them to do when regulating. Or like, having them notice something around the room using their five senses. Oh! And you could have them hold their bellies and breathe in and out and notice how big their bellies get (I talk to her about how lungs work)
  
  

Not a group, but some helpful reading (a great kid’s book and one for adults though I haven’t finished all of the latter). The kid’s one really helped my son articulate how he felt (sometimes boy, sometimes girl, sometimes boy who loves dresses).

I’ve got a child in the same situation. I’m just 100% supportive of his gender play in public and private. I must be too intimidating to mess with about it, because I’ve never gotten anything to my face. I’d like to see them try. I heard someone snark behind my back to one of my friends about it. She stood up for us too, bless. They want to go after my kid, they’ll have to get through me first.

Good on her for sticking up for her child. She needs a mama bear club! You or she are welcome to PM me anytime.

OH MY GOODNESS they are so cute!!! :3 I have a little chihuahua/rat terrior mix named Pookie :)

Young Adult is great! I really enjoy dystopias as well! If you're interested in trekking down that path, a few good Young Adult/Dystopias are The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver. I also highly recommend Ready Player One and The Handmaids Tale :D

Princeless is pretty fantastic if you like fantasy. It makes fun of female exploitation in mainstream comics and media. Black princess decides it's stupid to sit around waiting for someone to rescue her, makes friends with the dragon guarding her tower, and sets off to rescue other captured princesses. Kind of fantastic.

Seriously, awesome contest. You are amazing and super generous! :D

I guess I would have to go with this!

I never read them when they got popular and refused to see the movie. Then I broke down and watched the movie....and I really liked it. Now I am mad at myself for not believing everyone! I should have read them!!

My sister let me borrow her Game of Thrones book, or else I would say those.

And again...you are super sweet for doing this! <3

I am Luna & I would personally love to get & read The Hunger games the movie looks interesting but I would love to read the book. Reading has always been important to me, I am always looking for new books to read.

You're amazing this is a fantastic contest :)

I don't read a lot of action-y graphic novels, so I can't really help you with finding more stuff like Watchmen, Wanted, etc. (However, you have to promise me you'll read Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.)

But I can recommend more laid-back graphic novels if you're ever in the mood for something different! Give American Born Chinese, Anya's Ghost, or Daytripper a shot sometime.

Persepolis and Maus are also graphic novel must reads, no matter what genre you usually favor. And Scott Pilgrim was super popular recently, with great cause.

And, if you're willing to settle down for a long haul and read your comics backwards, I really can't recommend Fullmetal Alchemist enough. 27 volumes, but it's the best action series I've ever read and one of my all-time favorites of any sort of media. Check out a stack of it from the library and you'll fly right through it. That's what I did one afternoon, and my time has never been better spent.

Edit: More suggestions, typos.

Congrats! I would love this book

I Am the Messenger
http://amazon.ca/dp/0375836675

It's a book that really makes you think (I've actually read it before) and I would love to add it to my collection so I can read it again! I'm also wanting my girlfriend to read it because she loved The Book Thief which is from the same author :) thanks for the contest!

There are many children's books that are about Hawaiian culture. Not a lot that are related to hula specifically.

Here's one you might consider. There is a bit about hula in the story but overall it's about morals and life lessons in the context of Hawaiian trees as young women.

Mohala Mai 'o Hau / How Hau Became Hau'ula-

Hau, a young girl from Ko'olauloa, is overshadowed by her beautiful and talented older sisters named Niu, Puhala, and Lehua. But with the help of her Kupuna, Hau begins to blossom as she discovers her unique talents and contributions.

Here's a video of it being read aloud in English-

https://youtu.be/5cap3kw3LUg

Here's the link to purchase the book-

https://www.amazon.com/Mohala-Became-Hauula-Hawaiian-English/dp/087336239X

Hey welcome! It's nice to meet you! Vet tech sounds pretty awesome, plus living overseas. What are the differences between there and the US?

Either this book or this pop figure would be absolutely amazing

Could it be North, by Donna Jo Napoli?

>Napoli, perhaps best known for her retold fairy tales and legends, spins a compelling, modern adventure. Sixth-grader Alvin, nicknamed "Dwarf" by classmates, is dying under his fearful Mamma's overprotectiveness. When his teacher gives an assignment to select a famous African American to study, Alvin is intrigued by Matthew Henson. Starved for adventure, the boy decides to run away to the North Pole–in January. Using the money he has saved for a bicycle, he leaves his Washington, DC, neighborhood on a train bound for New York, then heads to Toronto, then on to Winnepeg. Several adults, and lots of luck, help him along the way. In Winnepeg, he jumps into a freight car bound for Churchill, nearly freezing to death during the more than 33-hour trip.**** Here he connects with Inuit people (he's the first African American they've ever seen), who help him get to Bylot Island near the Arctic Circle, where he spends a season with a trapper, learning to survive sunless days, eating lemming and walrus stew, and rapidly growing in stature and self-confidence. The final page finds the boy, in June, arriving home. Napoli includes lots of interesting information about Henson and Inuit culture, and important messages about the value of cultural diversity. Alvin's luck may strain credibility at times, but readers will be cheering him on. He will inspire them to believe that even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME --Connie Tyrrell Burns (Reviewed May 1, 2004) (School Library Journal, vol 50, issue 5, p156)

TGIF

I plan on relaxing and doing some thrift store shopping for my Halloween costume.

This would be awesome.

Thanks for the contest! Sounds like you've been stressed about something. Hope it gets better !

Nothing. I can list out the whole series if that helps.
____
Main series goes

Princeless Volume 1: Save Yourself

Princeless Volume 2: Get Over Yourself

Princeless Volume 3: The Pirate Princess

Princeless Volume 4: Be Yourself

Princess Volume 5: Make Yourself Part 1

And the not yet released Princeless Volume 6: Make Yourself Part 2

___
And for Raven's series we have

Princeless: Raven The Pirate Princess Book 1: Captain Raven and the All-Girl Pirate Crew

Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess Book 2: Free Women

and Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess Book 3: Two Boys, Five Girls, and Three Love Stories

That's all of them.

Seems like this would be a good topic for reading/English classes. Have students compare transcripts to articles written about the transcripted material.

I know I learned a real lesson looking at Shakespeare original scripts compared to modernized scripts and how the text lost a lot of its charm.

I also learned a strong lesson of disliking abridged versions of books by reading a segment of Sweetwater. The textbook had a segment/shortened version that painted made the humans seem like the sole survivors stranded on the planet in fairly primitive conditions. The full book showed they were the ship crew of the colony ship and were relegated to a slum through pride on their and the colonists parts. The whole planet had superior technology and they were the lone group living in a half submerged town. The contrast turned me off to abridged versions because of the lack of context they tend to provide.

What Do You Do With An Idea? By Kobi Yamada is a beautifully illustrated book with a really powerful message that would be really nice for the last day of school :)

Summertime and the livin' is easy

This is a picture of me my girlfriend and my daughter up on a beach in Nanaimo :)

I read on the beach all the time so here is a book I would love to read Or any book on my wishlist and I am ok with used (especially for the beach)

Gotcha, I totally understand. I don't think your assessments are incorrect! PS I also loved A Monster Calls.

I always recommend from Marcus Zusak - I Am The Messenger. He wrote The Book Thief, which got a lot of traction (because of the movie) but this is an earlier work with I think more gravity/character development, and a good bit of humor. It's about this kid who's an underage cab driver, kind of a loser, and starts getting these cards in the mail, putting him on a bunch of missions, all the while wondering who's responsible, and why. A bit fantastical, but also grounded.

​

Ready Player One crushes the atmosphere/setting, but if you're not into video games/VR as a theme, it might not be as interesting. However, my 65 year-old mom knows nothing about video games and she liked it, too, if that means anything, haha.

Immortal Series by Gillian Shields

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Half Bad Trilogy by Sally Green

Blue is for Nightmares Series by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Beautiful Creatures Series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan

Once a Witch Series by Carolyn MacCullough

Balefire by Cate Tiernan

Gallows Hill by Lois Duncan

Immortal Beloved Series by Cate Tiernan

Time of the Witches by Anna Myers

The Secret Circle Series by L.J. Smith

Cursed Trilogy by Lynnie Purcell

Maybe under this category: Runes Series by Ednah Walters

Sorry for the format, I'm on the mobile app. I wish I could've gotten better links for some of them but at least the ones I included have a small description. Hope you enjoy!

Edit: Adding books I forgot.

Here are some fantasy/sci-fi books that I liked at that age, or would have liked had they been published. A couple of them have some sexual content, but nothing overly detailed.

DEFINITELY "The Dark is Rising" series. They're short, but excellent. Also The Hunger Games is a good bet (never read the sequels, but that first book is great). Other suggestions: The Name of the Wind, Waylander, Rose of the Prophet, 1984, To Your Scattered Bodies Go, The Strain, any of the Dragonlance books (I would start at the beginning, with Dragons of Autumn Twilight), or nearly anything by Stephen King.

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

Save the Ocean by Bethany Stahl

ABC I Love Me by Miriam Muhammad

I'm a Pretty Princess by Crystal Swain-Bates

Emi's Curly Coily, Cotton Candy Hair by Tina Olajide

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MQYOFW?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links


Always wanted to read hunger games after I saw the movie. I love a good book. You might be able to guess my name from my username :)

Thanks for the contest!

Awesome prize should I get lucky

Boomerang!

My item is the book Catching Fire. My favorite place is anywhere where I can spend time with my nephew. He's almost three, and I rarely get to see him. He lives about 50 miles away. So anytime I can see him, I'm happy.

I'm getting started on the Hunger Games series, and I don't have the second book lined up yet. I'm super excited to start it. I've heard both good things and bad things, so I can't wait to make my own judgement. :D I'd like some butterbeer!

A room without books is like a body without a soul. I don't mind used. Actually, I prefer it. I need to own [this] ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0545586178/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&colid=1F9R74OEZ5ITT&sr=&qid=&coliid=IW6TGKPO9HXE3). I love the Hunger Games trilogy so much. :) thank you for the contest!

You can never go wrong with this book, it's a bit of a mystery type of book I think.

And well I'm Horrible, as are my friends haha

As everyone else is saying, it depends on your definition of "obscure." But recently, I very much enjoyed Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol, Ivy by Sarah Oleksyk and Empowered by Adam Warren.

So... I tried to recreate the issue.

I found the Books with Narration

Mockingjay

Here's the description of [kindle unlimited] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&docId=1002872331)

> thousands of Kindle books come with the free professionally narrated Audible audiobook. With Whispersync for Voice, whenever you see "Kindle Unlimited with Narration,"

Here's a book with actual narration

Amazon isn't wrong. Just a bit unclear until you read the directions.

Reminds me of this book, which I have. It's only a picture book but it's sufficient for a small child who doesn't need a long story and it's good for starting a discussion about skin color (check the "Look Inside" button).

I second The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson series as recommendations.

Looking for Alaska is really popular among my high school students, both girls and boys.

Maybe Ender's Game?

The Seven Realms series is another one several of my kids have been raving about to me. I haven't gotten around to reading them myself, but it might be worth checking out. Starts with The Demon King.

Princeless by Jeremy Whitley, can't recommend that one enough. Bone is an all-ages must read as well. There's also lot's of DC Superhero stuff like Wonder Woman geared to young kids, you might want to ask your local comic store for recommendations (if they have a kids section).

Look inside. If you sign in they let you read the entire first chapter, and it hooks you. Definitely worth a read.

of course she could always go for some books to read in free time! like this one

College Bound

Robert Heinlein wrote -All You Zombies-.

Gotta say I am the Messenger was a good read, too.

Not sure how old you are, or what gender you are (apparently relevant to the enjoyment of the book) -- but I thought the books were --- meh.

Frankly, the one-star reviews on Amazon put it far more eloquently than I ever can:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/product-reviews/0439023521/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar

The book, Who Are You? has already entered into the California elementary education system, teaching children as young as 3 years old that gender is arbitrary and independent of sex and that they can choose what they are more easily than what to have for dinner.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Fingers-Toes-padded-board/dp/0547366205

https://www.amazon.com/One-Love-Cedella-Marley/dp/1452138559

https://www.amazon.com/I-Like-Myself-board-book/dp/0544641019

https://www.amazon.com/Different-Little-Doggy-Heather-Whittaker/dp/0982096216

Forgive me. I'm on mobile.

Edit: especially
https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Young-Bob-Dylan/dp/1416958088

Some with similar production to Real Friends

Something similar to:

aivi & surasshu - Lonely Rolling Star (Missing You)

Orphee - Venant du meme rocher - Album as a whole

Anyone know if this is good?

Liquid Swords or Illmatic on vinyl

It will, there's a few exceptions though. I had a link to it from XDA that explained how to do it, but I can't seem to find it anymore. You had to edit the ASIN in the meta data on the mobi to match the ASIN listed on the amazon site (i.e ASIN: B002MQYOFW which is listed at the bottom of the page). Then it would store your progress for sideloaded books.

I forget the exact process, and I lost the link for the tool that they used to do it.

Buy it today on Amazon.com!

My little sister (adopted from Hati) when she was in preschool said something about a classmate not being dark enough to be black (it was something among those lines). My parents responded by getting her a book with pictures of various black kids of different shades.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345407798&sr=8-2&keywords=hunger+games

An Unquiet Mind and Catching Fire are the next two on my to read list.

You mean Princeless?

[I'M NOT TELLING YOU; READ IT!] (http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Messenger-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375836675)

http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Messenger-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375836675

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games

I'm sorry, but your husband is a little bit of an idiot. The first thing a black person should know when having kids is that we're very much so like calico cats. Black people can have kids that look white, Filipino, Hawaiian, Indian, Native American, hispanic, and that's all in my own family, without much outbreeding, for lack of a better term.

Like everyone here's saying, take the paternity test, shut your husband up about that, take him in for councelling, get him the children's book Shades of Black, and make sure you read it with your kids too so that if your husband keeps acting stupid about genetics, they don't develop any sort of psychological complexes.

Divergent by Veronica Roth, or the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Both feature strong female protagonists; both have action galore; both were devoured by my fiance who denies he has the ability to read. I think Divergent's better, but all three Hunger Games books are out and the second in the Divergent series won't be out till May.. :'(

• I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
  
• 9.5/10
  
• Fiction
  
• There is so much to this book. I laughed, cried, felt weird, confused.
  
• Amazon

Everyone here should read The Hunger Games.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023521/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0439023513&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0AKK1BN6CXDVSV60XS6M

It's about a bunch of kids forced into an arena where they fight to the death. They get to pick up random stuff around the arena. It's awesome

Catching Fire because we all know the Capitol is complete fraudulent bullshit.

NOT MY CARD.