Wow! This month’s topic is one of my absolute favorites. Each of us can make the world a better place like no one else can git ‘er done! Celebrate the individual! Here’s some reads to build self confidence and develop a culture of appreciation for everyone’s ability to contribute to our world in a unique way.
Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont
You gotta be you, and be proud about it! In Wild About Us!, each animal sports his or her defining characteristic with pride. You can go back and try to be some of these critters in your yoga class. Have fun making up some moves for the ones that don’t obviously lend themselves to a yoga posture or breathing technique. Celebrate individuality and the varied gifts each yogi brings to the mat!
Loudmouse by Richard Wilbur
YAY! YAY! YAY! This book was originally published in 1968, and it’s BACK! A paperback edition will be released in October 2015. Loudmouse is a loud mouse. He doesn’t fit in with the other mice but his volume saves the day! It’s the quality that others want to change about us or we want to change about ourselves that is often most enviable or valued. It might be a little long for one class sitting, but it’s a great story to know.
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Tacky is another LOUD book character who also saves the day. “Tacky is an odd bird but a good bird to have around.” All of the other penguin friends, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly and Perfect, are flawless. Again, it is his “flaws” that make Tacky a winner!
Only One You by Linda Kranz, You Be You by Linda Kranz
Adri’s mama and papa have words of wisdom for their son as he swims through life. The end papers in this book are just as great as the story in between them! Linda Kranz followed up five years later with a second book, You Be You. The second title celebrates all the fish of the sea: “big and tiny, smooth and spiny, colorful and plain, different and the same.” These are great gift choices for fish of all ages!
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Molly Lou’s grandma also was a wise one. She taught Molly to sing, laugh, and stack pennies on her buck teeth. Ronald Durkin feels very foolish when he meets up with Molly Lou’s confidence. You don’t have to be a tall to be a “giant” among your peers. Molly Lou’s strength and comfortableness in her own skin is inspiring!
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
A classmate tells Grace she can’t be Peter Pan in the school play because she is a girl. Another tells Grace she can’t be Peter Pan in the school play because she is black.
Grace’s Nana tells her, “You can be anything you want, Grace, if you put your mind to it.” And she does!
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski
In Woolbur, “Grandpaa” has the wisdom. He encourages “Maa” and “Paa” sheep not to worry about young Woolbur, but they “pull on their wool all night long,” night after night. Woolbur thinks “it’s great” to be marching to the beat of a different drum. While Maa and Paa want to change Woolbur, Woolbur changes his world so he’s no longer a one-of-kind, kinda sheep. Look for Grandpaa practicing yoga in the illustrations! This book is so BAAAd, it’s good.
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
Molly Lou and Cloudette both know smallness is not a weakness! Cloudette cannot hang with the BIG clouds . . . but that’s a GOOD thing! There are small jobs that the BIG guys are not the right fit to get done. How can you make the world a better place? Don’t forget what a BIG difference a small act of kindness makes: a smile, a kind word, or helping out someone in need can change the world in a BIG way!
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
How will you make your mark? This book is a quick read. The punctuation puns may be lost on your youngest yogis but the idea of being who you are designed to be will not. Every time this creative team puts their heads together, they produce a winner!
Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt
This book reads like a poem! It would be a great introduction or wrap up story for your yoga practice. The rhyme tickles your ears and the words empower. You ARE marvelous, spectacular, adorable, INCREDIBLE!
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
Another short read, this book is great for remembering how to celebrate and keep on keeping on being you. My favorite page is Louanne the pig in the morning, looking in the bathroom mirror saying, “Hi, good looking!” I have kiddos use handheld mirrors to practice the self-affirmation. When you fall down, you DO pick yourself up and try and try again! A lot of good is stuffed into the few pages of this book.
Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann
Ruby tries to be like others. Everyone is annoyed by her copycatting. Ruby’s copycatting is true admiration for what everyone else does well. Yay for the teacher who recognizes Ruby’s gift for hopping and sets Ruby free to be herself!
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
Red crayon only colors blue . . . no matter how folks try to correct him or change him or encourage him. It’s not until “Berry” crayon asks him to draw a blue ocean that he meets an expectation with succes! The story is scratched out and shared by a pencil. It’s clever and meaningful. Labels are dangerous. Being open minded to all possibilities is key. You have a job to do in this world that only you can do! Sometimes it’s a struggle to find that right fit, but you’ll know when you are there when it’s EASY, your heart is happy, and you have a big smile on your face!
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt
Loudmouse by Richard Wilbur
The One and Only You by Linda Kranz
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Tacky the Penguin
You Be You by Linda Kranz
Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski
