Top Ten Tuesday: Picture Books About Self-Love

This week is a Valentine’s freebie for Top Ten Tuesday. There are so many directions I could take this – middle grade friendships or YA couples. So rather than create another typical “contemporary romance books” (which I love), I wanted to share some really great books for young kids all about self-love. Everyone needs to be able to see themselves in the books they read and love themselves.

These books are all about self-affirmation, being proud of who you are and where you’ve come from. And there are so many others, but these are some of my favorites! Each of these has both beautiful words and beautiful illustrations to create a story all about love. If books could give you a hug, these would be the ones who do it!

Picture Books About Self-Love

1. All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier
   Gorgeous illustrations and lyrical text reminding kids that they have always mattered and will always matter.
2. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
   Names connect us to our families, to our past, and our hopes for the future!
3. Eyes That Kiss In the Corners by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
   One of my new favorite picture books I reviewed at the beginning of the year!
4. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
   This is also a short, as in a movie!
5. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
   Because the world is not always fair, this book reminds Black boys that they are good.
6. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
   Individual expression is so important and you may not know how you want to express yourself until you see other people who you want to emulate.
7. The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly
   Diversity in children’s books cannot be siloed, intersectionality is where it’s at.
8. Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez, illustrated by Jamie Kim
   A question that seems simple, but has a more complex answer. This is one story of how a family can help a child answer it.
9. You Matter by Christian Robinson
   Two words that mean so much!
10. Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
    Because one book about names is not enough! This story is beautiful!

Do you have any of these in your personal library? Or others that you love that show self-love to small kiddos?

The Artsy Reader Girl currently hosts Top Ten Tuesday, an original feature created by The Broke and the Bookish.