Children's Books about Respect

Respect is... raising children to be true equals.

Explore this reading list for 16 Days of Activism (25-November to 10-December), an international campaign to help build communities where women and children are safe, and where girls and boys grow up as equals. It all starts with respect.

Updated October 29, 2024
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Love makes a family
Beer, Sophie.
Paper Book
This fun, inclusive board book celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family . . . and that's LOVE. Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book. In this exuberant board book, many different families are...
Malala's magic pencil
Yousafzai, Malala
Paper Book
Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai's first picture book, inspired by her own childhood. Malala's first picture book will inspire young readers everywhere to find the magic all around them. As a child in Pakistan, Malala...
I am enough
Byers, Grace
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards picture book winner! This is the perfect gift for mothers and daughters, baby showers, and graduation. This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another comes...
Feminist Baby finds her voice!
Brantz, Loryn
Paper Book
Feminist Baby is back for more adventures - with new friends in tow! - in this refreshing, clever board book by two-time Emmy Award-winning author and BuzzFeed contributor Loryn Brantz.
Tough guys (have feelings too)
Negley, Keith
Paper Book
A boldly illustrated picture book read-aloud about how everyone gets sad--ninjas, wrestlers, knights, superheroes, everyone . . . even daddies have emotions! Did you know wrestlers have feelings? And knights. Even superheroes and ninjas feel sad sometimes. In fact everyone has feelings-...
My shadow is pink : you are loved. Exactly as you are
Stuart, Scott
Paper Book
My Shadow is Pink is a beautifully written rhyming story that touches on the subjects of gender identity, self acceptance, equality and diversity. Inspired by the author's own little boy, 'Shadow's' main character likes princesses, fairies and things 'not for boys'... he soon learns...
Introducing teddy : a story about being yourself
Walton, Jessica
Paper Book
Introducing Teddy introduces the youngest readers to understanding gender identity and transition in an accessible and heart-warming story about being true to yourself and being a good friend. Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything together....
Jacob's new dress
Hoffman, Sarah
Paper Book
Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can't wear "girl" clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by...
My shadow is purple
Stuart, Scott
Paper Book
My Dad has a shadow that's blue as a berry, and my Mum's is as pink as a blossoming cherry. There's only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it's both and it's none. A heartwarming and inspiring book about being true to yourself, by best-selling children's book creator Scott...
Wonderful me : a first guide to taking care of yourself
Shapiro, Nancy E. K.
Paper Book
Let's talk about body boundaries, consent & respect : a book to teach children about body ownership, respectful relationships, feelings and emotions, choices, and recognizing bullying behaviors
Sanders, Jayneen
Paper Book
This book explores consent and respect with children especially in relation to body boundaries, both theirs and others. A child growing up knowing they have a right to their own personal space, gives that child ownership and choices as to what happens to them. These concepts are presented in a child...
No difference between us : teaching children about gender equality, respectful relationships, feelings, choice, self-esteem, empathy, tolerance, and acceptance
Sanders, Jayneen
Paper Book
Jess and Ben are twins. Jess is a girl and Ben is a boy but in all the BIG ways, there is NO difference between them! Explore with children the issues of gender equality and respectful relationships. Combining cheerful illustrations and a simple but effective narrative, children will understand that...
Who we are! : All about being the same and being different
Harris, Robie H.
Paper Book
New York Times best-selling author Robie H. Harris helps preschoolers understand what makes us who we are -- from our height to our hair, from the shade of our skin to our eyesight. Join Nellie, Gus, baby Jake, and their parents at Funland as they go on rides, watch...
Just because I am : a child's book of affirmation
Payne, Lauren Murphy
Paper Book
Young children need support and encouragement as they learn to value themselves and recognize their own worth--"not because of the things I do, not because of what I look like, not because of what I have . . . just because I am." This book of sweet, simple affirmations for children helps...

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