It is my stop on the blog tour for Timid, brought to you by Hear Our Voices and I am excited to suggest great readalikes after you read this heartwarming and uplifting picture book by Harry Woodgate!
If you are looking for a book that reflects on childhood anxiety and how it is important that children have the opportunity to be true to themselves, then Timid is a picture book that is vital for children to read but is a perfect selection for family storytime. It’s okay to be anxious and scared but, you don’t let it rule you and prevent you from being yourself. I also loved the LGBTQ representation in this picture book. When you are introduced to Timmy, they say, “I use they/them pronouns,” and I think that it is crucial nonbinary kids or any child in the LGBTQIA community should see themselves reflected in stories, and this picture book beautifully does that.
After reading Timid, you will probably be looking for more readalikes that match the message and storytelling of this picture book. Here are some perfect readalikes that are excellent companions and books you won’t be disappointed in.
Enjoy!
Whirly Twirly Me by Manjeet Mann and illustrated by Amanda Quartey
A sensitive and reassuring picture book on understanding and handling big feelings from award-winning author Manjeet Mann
Some days are good days. Some days are bad days. And some days are whirly twirly days, where the strops have you in a flop and everything is TOO MUCH. But what if you weren’t just angry?
Written by award-winning author Manjeet Mann, this brilliant picture book helps young readers explore difficult feelings and identify their emotions.
Sensitively written and accompanied by beautiful artwork by Amanda Quartey, this book reassures little readers it’s normal to feel a lot of things at once and helps them to embrace their own whirly twirly days. (Credit: HarperCollins)
You Need To Chill by Juno Dawson and illustrated by Laura Hughes
When Bill can’t be found at school one day, the imaginations of the other children run wild. Is he on vacation? Is he lost in the park? Has he been eaten by a shark? It’s up to Bill’s sister to explain that everyone needs to chill.
Juno Dawson’s debut LGBTQ children’s book is a witty and fun-filled rhyming story about family, identity, and acceptance. Bold, joyful, and warm-hearted, this inclusive children’s book’s message shines through on every page. (Credit: Sourcebooks Kids)
One Little Word by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Allison Colpoys
“The argument came from nowhere.
It sat huge and bloated
in the middle of the playground
between me and my best friend.”
This big hairy monster appears out of the blue one day, splitting up the best friends and growing bigger and bigger, until it starts to ruin all the children in the playground’s fun.Together, they learn how to shrink the monster until it vanishes completely, to the point where they can’t even remember what it looks like!Coelho’s gentle and lyrical verse pair perfectly with Allison Colpoys’ beautiful illustrations to create a book which will be treasured by young readers.
This is an ode to the power of an apology, and to treasuring a special bond that runs deeper than even the friends realized. (Credit: Frances Lincoln)
I Am Quiet: A Story For The Introvert In All of Us by Andie Powers and illustrated by Betsy Petersen
Emile is not shy–he is quiet.
Emile may seem timid and shy on the outside, but on the inside he is bustling with imagination. While grownups and even other kids may see Emile as the shy kid who doesn’t raise his hand in class, we know that Emile is actually a high-seas adventurer, a daring explorer, and a friend to wild beasts.
This story honors and encourages the beauty of knowing ourselves for exactly who we are. Emile’s world shows us that the mind of a quiet child can be as rich, expansive, and bold as that of any other (more extroverted) child. (Credit: Bala Books)
My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain and illustrated by Ella Bailey
A touching story about a little boy whose worry monster follows him everywhere he goes. It’s there when he gets dressed, when he wants to play with his toys, and even when his friends come over to visit. How can he escape his worries? Having struggled with anxiety for as long as she can remember, Nadiya Hussain has written this heartfelt story to ensure that no child suffers in silence–no matter what shape their worry monster may take. (Credit: Viking Books for Young Readers)
The Light She Feels Inside by Gwendolyn Wallace and illustrated by Olivia Duchess
Maya feels a warm glow when she picks strawberries in the community garden, hears music in her neighborhood, or spends time with the people she loves.
She feels a different kind of glow when she gets pushed down on the playground, overhears her family worrying about bills, and sees her favorite cousin stopped by police. Sometimes that glowing seems like too much to carry.
But Maya is learning that others feel the same glowing light. Black women throughout history, like Ida B. Wells, Nina Simone, June Jordan, and Maya’s own ancestors, found ways to honor these glowing feelings. They were guided by their light to make a difference. The light Maya feels inside is an important part of her that she’ll share as she works toward a brighter world. (Credit: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)
Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale and illustrated by Hui Qing Ang
Nisha’s monster follows her everywhere. It used to be small, but recently her monster has begun to grow. And as her monster gets bigger and bigger, Nisha feels more and more unlike herself.
When people refer to her as a boy, or when she tries to hide her true gender identity, Nisha’s dysphoria monster grows larger and larger. Until, one day, Nisha meets Jack – a trans man – who shows Nisha how she can shrink her dysphoria monster back down to size.
This touching story is the perfect book for discussing gender dysphoria with children, explaining what it is and how they and their families can deal with it. It also includes an accompanying guide for parents with further information about gender dysphoria, terminology, and first-hand examples of the author’s own experiences. (Credit: Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna
Kiki Kallira has always been a worrier. Did she lock the front door? Is there a terrible reason her mom is late? Recently her anxiety has been getting out of control, but one thing that has always soothed her is drawing. Kiki’s sketchbook is full of fanciful doodles of the rich Indian myths and legends her mother has told her over the years.
One day, her sketchbook’s calming effect is broken when her mythological characters begin springing to life right out of its pages. Kiki ends up falling into the mystical world she drew, which includes a lot of wonderful discoveries like the band of rebel kids who protect the kingdom, as well as not-so-great ones like the ancient deity bent on total destruction. As the one responsible for creating the evil god, Kiki must overcome her fear and anxiety to save both worlds–the real and the imagined–from his wrath. But how can a girl armed with only a pencil defeat something so powerful? (Credit:Viking Books for Young Readers)
About The Featured Book
Timmy loves nothing more than performing, that is, until they have an audience. They live in the shadow of their inner cowardly lion who loves to come out and ROAR all their confidence away. As Timmy dreads the upcoming school play, they form a powerful friendship with their classmate Nia. Together, they work to overcome their shyness and tame the lion. But when it’s time to take the stage, Timmy feels the familiar swoosh of the lion’s tail.
Will Timmy be able to calm their anxiety and put on a show-stopping performance?
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