Too often, adults are guilty of categorising vocal children as bold and confident, and quieter children as shy or insecure. But if we think about the children we know, being loud could be a cover-up for insecurities and those who are quieter could just be deep thinkers – not shy at all.

I am pleased that there are now lots of books which explore what it means to be ‘shy’ and how this can be a superpower, or look at how quieter children can be encouraged to find their voice and speak up. Below, I’m sharing a selection of some of the titles I’ve been sent which would help open up conversations on this theme:

“Timmy absolutely loves to perform, but only when there isn’t an audience! Most of the time, they struggle with their shy inner lion who seems determined to keep them out of the spotlight. This vibrant and uplifting picture book explores how to overcome shyness in a gentle and familiar way.

When Timmy’s classmates begin to prepare for the school play, Timmy longs to be a part of the performance. However, feelings of shyness and fear threaten to stop Timmy from doing what they love. With a bit of help from their friend, Nia, and a whole lot of bravery, will Timmy ever be able to strike up the courage to perform on stage?”

This gorgeously illustrated book perfectly captures how it feels to be overwhelmed by anxiety but reminds readers that it is possible to be anything if you put your mind to it. It also features a main character whose preferred pronouns are they/their which may also be a useful talking point and help all children feel represented.

“For all those who have suffered stage fright, a gentle story about standing tall and finding your voice.

Violet’s world has changed. Her voice has gone from a giggle to a whisper. So when her teacher casts her in the school play, she is filled with worry. How will she ever stand in front of a crowd and overcome her shyness? With the love and support of her family, Violet must find her inner confidence and turn that whisper into a roar!”

I love all of Ian’s books – they are always so sensitively written and capture the essence of the emotion they are trying to portray. In this case, it’s rebuilding your confidence after a series of events have caused you to lose your self-belief. With a ‘school play’ setting lots of children will relate to as we near the end of the school year.

“Meet Ruby. Some days she is brave, bouncy and chat-chat-chatty. Other days, she is not – and that’s OK! She knows what she wants, and she does things her own way.

With expressive, retro illustrations from exciting illustration talent Hazel Quintanilla, this funny, heartwarming book celebrates the power of listening to your emotions and speaking up. Little ones will LOVE Ruby – the ultimate feisty role model to show young girls how to harness their voice and inner strength.”

A gently humorous choice to look at how we can feel different emotions at different times: brave, bouncy, shy. Each is valid and each can be passing – and what we might feel like doing from one mood to the next may differ.

“Have you ever heard an Echo?
They live in lakes and tunnels and caves.
But have you ever seen an Echo?

Little Echo lives alone in a cave. Shy, she hides away, echoing the noises around her. But Little Echo isn’t just shy – she’s lonely. And when Max comes to the cave one day, in search of treasure, Little Echo starts to discover that maybe she has a voice of her own…”

Little Echo is just adorable and you’ll be rooting for her to find her voice and make herself heard. All about being brave, making friends, and embracing adventures.

“Storm has never liked to stand out from the crowd, but ever since she started Year 7, her life has been full of people telling her she needs to speak up, make friends and be more like her popular big brother.

Then Storm breaks a school record, and finds herself the new star of the athletics team. But as she’s thrust into the spotlight, her home life and friendships start spiralling out of control, and it’s time for Quiet Storm to show that she has something to say.”

This one is aimed at readers aged 10+ so has lots of time to explore the many facets of being someone who likes to blend into the background. Tweens will relate to Storm’s transition to secondary school and the many changes this brings – authentically written by author, Kimberly Whittam.

“Our noisy world sometimes feels like it’s not made for shy people. This book will help children better understand their shyness and find their inner voice.

Shyness is often misunderstood. It’s not a disability or personality flaw; it’s a complex trait with many positive aspects. However, shyness can lead kids to struggle to speak up in class, get involved in activities, make friends, put themselves forward, and compete. As a result they can miss out on fun and exciting opportunities, and are often overlooked, ignored, and sidelined… but it doesn’t have to be this way. Shy And Mighty Kids offers a new way of looking at the subject that will help children overcome the aspects of their shyness that are holding them back, without scaring themselves or pretending to be something they are not.”

Information is power, and this book certainly aims to inform its readers about how to start taking a few risks and putting themselves out there a little bit without fundamentally changing who they are. Written by Nadia Finer, one of the UK’s leading shyness experts, ‘Shy And Mighty’ is part of her mission to empower shy people of all ages to overcome their self-doubt and self-consciousness.

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I hope that some of the books I’ve shared might help someone who is sometimes a little bit shy and help them realise that it’s fine, but sometimes it’s ok to make yourself heard.

Jo

*Many thanks to the publishers who sent me these titles to review*