If you read my Ways to Help the Shy Child post, you know that I believe shy children can learn to build strong friendships and function well in social settings. Books are an amazing way to connect with children and teach them anything (anything at all). Check out these books for shy kids, and add a few to your bookshelves. Even if YOUR child isn’t shy, these books can help your child relate to a child that is!
Books for Shy Kids
Are You Shy
Extreme shyness can become a problem that affects a child’s social development. This book advises younger kids on ways to cope with shyness.
Are You Shy? (Let’s Talk about It Books) (Paperback) – CommonBuy Now
Ava and Pip
Ava is a spirited fifth grader and aspiring writer. Her sister Pip is a painfully shy seventh grader. Ava loves her sister, but gets frustrated with her awkwardness and the amount of parental attention she gets because of it (“I know Pip isn’t shy on purpose, but it still gets me mad.”)
Buster the Very Shy Dog
Join Buster the very shy dog as he discovers his self-worth and self-confidence in a house full of more outgoing canine and feline characters.
Buster the Very Shy Dog (Green Light Readers Level 3)Buy Now
Chuck and Woodchuck
Chuck is shy. Can Woodchuck pull off some friend-matching for him?
Crunch the Shy Dinosaur
Crunch is a lovely and quiet brontosaurus who has hidden himself in some shubbery and is rather shy. He would like to play, but it will require some gentle coaxing from you! If you are patient and encouraging, you will find yourself with a new friend!
Crunch, The Shy DinosaurBuy Now
Cy Makes a Friend
Cy the Cyclops can make just about anything, except a friend. Even practicing skills such a making eye contact and winking doesn’t seem to help.
Feeling Shy
Daisy is good at noticing when others are feeling shy and helping them overcome their shyness.
Feeling Shy! (Everyday Feelings)Buy Now
Halibut Jackson
Halibut Jackson is a very shy person who prefers not to be noticed at all, so he makes himself clothing to match his surroundings.
How Kids Make Friends: Secrets for Making Lots of Friends, No Matter How Shy You Are
How Kids Make Friends describes how to meet people, the qualities that make a good friend, and activities for friends to do together. Well suited for kids age 8+.
How Kids Make Friends: Secrets for Making Lots of Friends, No Matter How Shy You AreBuy Now
I CAN Believe in Myself
Molly has been chosen to be the next Star-of-the-Day! Most kids would be excited. Molly, however, is terrified! She just can’t talk in front of her class. How can Molly get out of this mess?
I CAN Believe in Myself (I CAN Book Series)Buy Now
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
He’s shy, a wallflower. He’s the man at the side of the room listening to a duet for cello and viola. Even now you wouldn’t notice him. But our shy fellow suddenly has an urge to swallow a cello, which is precisely what he does. And he doesn’t stop there…
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a CelloBuy Now
Lily’s Shy Parrot
“Lily’s Shy Parrot” tells the story of Lily and her beautiful white parrot named Perry. Lily was a girl who loved animals. Her favorite animal was a bird. She especially loved parrots that talked… The only problem is that Perry ,Lily’s parrot, is too shy to speak.
Little Miss Shy
Little Miss Shy is a classic! When Little Miss Shy gets an invitation to Mr. Funny’s party, she goes into hiding!
Little Miss Shy (Mr. Men and Little Miss)Buy Now
Maya’s Voice
Maya is a bright-eyed, inquisitive little girl who loves to share her sweet voice. But when she starts school, she loses the confidence to use her voice and goes about her school day in silence. With time, patience, understanding, and love from all those around her, Maya discovers her sweet voice.
Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats
Miss Hazeltine is opening a very special school for shy and fearful cats. They come from all over, and Miss Hazeltine gives them lessons in everything, from “Bird Basics” to “How Not to Fear the Broom.” The most timid of all is Crumb. He cowers in a corner. Miss Hazeltine doesn’t mind.
Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful CatsBuy Now
Oliver
Oliver is different. He enjoys his solitude. He likes playing with his friends, who are puppets, stuffed animals, and other toys. With his rich imagination, Oliver’s day is never dull.
Say Hello
They’re all having so much fun, they don’t see a sad little boy standing off by himself. Who will spy the boy and invite him to play? This book is ideal for all children who are lonely, shy or feeling isolated.
Scaredy Squirrel
Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It’s way too dangerous out there. Until…
Shaun the Shy Shark
It s a well-known fact that sharks should be terrifying as they patrol the murky seas. Shaun, however, was so shy that the sight of a jellyfish made him wobble, and even a shrimp was known to scare him.
Shy Charles
Charles is a mouse of few words. He doesn’t like to talk, and he’s perfectly happy playing by himself. But his parents are not happy.
Shy
Shy loves birds. He’d love to watch them fly and hear them sing, but he’s only ever read about them in books. . .until a real bird comes along. He’s dying to meet her, but there’s just one problem: Shy is, well, shy–so shy, in fact, that he’s afraid to leave the gutter of the book.
Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs: A Kid’s Menu of Feelings
Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs: A Kid’s Menu of Feelings helps young readers learn to recognize and identify different emotions, and explains what to do when those emotions get too big or become out of control.
Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs: A Kid’s Menu of FeelingsBuy Now
Shybug
Emmie has a big imagination! She lives in an exciting world of adventure, but she has those adventures alone because she’s too shy to make a friend.
Superpowers of the Shy Girl
Jenny Watts has always been shy. So much that her parents introduce her as “their shy one.”
Superpowers of the Shy GirlBuy Now
The Invisible Boy
Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.
The Shy Little Kitten
A Little Golden Books classic, The Shy Little Kitten embarks on a journey filled with adventure! In the course of her wanderings, she meets an interesting and often amusing collection of fellow creatures.
The Shy Little Kitten (Little Golden Books)Buy Now
The Shy Creatures
What does a shy girl want to be when she grows up? A doctor, but not just any doctor—this little girl wants to care for creatures who may seem intimidating, but are really very shy, just like she is.
The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek
Meet George. He’s strong, as a giant dinosaur should be, strong enough to wreck a plane! (Of course he thinks it’s his old enemy, the flying Pteranodon.) He’s loyal. He’ll do anything to help Joan and Joey save their mother’s ranch at Cricket Creek, even chase a bank robber. He’s shy. He’s so shy he gets Joan and Joey into hilarious, dinosaur sized trouble!
The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket CreekBuy Now
Too Shy for Show-and-Tell
Sam is a quiet little boy who hates show-and-tell. Just thinking about it makes his stomach hurt. Sam must find a way to conquer his fear of show-and-tell.
Too Shy for Show-and-Tell (Little Boost)Buy Now
Two Shy Pandas
Panda longs to play with Pandora next door, but he’s too shy. Pandora longs to say “Hello, Panda!” but she’s much too shy, too. Will these two shy pandas ever muster up the courage to speak to each other?
Two Shy Pandas (Andersen Press Picture Books (Hardcover))Buy Now
What to Do When You Feel Too Shy
What to Do When You Feel Too Shy is meant to help kids with social phobias and anxiety using an approach based on cognitive-behavioral principles.
Love book lists? Check out our Thanksgiving Books for Kids and Character Building Books for Kids
