Gold Medal winner, Mom's Choice Awards

Ringmaster Rick fosters confidence in his fellow circus performers by discouraging self-talk and put-down statements, encouraging them to be persistent and to ask for help, and by focusing on effort not results. 

Children with self-confidence trust in their abilities, have realistic expectations, know their strengths and weaknesses, are able to adjust to difficult situations, and meet different challenges presented to them. But self-confidence isn’t something that happens easily or automatically. Rather, kids learn to be self-confident from practice and persistence even if mistakes are made. In Don’t Put Yourself Down in Circus Town, children will hear how Ringmaster Rick fosters confidence in Lion Tamer Larry, Polka Dot Patti, Juan, and Juanita by discouraging negative self- talk and put-down statements, by encouraging them to be persistent and ask for help, and by focusing on their efforts, not results. With practice and time, they learn to bounce-back from mistakes and mishaps and feel more confident!

Includes a Note to Parents and Other Caregivers with more information and strategies for building self-confidence in children and helping them develop positive feelings and beliefs about themselves.

Illustrated by: Sue Cornelison