Self-Help Books for Kids
157 books in self-help. Every book rated for reading level and content intensity.
Self-Help books for kids span a wider readiness range than parents usually expect. The same genre category contains gentle picture books and high-intensity middle-grade novels — Lexile and grade-level scores measure text complexity, not what's actually in the story. A self-help title appropriate for a confident 8-year-old reader could still cover themes a sensitive 12-year-old isn't ready for.
Across HootRated's 157 self-help titles, books span picture books through Grade 8. About 74% are rated Gentle or Mild — safe picks for sensitive readers and kids reading ahead of their emotional readiness. 2% sit at the Intense or Very Intense end. Average content intensity is 1.7/5.
Use the intensity badges (green → red, low → high) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For deeper detail on how we rate, see our rating methodology.
Supernormal
Meg Jay
Supernormal
Meg Jay
Watch me rise
Douglas E. Luffborough
Watch me rise
Douglas E. Luffborough
Sex and the single parent
Mary Mattis
Sex and the single parent
Mary Mattis
Deadly consequences
Deborah Prothrow-Stith
Deadly consequences
Deborah Prothrow-Stith
When parents die
Edward Myers
When parents die
Edward Myers
Stop Wasting Your Time and Start Doing What Matters Most
Jeffrey Krug, Ivonne Alexander, Ivonne Delaflor
Stop Wasting Your Time and Start Doing What Matters Most
Jeffrey Krug, Ivonne Alexander, Ivonne Delaflor
How to Think Bigger
Mark Victor Hansen
How to Think Bigger
Mark Victor Hansen
Coping with your difficult older parent
Grace Lebow
Coping with your difficult older parent
Grace Lebow
Early communicative skills
Gilbert MacKay
Early communicative skills
Gilbert MacKay
The little book of sex
Anne Hooper
The little book of sex
Anne Hooper
Tumbleweeds
Curtin, Paul J.
Tumbleweeds
Curtin, Paul J.
Learning from children
Paul Welter
Learning from children
Paul Welter
Building Bright Futures
Barbara Goodman
Building Bright Futures
Barbara Goodman
Choice-making
Sharon Wegscheider
Choice-making
Sharon Wegscheider
Fostering student self-esteem in the Catholic elementary school
Patricia McCormack
Fostering student self-esteem in the Catholic elementary school
Patricia McCormack
Self-esteem
Shelly Nielsen
Self-esteem
Shelly Nielsen
Cathy Glass 3-Book Self-Help Collection
Cathy Glass
Cathy Glass 3-Book Self-Help Collection
Cathy Glass
High School Entrance Exams (Arco Test Preparation)
Jacqueline Robinson
High School Entrance Exams (Arco Test Preparation)
Jacqueline Robinson
Discover Your Genius, CD
Michael J. Gelb
Discover Your Genius, CD
Michael J. Gelb
Discover your genius
Michael Gelb
Discover your genius
Michael Gelb
The Quarterlifer's Companion
Abby Wilner
The Quarterlifer's Companion
Abby Wilner
The element
Ken Robinson
The element
Ken Robinson
More Than Just Pretty
Jessie Faerber
More Than Just Pretty
Jessie Faerber
Animals Fun Pack
Kathleen S.
Animals Fun Pack
Kathleen S.
Mighty Max Conquers The Temple Of Venom (Action Storybooks Series)
Ram Dass, Paul Gorman
Mighty Max Conquers The Temple Of Venom (Action Storybooks Series)
Ram Dass, Paul Gorman
The Power of Positive Winking
Michael Regan
The Power of Positive Winking
Michael Regan
Recovering from the Loss of a Child
Katherine Fair Donnelly
Recovering from the Loss of a Child
Katherine Fair Donnelly
The Best Me I Can Be
Dr Marius Potgieter
The Best Me I Can Be
Dr Marius Potgieter
Question Books
Mikael Krogerus, Roman Tschappeler
Question Books
Mikael Krogerus, Roman Tschappeler
Protecting the Gift
Gavin De Becker
Protecting the Gift
Gavin De Becker
Lifeskills for adult children
Janet Geringer Woititz
Lifeskills for adult children
Janet Geringer Woititz
Reaching beyond the clouds
Cindy L. Abbott
Reaching beyond the clouds
Cindy L. Abbott
A Season on the Reservation
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
A Season on the Reservation
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Dyslexia
Sue Fallon
Dyslexia
Sue Fallon
Needs and Wants (Yellow Umbrella Social Studies)
Susan Ring
Needs and Wants (Yellow Umbrella Social Studies)
Susan Ring
Bulimia
Adriane Ruggiero
Bulimia
Adriane Ruggiero
Staying sane when your family comes to visit
Pamela K. Brodowsky
Staying sane when your family comes to visit
Pamela K. Brodowsky
Being Perfect and A Short Guide to a Happy Life
Anna Quindlen
Being Perfect and A Short Guide to a Happy Life
Anna Quindlen
All Time Is Now
Katie Letcher Lyle
All Time Is Now
Katie Letcher Lyle
Sex tips for girls by guys
Dorling Kindersley, Inc.
Sex tips for girls by guys
Dorling Kindersley, Inc.
The Velveteen Collection
Toni Raiten-D'Antonio
The Velveteen Collection
Toni Raiten-D'Antonio
Struggle for Intimacy
Janet G. Woititz
Struggle for Intimacy
Janet G. Woititz
Be Happy!
Monica Sheehan
Be Happy!
Monica Sheehan
Orion and the Dark
Emma Yarlett
Orion and the Dark
Emma Yarlett
A simple program
Bill W.
A simple program
Bill W.
Losing your parents, finding your self
Victoria Secunda
Losing your parents, finding your self
Victoria Secunda
Bookmarks
Brenda Scott-Coleman
Bookmarks
Brenda Scott-Coleman
Golf (Quick Kiss)
Steve Duno
Golf (Quick Kiss)
Steve Duno
The procrastinating child
Rita Emmett
The procrastinating child
Rita Emmett
A Box of Thoughts on Joy (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Joy (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Healing (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Healing (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on New Beginnings (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on New Beginnings (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Creativity (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Creativity (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Simple Pleasures (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Simple Pleasures (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Success (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
A Box of Thoughts on Success (Box of Thoughts)
H Klein
Love Catcher
Kathy Eldon
Love Catcher
Kathy Eldon
The personal organizing workbook
Meryl Starr
The personal organizing workbook
Meryl Starr
Little Box of I Love You Postcard (Little Book of)
Jackson Brown
Little Box of I Love You Postcard (Little Book of)
Jackson Brown
Why did I buy this book?
Lynn Brunelle
Why did I buy this book?
Lynn Brunelle
Surfing your inner sea
Raphael Cushnir
Surfing your inner sea
Raphael Cushnir
Browse all 157 self-help books
- Child abuse
- Friendships
- Journey to Heal
- Dying to Be Thin
- Reaching High
- Reaching High
- Find Your Way
- Find Your Way
- Reaching High
- Reaching High
- Reaching High
- I Make a Difference
- Water Safety
- Daily affirmations
- Self-Talk
- Inheritors and Work
- I love The Me I See and The Me I Can Be Illustrated, story, coloring and workbook.
- AA
- Negro Intellect
- Transformation for Life
- Dreams with horses
- When to jump
- Loving an Adult Child of an Alcoholic
- Talking about Death
- Healing a Grandparent's Grieving Heart
- Negative Body Image (Danger Zone: Dieting and Eating Disorders)
- Reducing Stress
- Changing Lanes
- Feeling Good About Me!
- Conquering College
- Essential Survival Guide to Living on Your Own
- Chick
- Heroes Every Child Should Know
- Self-Esteem
- Stress Can Really Get on Your Nerves!
- Whatever You Are, Be a Good One
- Way More Than Luck
- How to be a wildflower
- The joy of swimming
- Ladies Drawing Night
- Paths to Happiness
- Happiness Is ... 500 Ways to Be in the Moment
- Kindness Every Day
- Unwind Every Day
- How Time Is on Your Side
- Magic Potion
- Make Your Bed
- Hot Peas and Butter
- Middle school sex ed ... or, They asked you what?!
- My Life As Eva
- It's not what you're eating, it's what's eating you
- Nurturing the human spirit through character development in adolescents
- Coping Constructively With Anger
- A taste-berry teen's guide to managing the stress and pressures of life ; with contributions from teens for teens
- Building Your Life
- Tools and Crafts
- Reena's Bollywood dream
- Sober Mom's Guide to Recovery
- Finding the Words
- Healing a Grandparent's Grieving Heart
- Namaste the Ninja
- I Know This to Be True
- Becoming the One
- Mind over Batter
- Courageous Discomfort
- How to Live Like the Little Prince
- Inspired Letters to My Future Self
- Life Audit
- How to Wear Everything
- Peace Scholars
- Heartfelt
- How I Learned to Control My Temper
- Music for Babies from Playtime to Sleepytime (Mozart Effect for Babies)
- Mozart en Movimiento
- Adult Drug and Alcohol Problems, Children's Needs, Second Edition
- Charlie's Big Problem
- Your Body Talks to You
- Bichon the Brave
- I Am More Than My Body
- Escape into Dreaming Paperback
- Always
- Zippy Practices Courage
- Traveling Around With Kenny The Penny.
- I Am Enough, Just As I Am
- Best Memories of Life
- Sleep Is Just a Happy Place
- The Dream Book
- Soup in Love
- Get Up and Grow Songs
- Prescription Narcotics
- Levántate : Guía Infantil para Mejorar la Autoconfianza y Eliminar el Acoso Escolar
- Touch of Christmas
- Little Book to Change the World
- When You Know What You Don't Want
- Move That Cloud
- If You Give a Bunny a Brownie
- When My Hero Is Away
Questions parents ask about self-help books
- What are the best self-help books for kids?
- HootRated catalogs 157 self-help children's books spanning picture books through Grade 8. Each is rated on reading level and content intensity. The picks above are sorted by quality signals — hook factor, discussion potential, and content appropriateness.
- Are self-help books appropriate for sensitive readers?
- 116 books (74%) are rated Gentle or Mild — safe for sensitive readers. 3 (2%) are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity is 1.7/5. Filter by intensity badge to match your child's emotional readiness.
- What reading level are self-help books?
- Self-Help books in our catalog span picture books through Grade 8. The typical reading level lands around Grade 5. Reading level measures text difficulty — separate from content intensity, which measures emotional weight. The two often don't track together for gifted readers — the Gifted Kid Paradox.