Best Children's Peer Pressure Books of 2025

The "What Should Darla Do?" book is an interactive and fun adventure that follows the story of Darla, a young and ambitious astronaut-in-training. The book features eight relatable scenarios that kids face daily, and written in a "Choose Your Own Story" format, kids can help Darla navigate her day by making choices for her. The book is beautifully illustrated, and the storyline is both empowering and relatable. The authors, Ganit and Adir Levy, have done an excellent job of creating a strong yet feminine role model for girls. Overall, "What Should Darla Do?" is an exceptional book that teaches kids about the power of choice and empowers them to reach their potential.

You Are an Amazing Girl is a collection of ten inspiring stories for girls about self-esteem, courage, inner strength, and self-love. The book encourages young readers to believe in themselves and their abilities, overcome fears, and never give up on their dreams. The relatable characters and themes make for an engaging read, and the beautiful images stimulate the imagination. The book also includes a bonus dreams journal for readers to explore their passions further. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for children's peer pressure books and helps girls develop confidence, cope with difficult situations, and understand the importance of relationships.

Body Boundaries Make Me Stronger is a beautifully illustrated book that helps parents teach their children about personal boundaries in an age-appropriate manner. Little Nick's story is relatable, and the situations he faces are useful for teaching kids about body safety, awareness, and consent. The book also promotes teaching kids about private parts and body awareness. The rhyming text and high-quality illustrations make it a great conversation starter and an excellent addition to any child's library. This book is part of a series of social emotional books that explore emotions, feelings, and social skills. Overall, it's a great resource for parents looking for a way to introduce these important topics to their children.

The Cool Bean, written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald, is a heartwarming story about kindness and acceptance. The book follows a bean who desperately tries to fit in with the cool crowd but fails every time. However, when the cool beans show him kindness and inclusivity, he learns that being kind is what truly makes someone cool. With witty wordplay and silly gags, the book offers an important reminder for readers of all ages. The digital and watercolor illustrations give the anthropomorphic legumes lots of personality. The Cool Bean is a must-read for children and adults alike.

I Can Do Hard Things is a children's emotions book that introduces kids to the practice of using mindful affirmations for support and encouragement when they face challenges. The book reflects the beautiful diversity in our world and is available in Spanish as Yo Puedo Hacer Cosas difíciles: Afirmaciones Conscientes Para Niños. Written by Gabi Garcia, a licensed professional counselor and picture book author, it's a perfect addition to home or school social emotional libraries. Overall, the book is an excellent resource for parents, educators, and caregivers to nurture mindful, socially and emotionally aware children.

A Smart Girl's Guide: Drama, Rumors & Secrets: Staying True to Yourself in Changing Times is a great book for young girls to learn how to handle drama in their lives. The book provides expert insights on how to deal with drama and offers tips and quizzes to help girls stay safe from cyberbullying, gossip, and jealousy. The inclusion of quotes and advice from real girls makes the book relatable and engaging. American Girl Publishing Inc has done a great job in creating a valuable resource for young girls facing challenging situations. Overall, this book is a must-read for any girl looking to stay true to herself in changing times.

The 20th-anniversary edition of Hey, Little Ant is a hilarious children's picture book that poses an important question: to squish or not to squish? The story follows a conversation between a little girl and an ant she's about to step on. The ant pleads for its life, explaining how similar it is to humans, and how it has a family and community depending on it. Originally a song by a father-daughter team, this book is a perfect gift for Earth Day, inspiring discussions about caring, kindness, and respect for both animals and humans. Overall, Hey, Little Ant is a heartwarming and thought-provoking read for children of all ages.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell is a delightfully disgusting classic that has now joined the Scholastic Gold line. Billy takes on a bet to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days for fifty dollars. He tries various ways to eat them, but his friend Alan won't let him win that easily. This hilarious story is sure to both revolt and delight young readers, with its colorful and original writing. The bonus materials in this edition make it a must-have for any child's bookshelf.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is a heartwarming story about self-esteem, teasing, and acceptance. Chrysanthemum loves her name until her classmates make fun of it on her first day of school. The story revolves around how Chrysanthemum deals with the teasing and ultimately learns to love her name again. The book is an excellent read for children, especially during back-to-school time. The language and humor are fresh, and the illustrations are sensitive and funny. The book teaches children about treating their classmates with kindness and compassion. Overall, Chrysanthemum is a must-read for young children and is perfectly executed both in words and illustrations.

The Lucky Baseball Bat by Matt Christopher is a classic children's book that teaches important lessons about friendship, teamwork, and believing in oneself. The story follows Marvin, a young boy who moves to a new neighborhood and wants to make a good impression on his new baseball team. However, when his lucky baseball bat goes missing, Marvin loses his ability to play. This book celebrates over six decades on bookshelves and continues to captivate and delight new generations of readers. The plot is evenly paced, with a controlled vocabulary and short chapters that help children make the leap to chapter books. Overall, The Lucky Baseball Bat is a timeless story that emphasizes the value of friendship and self-confidence and is a must-read for young sports fans.