Books for quiet, sensitive kids who want to fit in and be themselves

I created a series of illustrations based around the idea of how you develop a suit of armour as you grow up, one that's necessary at first as it helps to keep you safe but if you wear it all the time, becomes so heavy and uncomfortable that it ends up hurting rather than helping you. This led me to thinking about how we can help our kids avoid getting stuck in the armour they create for themselves.

Belonging is a vital part of being human; it's how we evolved to survive. From a young age, we are trying to learn where we fit in the world and once we reach preteen, this suddenly ramps up as we start to navigate friendship dynamics, new schools and a new level of independence. With no one there to hold our hand or provide support in the moment, we have to learn quickly what the pot holes are and how to avoid them, which is when the suit of armour starts to form.

Looking back now, I can see why being at home became my sanctuary. It was where I could express myself freely, be creative and most importantly, read. I lost myself for hours in books and the worlds created within their pages. I could see quiet, sensitive kids like me, be strong and confident. I could see them stand up to the bully or achieve that thing they really wanted. Most importantly, I felt that I wasn't alone. Books helped me to take off the armour for a while.

Now I have my own quiet, sensitive kid and I'm always looking for books that can support that alternative view for him too. Books that can explain, in ways I sometimes can't, the nuance between trying to fit in and belonging. Books that will help him believe that the world needs him, just as he is. Because I have to be realistic, now that we're entering the preteen years he's not always going to want to hear how competent and amazing he is from me!

Here are a few that we've enjoyed so far:

• The 'How To Train Your Dragon' series by Cressida Cowell

• 'Greenwild' by Pari Thompson

• ‘Winter Holiday’ by Arthur Ransome

• 'The Boy Who Fell From The Sky' by Benjamin Dean

• 'The Spell Tailors' by James Nicol

• 'The Christmas Carrolls' by Mel Taylor-Bessent

Books a great method for kids to explore feelings and values. If you can read together, talk about the story as you go. Or if they prefer to read alone, ask them how they're finding the book, who their favourite characters are, what they've discovered so far. Books can also be a simple way of keeping the lines of communication open.