Books by Dr. Nancy Shapiro
Wonderful Me: A First Guide to Taking Care of Yourself
This book is a creative manual for wholeself care to help children on their pathway to looking after themselves. Stepping beyond topics like diet and exercise, this guide introduces topics like healthy friendship, learning to trust yourself when something doesn’t feel right, and establishing boundaries, all while promoting the beginnings of self-reflection.
An ABC of Democracy
Introducing civics concepts in an empowering context, planting the seeds for children to use their voice as they grow up.
Reviews from professional publications
Children’s Literature
“Self-care is a lifelong process that changes as we progress through our lives. The author, a clinical psychologist wants children to know that taking care of ourselves is multi-faceted and can even be fun. She divides up self-care into three categories: the body, relationships, and feelings. Taking care of one's body involves regular doctor visits, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and wearing sunscreen. Children will relate to the tips provided to achieve these goals such as reading a book before bedtime.
When it comes to relationships the author explains what boundaries are and reassures her young readers that it is okay to set them. However, the boundaries others set must be respected as well, which leads to feelings. Children are encouraged to communicate feelings to trusted adults and to trust their own instincts. Throughout the book the author asks questions of her readers, allowing for reflection and conversations with others about the very important topics covered in the text.
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This book is too long for one read for its intended audience. It does lend itself nicely for classroom use in the first or second grade as part of a SEL curriculum. One topic may be covered daily or weekly. The many questions will elicit lively discussions and the suggested activities will allow for individual creativity. Using the book this way will build classroom community. The illustrations are multicultural showing diverse student populations adorned with whimsical accoutrements such as garlands of daisies. This book is a nice resource for children and the adults who care about them.”
Booklist
“This cheerful guide to self-care suggests numerous ways children can care for their bodies, relationships, and feelings. Readers are encouraged to exercise, eat healthful foods, get plenty of sleep, stay clean, set boundaries (illustrated by a fence), show and expect respect, identify and share their feelings, consult adults on weighty matters, and practice relaxation techniques (several are provided). Pages are crowded with text, color, and one or more illustrations. Because the content can often feel like a lot of unsolicited advice, the book is probably best absorbed in small doses when various parts are most relevant to readers' experiences.
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Despite the potentially heavy subject matter, Shapiro maintains a tone that ranges from neutral to upbeat. Sacramento's animated illustrations show a diverse range of joyful children, including a wheelchair user, a child with glasses, and a child with a (sea green!) hearing device. The book concludes by noting the interconnections between the various areas of self-care and how different needs and feelings affect each other.”
“Wonderful Me” is a Junior Library Guild selection!
May 2025
Junior Library Guild has selected Wonderful Me to be sent to its member school and public libraries in 2025.
Each year, JLG reviews more than 3,000 books and selects fewer than 800 for its collection. Over 95 percent of the titles JLG selects go on to win awards and/or favorable reviews.
Learn more about Junior Library Guild.
