Families who loved How to Be a Hero by Florence Parry Heide often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is preoccupied with being the center of attention, performing for others, or feeling that their everyday actions don't matter. It is an ideal choice for the child who dreams of grand adventures and public recognition but struggles with the mundane expectations of daily life. Gideon is a young boy determined to become a hero, primarily so he can see his picture in the newspaper. He looks for dragons to slay and princesses to rescue, only to find that his modern world doesn't offer many fairy tale emergencies. Through a series of humorous missed opportunities, Gideon eventually discovers that true heroism isn't found in a trophy or a headline, but in the quiet, unprompted acts of kindness we do for others. It is a gentle, witty exploration of ego versus empathy for children aged 4 to 8.