Kelsey Green, Reading Queen

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the pressure of being the best in class or when healthy competition has turned into a source of anxiety and envy. It is a gentle but effective tool for children who define their self-worth through academic rankings or extracurricular trophies. The story follows Kelsey, a passionate reader who finds her identity threatened when a peer begins to outshine her in a school-wide reading contest. Through Kelsey's journey, the book explores the nuanced emotions of jealousy and the realization that helping others can be more rewarding than winning a prize. It is perfectly suited for independent readers in second through fourth grade. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's drive for excellence while modeling how to pivot toward empathy and collaborative success without devaluing their own talents.