Handbooks for Little Humans: Confidence

By Zanni Louise & Kim Drane

Reviewed by Margarite Igras.

Bestselling and prolific Australian author Zanni Louise has completed her second book in the series Handbooks for Little Humans. This time her topic is Confidence, but she has flagged that she will have other titles, such as Fairness, Inclusion and Integrity available in this series in 2026.  The books are aimed to be conversation starters about some tricky lifelong topics. The text and illustrations follow the same structure as her first book about Compassion, with the exuberant colourful cover, the bright headings, and the many questions and examples, inviting the little humans to discuss some of their feelings and experiences. Though aimed at four- to eight-year-olds, it meets children where they are in their development with a reassurance that you can become more confident over time.

What’s confidence? I’m so glad you asked. Confidence helps us try new things and be ourselves. The author’s kind voice comes through the simple text, informing her friend, the reader, that there are lots of ways to be confident, and not all of them are big, loud and bold. She assures the reader that mistakes are okay, we can learn from them, and that positive self-talk is healthy, but the bottom line, is to be yourself.

Kim Drane’s colourful illustrations beautifully support the text and creates a non-judgemental and safe story. There are many details in the inclusive scenarios, such as a child with a cochlea implant, a boy in a wheelchair and children with a range of skin colour. I particularly like the double page cartoon story that the child could read to the adult.

A worthwhile resource for home, school and the library. My Social Worker daughter is eager to include this series in her child therapy sessions.

 Affirm Kids 2025

Zanni Louise

Kim Drane