My Feet Aren’t Ugly by Debra Beck

I’m in the business of “everything girl” and so it’s a truly wonderful moment when I come across a book that I think is fantastic for our daughters!

My Feet Aren’t Ugly: A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out by Debra Beck is one of those rare treats from the publishing world that accurately addresses one of the biggest struggles of girls as they approach adolescence – self esteem. The name of the book is bluntly accurate in describing what’s at the heart of it – “learning to like yourself” regardless of existing or imagined flaws.

As an adolescent psychotherapist and mom to three daughters I can certainly relate to Ms. Beck’s insight and advice when it comes to raising teenage girls. Studies have shown that girls’ self-esteem begins to dramatically drop as early as 5th grade. That’s why books like My Feet Aren’t Ugly are so important during the tween/teen years. This book gives girls the opportunity to examine their feelings and reflect on the young women they want to become. In addition, My Feet Aren’t Ugly teaches adolescent girls to learn to make smart decisions for themselves and overcome what they see as ‘imperfections’ in the mirror.

My Feet Aren’t Ugly touches on topics such as creating healthy friendships, teenage fears, maintaining a healthy body and soul, and struggles with drugs and teen suicide. Yet, even when addressing the ‘difficult’ subjects, Ms. Beck puts a ‘positive spin’ on it, allowing girls to walk away with a better sense of how to handle her feelings as opposed to drowning in them.

Perhaps what I appreciate most about Ms. Beck’s book are the opportunities for teens to journal about what they feel and learn. Inserted into each chapter are “Think it Over…and Journal” pages where your daughter can reflect on what she’s read and begin to integrate and develop introspection about what she’s learned. The ability for teens to be introspective, the ability to examine her own thoughts and feelings, is one of the most important tools your daughter will gain from this book, and one that will help her when faced with tough teen issues. By providing the journaling component to her book, Ms. Beck gives girls a unique opportunity to explore who they are and become who they want to be.

In addition to my hardy endorsement, My Feet Aren’t Ugly has won several awards including: 2009 Mom’s Choice Award for Self-Improvement; Moonbeam Award for Best First Book Young Adult, Non-Fiction, Nautilus Book Award for Young Adult, Non-Fiction, and the USA Book News Best Book Award Winner.

***If your interested in purchasing My Feet Aren’t Ugly: A girls guide to loving herself from the inside out, you can pick up a copy in the Parenting Pink Amazon store.

Similar Posts:

• Falling Behind in School: How to help your daughter succeed
• Book Review: The Truth (I'm a Girl, I'm Smart, and I Know Everything)
• “So Sexy So Soon” must-read book if you have a daughter!
• 10 Tips for Teaching Your Daughter Relationship Smarts
• The Teashop Girls – a book girls can ‘get cozy’ with.