Angol
Some days, Ziggy the Zebra wakes up feeling flat. No energy. No spark. No zest.
When the Great Plains Zoom Race is announced, Ziggy's body starts sending signals - a fluttery tummy, a fast-beating heart, heavy shoulders. He watches the other zebras zoom with confidence and whispers: "Maybe I'm not fast enough."
But wise Zara the Zen Zebra knows a secret. True confidence doesn't come from winning. It comes from knowing yourself.
Ziggy's Zest is a joyful, calming SEL story about anxiety, confidence and listening to your body - with playful Z sounds woven throughout to support phonics and early literacy.
What children will learn:
Why parents and teachers love this book:
Every page connects emotions to physical sensations - helping children develop interoceptive awareness, the ability to notice internal body signals like heartbeat, breathing and muscle tension. Research shows children with strong interoceptive awareness develop better emotional regulation, stronger self-awareness and reduced anxiety.
The story is grounded in the work of Dr Carol Dweck on growth mindset and Ryan and Deci's research on intrinsic motivation - but delivered through a zebra, a race and a warm savannah sunset.
Perfect for:
Watch the read-aloud on YouTube → https://youtu.be/rrDYj2E9KQc
Part of the Big Feelings, Little Bodies series - social emotional learning stories built around interoception and body awareness.
