Buffalo Fluffalo Helps Students Build Self-Esteem Cathy Collier 2025

Buffalo Fluffalo is a fun story of understanding who you are and loving who you are. The author, Bess Kalb, wrote a delightful book, sure to be a favorite. I discovered this book through the VSLA Virginia Reader’s Choice Books for Primary Students. My love of this organization goes back to 2008 and I love being a Past President, Past Conference Chair, and member! Each year they roll out Virginia Reader’s Choice Books at the Primary, Elementary, Middle and High School levels. After reading hundreds of books, ten books are selected each year as standout books. These books are shared in schools across Virginia.

Several bloggers, including myself, are from Virginia and we are highlighting books from this list. There are links for reading about some other books on the list below.

Buffalo Fluffalo summary

I’m the Buffalo Fluffalo
I heave and I huffalo
Leave me alone because
I’ve had enuffalo.

Buffalo Fluffalo is about a BIG buffalo who is rude and mean and really quite gruffalo.
He stomps around proclaiming his superiority to the other dwellers of the prairie—the ram, the prairie dog, and the crow—who just want to be his friend. So Buffalo Fluffalo, who has had enuffalo, stomps off in a bad mood to be by himself.

Suddenly, he finds himself in a rain storm, all by himself. (I love the illustration of this…he wanted to be alone and now he is…even in the storm.) You won’t believe what happens when he is soaking wet. He’s no longer a fluffalo, but he’s a scrawny little pip-squeak! The other animals realize he’s really a SMALL animal in disguise. Buffalo is so sad when the other see him without his fluff because he thinks he’s not enough. Buffalo thinks he’s tiny and “missable.” As prairie dog says with a smile in his eyes, You’re great how you are, no matter your size and they say he’s “kissable.”

This is a classic story of self-doubt. You can’t feel bad about yourself and be good to others.

Buffalo fluffalo & self esteem

Helping children build positive self-esteem is essential for their emotional well-being, confidence, and overall success in life. Self-esteem shapes how they view themselves and their abilities, influencing their willingness to take on challenges and persevere through difficulties.

Encouraging self-worth begins with creating a supportive environment where children feel valued and accepted. Praising their efforts rather than just outcomes, teaching them to set realistic goals, and modeling self-compassion can all contribute to a strong sense of self.

When children feel capable and appreciated, they develop the confidence to explore, learn, and grow into resilient individuals.

Model Positive Self-Talk – Teach them to replace negative thoughts with encouraging, self-affirming statements.
Praise Effort, Not Just Results – Focus on the hard work and persistence rather than just the final achievement.
Encourage Independence – Let children make choices and solve problems on their own to build confidence.
Provide Opportunities for Success – Give tasks that are appropriately challenging so they experience achievement.
Teach Growth Mindset – Help them see mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures.
Celebrate Their Strengths – Acknowledge and nurture their unique talents and interests.
Create a Safe, Supportive Environment – Ensure they feel loved, heard, and respected at home and in school.
Encourage Helping Others – Engaging in acts of kindness boosts self-worth and a sense of purpose.
Promote Healthy Friendships – Help them build relationships with peers who uplift and support them.
Practice Gratitude – Encouraging a habit of gratitude fosters a positive outlook on life and self.

Buffalo Fluffalo Self-Esteem Activity

Help your students make Buffalo Fluffalo Feel good about himself. You can make a bulletin board by enlarging the picture of Buffalo Fluffalo. Give students a pair of lips and ask them to “kiss” Buffalo with a compliment.

(Of course, you should have a conversation about NEVER actually kissing someone who isn’t a family member and keeping your body to yourself.)

Each student gets a pair of lips (to be the kiss) and they should write a compliment to Buffalo on the lips. You can guide them with questions like: What can Buffalo do well? What makes Buffalo a good friend? What is a talent you think Buffalo has? Why are you friends with Buffalo? Once they have the compliment on the lips, they can place it on the bulletin board, as a kiss.

There is also an individual activity page where students can fill in what they would tell Buffalo and sign their name.

As a follow up activity, they could each get a smaller set of lips (copied on pink construction paper) and they would write something they are good at on that set of lips and pin it to their shirt for the day as a badge.

If you would like the FREE Buffalo Fluffalo Bulletin Board Activity, please fill out the form below and enjoy!

more books about self-esteem

Here’s a list of more picture books that help build self-esteem in young children. These books focus on confidence, self-worth, resilience, and embracing one’s uniqueness.

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi – A story about embracing your identity and being proud of who you are.
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell – Encourages kids to be confident and proud of their differences.
I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont – A fun, rhyming book that teaches self-love and confidence.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds – Promotes perseverance, creativity, and believing in oneself.

5. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae – A story about resilience, self-acceptance, and celebrating individuality.

6. You Matter by Christian Robinson – Reinforces that everyone is important and has value.

7. I Am Enough by Grace Byers – Encourages self-love, kindness, and confidence in oneself.

8. Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima – A story about belonging and embracing your unique qualities.

9. I Believe I Can by Grace Byers – Inspires children to believe in themselves and their abilities.

10. What If… by Samantha Berger – Encourages creativity, resilience, and self-expression.

11. Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds – A celebration of individuality and being true to yourself.

12. Brave Irene by William Steig – A story about determination and believing in your own strength.

13. Marvelous Me: Inside and Out by Lisa Bullard – Helps kids appreciate themselves and what makes them special.

14. Only One You by Linda Kranz – Encourages children to embrace their unique qualities and make a difference.

15. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin – A beautiful book about potential, self-worth, and possibilities.

Make sure to click the links below to check out some of the other great books for Virginia’s Readers Choice this year.

Silly Word Play with Buffalo Fluffalo

The silly rhyming pattern of the story adds the ending “-alo” to the end of words ending in /f/. You ask students to add that “-alo” ending to words you say. You could even read a sentence and add “-alo” to the word to make it fun.

For example, tell them they will add the ending to the word “stuff” in the sentence. Read the sentence, “Mom said I have to clean my room because I have too much…” and they respond “STUFFALO.” The sentences are definitely silly and you are sure to roll your eyes at some of the play on words. Check out the FREE resource for more sentences that make them giggle.