A new year always seems ripe with opportunity, and it’s not just adults who are eager to challenge themselves to achieve new things: children and teenagers are often ready to tackle new goals when the calendar rolls around to January.

These books will get children dreaming big dreams and will remind them that those dreams are always worth striving for, even if there are some bumps along the way.

• Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something that Matters by Laurie Ann Thompson. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Many people wish they could do something that would really change the world for the better, but it can seem hard to turn that desire to do good into reality.

This terrific guide will show young people how to take their passions and interests and turn them into an idea for a charity, social entrepreneurship company, or volunteer organisation that will help people across the street or around the globe.

After settling on a vision, the book also provides great advice on how to set up your group’s structure, seek adult guidance and mentorship, plan for expansion, and more.

• Express Yourself: a Teen Girl’s Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are by Emily Roberts MA LPC. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Many teenage girls feel the pressure to be “nice” and avoid labels such as “bossy” or “pushy”, but it’s hard to find and pursue your dreams if you don’t feel like you can be yourself.

With this guide from the Instant Help Solutions series, girls will learn how to have positive and assertive interactions with others.

They will obtain tips on how to boost their self-esteem and how to handle difficult emotions when conflicts arise. By developing their ability to speak with an authentic voice, girls will not only be able to dream big, they will be able to speak frankly and confidently about those dreams.