DS lacks confidence - any tips/book recommendations?

[lolpop]

My DS (5yrs 9 months) really lacks confidence and is finding school really overwhelming. He's worrying about going in to class 3 (he's only in class 1 at the mo!), says there are too many people at school (about 100 children I think) and is developing some sort of food phobia too, which I think is connected but is really enough to fill another thread.
Just wondered if anyone had any ideas about how to boost his self-confidence and make him more ready to try new things. We really encourage and praise him when he's done well (and his teacher says he's getting on really well his school work), not sure what to do.
I've seen some books on amazon about 'Raising confident children'; does anyone have any experience of whether reading one might help?
Sorry this is so long, thanks for reading!

For fun the Horrid Henry books are good to read to them, they are easyto 5yr olds to understand and eventually he will be able to read on his own.

The main thing is they are about small children with kids squirks etc. There is 'Horrdi Henry' and his brother 'Perfect Peter'. Amusing and insightful into how children see things and they can have fun listening while you read to them.

Covers school trips, the horrid dinner lady and other things. Good series of books for girls and boys. Check out ebay or library.