Envision a world where all people are accepted for who they are and not how they look.

April, one of my girlfriends from college whom I have always looked up to as a sweet blessing to our world, is mother to a super hero with Crainiofacial syndrome. Together they are working very hard to raise awareness of Craniofacial Acceptance Month.

Inspired by the book Wonder by R. J. PALACIO, a #1 New York Times Bestseller and listed on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, Random House launched an anti-bullying initiative called the Choose Kind Campaign.

In an effort to help children understand the wonder of our differences and importance of choosing kindness over bullying and ugliness, April and her friends have put together a Choose Kind Wish List for their school library. Families are invited to donate any of the books listed to help build the library. Each donated book has a nameplate for dedications and the books are even marked as “Choose Kind” books! This is such a brilliant idea.

Here is a list of children and young adult books that celebrate differences and encourage understanding, compassion, acceptance, empathy and inclusion.

The CHOOSE KIND Library Book List

1. Monday is One Day Levine, Arthur: (p-k) Working Parents; Family Differences
2. Mama Zooms Cowen-Fletcher, Jane: (p-1st) Wheelchairs
3. Moon Rabbit Russell, Natalie: (p-1st) Self-Acceptance; Unlikely Friendship
4. Just a Little Different Mayer, Mercer: (p-1st) Differences; Interracial Families
5. What’s Wrong with Timmy? Shriver, Maria: (p-1st) Down Syndrome
6. Skin Again Bell Books: (p-2nd) Race; Identity
7. Howie Helps Himself Fassler, Joan: (p-2nd) Cerebral Palsy
8. Clifford Vista el Hospital Bridwell, Norman: (p-2nd) Hospitalization
9. The Name Jar Choi, Yangsook: (p-2nd) Cultural Diversity; Self-Acceptance
10. Night Shift Daddy Spinelli, Eileen: (p-2nd) Socioeconomic Difference
11. How Kind! Murphy, Mary: (p-2nd) Good Deeds
12. What Can You Do?: Inspiring Kids to Play Haring, Kevin Arnold: 9p-2nd) Spina Bifida
13. I Accept You as You Are! Parker, David: (k-2nd) Acceptance of Difference
14. Dotty the Dalmatian has Epilepsy Peters, Tim and Epilepsy Foundation of America: (k-2nd) Epilepsy
15. Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed Pearson, Emily: (p-3rd) Kindness;Social Responsibility
16. Lost & Found Jeffers, Oliver: (p-3rd) Friendship
17. Alex & Lulu: Two of a Kind Siminovach,Lorena: (p-3rd) Friendship Despite Difference
18. Frog & Toad are Friends Label, Arnold: (p-3rd) Unlikely Friendship
19. How Full is Your Bucket? Rath, Tom: (p-3rd) Behavior, Emotions, Self-Esteem
20. Will You Fill My Bucket? McCloud, Carol: (p-3rd) Behavior, Emotions, Self-Esteem, Cultural Differences
21. My Mouth is a Volcano Cook, Julia: (p-3rd)Behavior, Emotions, Self-Esteem, Respecting Others, Manners
22. Diana Estubo en el Hospital Givaudan, Diana C.: (p-3rd) Hospitalization
23. Let’s Talk About It: Extraordinary Friends Rogers,Fred: (p-3rd) Disabilities
24. My Princess Boy Kilodavis, Cheryl: (p-3rd) Unconditional Love; Gender Roles; Acceptance
25. Zoom! Munsch, Robert: (p-3rd) Wheelchairs
26. I’m Just Small,That’s All Braithwaite, Karalee: (p-3rd) Dwarfism
27. Lee, The Rabbit with Epilepsy Moss, Deborah M.: (p-3rd) Epilepsy
28. No Fair to Tigers Hoffman, Eric: (p-3rd) Courage; Standing up to Injustice
29. Mixed Blessings Cosman, Marsha: (p-3rd) Interracial Identity; Multicultural Differences
30. The Lemonade Club Polacco, Patricia: (p-3rd) Cancer; Friendship and Support
31. My Brother Charlie Robinson, Holly and Ryan Elizabeth Pete: (k-3rd) Siblings of Difference; Autism
32. Ballerina Dreams Ferrara, Joann: (k-3rd) Overcoming Obstacles; Determination; Hope;Courage
33. My Brain Won’t Float Away Perez, Annette: (1st-3rd) Hydrocephalus
34. Stand in My Shoes Sornson Bob: (p-5th) Behavior, Emotions, Self-Esteem
35. Rosa Giovanni, Nikki: (p-5th) Differences; Race; Civil Rights; Courage
36. Imagine Me on a Sit-Ski! Moran, George: (1st-4th) Cerebral Palsy
37. What is Dyslexia? Hultquist, Alan M.: (1st-4th) Dyslexia
38. Nice Wheels Hooks, Gwendolyn: (1st-4th) Wheelchairs
39. Make Way for Dymonde Daniel Grimes, Nikki: (1st-4th) Self-Acceptance; Race
40. Children, Just Like Me Kindersley, Anabel & Barnabas: (k-6th) Cultural Diversity
41. Stretching Ourselves: Kids with Cerebral Palsy Carter, Alden R.: (k-6th) Cerebral Palsy
42. Can I Tell You about Dyspraxia? Boon, Maureen: (1st-6th) Dyspraxia
43. The Goodenoughs Get in Sync Kranowitz, Carol Stock: (1st-8th) Sensory Processing Disorder
44. The Barn at Gun Lake Tuitel, Johnny and Sharon Lamson: (3rd-6th) Cerebral Palsy
45. The Great Gilly Hopkins Paterson, Katherine: (3rd-6th) Fostercare
46. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson Lord, Bette: (3rd-6th) Race; Immigration; Cultural Diversity
47. The Lemonade War Davies, Jacqueline: (3rd-7th) Sibling Rivalry; Pride; Values
48. Hey World, Here I Am Little, Jean: (3rd-7th) Self-Awareness; Emotions
49. The Thing About Georgie Graff, Lisa: (3rd-7th) Dwarfism; Self-Confidence
50. Rules Lord, Cynthia: (3rd-7th) Autism; Siblings of Difference
51. Liesl & Po Oliver, Lauren: (3rd-7th) Depression; Friendship
52. The Great Unexpected Creech, Sharon: (3rd-7th) Friendship; Forgiveness
53. Bridge to Terabitha Paterson, Katherine: (3rd-7th) Friendship; Loss
54. Wringer Spinelli, Jerry: (3rd-7th) Peer Pressure; Character; Gender Roles; Bullying
55. Jacob Have I Loved Paterson, Katherine: (5th-9th) Self-Knowledge; Sibling Rivalry
56. Eleanor and Park Rowell, Rainbow: (7th-12th) First Love; Self-Acceptance; Individuality
57. Stargirl Spinelli, Jerry: (7th-12th) Individuality; Popularity
58. Maniac Magee Spinelli, Jerry: (7th-12th) Race; Orphan Identity; Defining Family
59. King and King de Haan, Linda and Stern Nijland: (3rd-5th) Diversity
60. The Sissy Duckling Fierstein, Harvey: (K-3rd) Diversity