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