A book that highlights: friendship, family, & community.

“There’s no neighborhood like a Marianne Dubuc neighborhood — this time in an apartment building!

It’s a special day at 3 Maple Street. It’s Little Rabbit’s birthday! His mother makes him his favorite breakfast. His sister has drawn him a picture. And, best of all, he’s having a birthday party! His friends are invited, his father is decorating, and his mother is baking a cake. But that’s not the only thing going on at 3 Maple Street today. The Cat family is moving in upstairs… the Fox family is having a new baby… Mr. Owl is trying to sleep… there’s so much happening inside (and outside) this lively building, it’s hard to keep track!”

A book that highlights: friendship, diverse abilities, & kindness.

When Charley goes to the playground and sees Emma, a girl with limb differences who gets around in a wheelchair, he doesn't know how to react at first. But after he and Emma start talking, he learns that different isn't bad, sad, or strange--different is just different, and different is great!

This delightful book will help kids think about disability, kindness, and how to behave when they meet someone who is different from them.”

A book that highlights: friendship, social dynamics, & kindness.

“Piggy is throwing a party for his birthday. Everything is ready. He invited his friends, decorated the house, and made lots of delicious treats! But poor Piggy is so busy that the food is gone before he gets to enjoy a snack himself. What is he to do now? Luckily, his friends get creative, and, soon enough, Piggy joins in the celebration with a full belly!

A cheerful story about sharing, friendship, and creative thinking.”

A book that highlights: friendship, community, diversity, & acceptance.

“Elmo and his Sesame Street friends help teach toddlers and the adults in their lives that everyone is the same on the inside, and it's our differences that make this wonderful world, which is home to us all, an interesting—and special—place. This enduring, colorful, and charmingly illustrated book offers an easy, enjoyable way to learn about differences—and what truly matters. We’re Different, We’re the Same is an engaging read for toddlers and adults alike that reinforces how we all have the same needs, desires, and feelings.”

A book that highlights: friendship, acceptance, confidence, and community.

“Vlad is a vampire with the misfortune of having rosy cheeks that—gasp!—make him look abysmally alive. But being the fabulous vampire that he is (and hoping to avoid rejection), he hides his rosy complexion behind elaborate vampire outfits in traditional black. That is, until he finds out that his best friend has a pink secret of her own . . . With signature flair, Flavia Z. Drago offers a story about being yourself and finding your community, strikingly illustrated in a distinctive, detailed art style influenced by her Mexican heritage.”

A book that highlights: friendship, conflict, resolution, & adventure.

“The brave North African knight Morien is on a quest to find his father, who had set off on an adventure of his own and never returned. But every knight he meets wants to fight! At first, Morien is determined to best them all, until he meets some knights willing to quest with him. Together, they discover not only the importance of friendship, but also Morien’s long-lost father!”

A book that highlights: imaginative play, compromise, teamwork, & friendship.

“Can a pirate and a prince learn to share?

In the fort in the woods, a prince is preparing his castle for a lively feast for the royal kingdom. Unbeknownst to him, a pirate uses the same fort as her ship, planning to venture out to the open seas in search of treasure. But when a treasure map appears on the prince’s party invitations, and the pirate finds that her sword has turned into a scepter, they realize there is an intruder in the castle―no, ship! Soon, a battle over the fort between the adversaries ensues, leading to a humorous showdown. When they make amends, their amazing imaginations come up with a new adventure…together.”

A book that highlights: friendship & confidence.

“Bear has lots of friends if you count her toys, but she's note sure how to make real friends. And she especially wants to be friends with Koala and Lamb. They both have fluffy ears and like green things. What's a timid bear to do? Luckily, Bear discovers that friends don't have to all like the same things; they just have to find things they enjoy doing together. And Bear is great at that.

A story about making friends while keeping the qualities (and quirks!) that make you unique.”

A book that highlights: friendship, exclusion, social dynamics, & resilience.

“Cat and Bunny. Bunny and Cat. It's always been just the two of them—daydreaming, having adventures, playing their special game. Until the day someone else asks, "Can I play?"

Mary Lundquist captures all the charm and magic of first friendship in her winning debut picture book.”

A book that highlights: friendship, bullying, transition, & resilience.

“At his new school, quiet Rumi feels small and unwelcome, and a few kids bully him for being different and wearing bright shoes. He finds refuge beneath the old willow tree by the playground and builds his own world of hope and dreams of belonging.

One day, when Rumi is made a target again, one of his classmates bravely steps in to defend him. It’s in that moment of solidarity Rumi’s class finally realizes that under the shade of the willow tree, all are welcome, and they create a space they can all play in—together.”

A book that highlights: friendship, bossiness, & repair.

“Percival the King Penguin doesn’t think he’s asking for too much when he makes all the rules—he is a king after all. But he’s tired of the other penguins protesting, so he’s off to find subjects who are more obedient and supportive. But it won't be the seals. Or the whales. And definitely not the rude sardines.

As Percival gets chased away by every new group of potential subjects, he’ll have to learn how to put his best flipper forward and live in a community, not a kingdom.”

A book that highlights: friendship, neurodivergence, Down syndrome, & resilience.

“Mia likes many of the things other people like--going to the beach, the color blue, drawing. But she doesn't like when strangers stare at her because she looks different from them.

Down syndrome allows Mia to see and understand the world in a way that may not make sense to others. She considers it her superpower--and instead of it making her strange, she considers herself a masterpiece. As we all are.

In this sparkling picture book, Mia offers a glimpse into the life of a child with Down syndrome, helping some readers see themselves in a book and helping others understand those friends, classmates, and family members who are neurodivergent.”

A book that highlights: disappointment, flexibility, & friendship.

“This two-sided story, about expecting the unexpected and appreciating just being together, is a joyful delight, as is the unique format of the book itself. Each story ends in the middle, and the reader need only flip the book over to start again from the other friend’s point of view.”

A book that highlights: friendship, fitting in, & self-acceptance.

“Maurice isn’t like the other dragons—but will they learn to accept him just he way he is?

Maurice is different from the other dragons. He isn’t very scary, and he doesn’t like to breathe fire. In fact, what he loves most in the world is flowers! Being gentle and quiet doesn’t mean that Maurice can’t be bold and strong—but will the dragons accept him for who he really is? A touching story about friendship, being brave, and staying true to oneself.”

A book that highlights: limb differences, standing out, & friendship.

“Being singled out doesn’t always feel amazing.

In this authentic and humorous picture book, a child with a limb difference is tired of being told how amazing he is for doing normal things.

Joe and his friend Simone are practicing their best playground tricks, but everyone keeps saying how amazing Joe is, even when he tries to let Simone be the star. Will he ever get to be just Joe, whether he’s amazing or not?

This companion to What Happened to You? addresses the assumptions people make about those with disabilities in an accessible, honest, and funny way. Based on James Catchpole’s childhood experiences and written with his wife, Lucy, a wheelchair user, You’re SO Amazing! encourages young readers to think of disability the way disabled people do: as normal.”

A book that highlights: self-esteem, bullying, & kindness.

“Lola is a happy kid who loves recess and her imaginary dog, Tank. There’s just one problem: the neighborhood bully. He hides behind a troll costume and says mean things to everyone who walks by, including Lola. Soon she starts wearing her hair differently, walking on her tippy toes to add a few extra inches to her height, and even putting cornstarch in her shoes because he said her feet stink! But when Lola’s mom takes her to her favorite place, The Bee’s Sneeze bookstore, the owner, Ms. Sneesby, reminds Lola that she LOVES her curly hair, her bright smile, and her big eyes. And most importantly, Ms. Sneesby reminds Lola that she is brave.

Lola and the Troll is about remembering how to be brave, even when it’s hard, and realizing that sometimes all a bully really needs is a little kindness.”

A book that highlights: kindness, anti-bullying, empathy, & growth.

“Each kindness makes the world a little better.

This unforgettable book is written and illustrated by the award-winning team that created The Other Side and the Caldecott Honor winner Coming On Home Soon. With its powerful anti-bullying message and striking art, it will resonate with readers long after they've put it down.

Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.”