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All Families Are Special

2003

by Norma Simon and Teresa Flavin

"No two families are the same, but every family is special. When Mrs. Mack says she will soon be a grandmother, her students realize that teachers have families just like they do! Suddenly everyone in the class wants to share information about his or her own unique family. Sarah tells of flying to China with her parents where they adopted her sister, Rachel. Christopher tells about his parents' divorce. They are still a family, but now he and his brother spend a few days every week at their dad's apartment. Nick lives with his parents, five siblings, and his grandparents―they need to order three large pizzas for dinner! And Hannah tells how she loves to garden with her two mommies." -- publisher

Any Child

Calvin

2021

by JR Ford, Vanessa Ford and Kayla Harren

"In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time. Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: "I'm not a girl," he tells his family. "I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain." Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he's always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he's always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he's nervous and the "what-ifs" gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his "what-ifs" begin to melt away. Inspired by the authors' own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message: all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed." -- publisher

Any Child

Lenny and Wilbur

2019

by Ken. Wilson-Max

"Lenny and Wilbur the dog are the best of friends. They do everything together! Lenny makes sure that Wilbur has enough to eat and drink, he also brushes Wilbur’s golden fur. Wilbur just makes Lenny giggle and laugh!" -- publisher

Any Child

Where’s Lenny?

by Ken. Wilson-Max

"Home time is never dull – there are chores to do and games to play! Mom and Dad search everywhere for Lenny in this hide-and-seek story." -- publisher

Any Child

Secret, Secret Agent Guy

2021

by Kira Bigwood and Celia Krampien

"Send little spies to sleep with this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek lullaby set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Dear Fellow Agents: Your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to join Secret, Secret Agent Guy on his bedtime assignment, code name: Operation Lollipop. Equipped with night-vision goggles, a jetpack, and grappling hook, he is prepared for every eventuality...or is he? Will this 007-year-old complete his covert quest, or will he be outsmarted by an adversary he never saw coming?" -- publisher

Any Child

Not in that Dress, Princess!

2021

by Wendy Meddour and Cindy Wume

"In a spirited challenge to gender stereotyping, Princess Bess shows that THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN’T DO IN A DRESS! Once there was a girl called Bess who hated being a princess...For while her brothers can do anything they want, the princess is stuck inside the palace in her dress. "Can I climb a tree?" "NOT IN THAT DRESS!" But..."Just watch me" says the princess, she skips up a mountain, dances with a wizard, flies a plane, meets wild animals - and proves to everyone that THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO IN A DRESS!" -- publisher

Any Child

We Are All Under One Wide Sky

2021

by Deborah Wiles and Andrea Stegmaier

"We all live on the same planet and are part of one human family. In We Are All Under One Wide Sky, Deborah Wiles beautifully weaves together images from the natural world in a lovely, lyrical poem. Andrea Stegmaier’s fresh and captivating illustrations feature children from around the globe and celebrate different architecture, landscapes, and activities. By the end of the book, children will have internalized the message that although we are from different places, we are the same in so many ways. What we have in common is what is most important—family, laughter, love, nature, and friendship. We all share the same wide sky. We Are All Under One Wide Sky is a peace anthem with a timely and important message for children: to both celebrate diversity and embrace how much we all have in common." -- publisher

Incidental

Dream Big, My Precious One

2021

by Jill R. Lord and Brittany E. Lakin

"Celebrate the hopes and dreams you have for your little one with this rhyming picture book that inspires children to dream big, work hard, and trust in God. In Dream Big, My Precious One, a narrator wonders what a young child will enjoy as he or she grows up—sports, art, music? The narrator imagines all of the incredible things the child could become, from "a doctor or zoologist, a nurse or archaeologist" all the way to "a preacher sharing God's good news, a captain on a sailing cruise, a vet to cure sick kangaroos!" Upbeat and playful, this book will inspire children to passionately pursue their dreams, knowing that God will be with them every step of the way." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Incidental

A Flood of Kindness

2021

by Ellen Leventhal and Blythe Russo

"Perfect for all children experiencing loss or grief, A Flood of Kindness gracefully confronts difficult feelings and celebrates the healing power of kindness. 'The night the river jumped its banks, everything changed.' So begins A Flood of Kindness, a poignant picture book that addresses grief and loss and demonstrates how kindness can bring hope. Written in spare prose and told from an intimate first-person point of view, the story follows Charlotte, a young girl who watches floodwaters rise in her home and is forced to evacuate to a shelter with her parents. Kind people she doesn't know give her food, socks and shoes to keep her feet warm, and a place to sleep. As Charlotte adjusts to the shelter—a strange, crowded place that is not home—she grapples with feelings of anger and sadness. But as the days go by, Charlotte starts to realize how grateful she is for the things that she does have—her parents, a cot to sleep on, food to eat—and starts looking for ways to help others in the shelter. All children deal with sadness and loss in some way, whether it stems from a natural disaster, the death of a pet, or moving to a new place. A Flood of Kindness acknowledges those difficult feelings and helps readers process them in a healthy way. Children will be encouraged to be kind to those who need a friend and to help others in whatever way they can, no matter how small." -- publisher

Any Child

Darcy’s First Sleepover

2021

by Julie Fortenberry

"A gently reassuring picture book about the milestone of a first sleepover. Every night at home, Darcy brushes her teeth with strawberry toothpaste; she snuggles in bed with Little Cat; and she falls asleep to the sound of her dad washing the dishes. But tonight, Darcy is having her very first sleepover! Even though it’s at her cousin Kayla’s house, it still feels a little daunting. Kayla has peppermint toothpaste, a baby bear named Charlotte, and howling winds outside her window. Darcy misses her dad and her own cozy bedroom. Should she ask her aunt to take her home? With patience, mindfulness, and bravery, Darcy ultimately conquers her fears and savors the excitement of this new experience. A rewarding tale of quiet growth for fans of The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Wemberly Worries by Kevin Henkes." -- publisher

Any Child