Book cover of Be You

Be You!

Karl Newson and Ela Smietanka

For readers aged 3-7, this joyful picture book features rhyming text and a bouncy rhythm which grown-ups will love reading aloud. With an empowering message, the reader is encouraged to be true to themselves, whoever they are and however they are feeling.

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Book cover of A Little Bit Different

A Little Bit Different

Claire Alexander

Meet the ploofers. They’re going to do something together, all the same, all at the same time – but wait! Who did that? Who was different? A simple and joyful story about accepting and celebrating our differences.

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Book cover of Dare to be You

Dare to Be You

Matthew Syed and Tob Triumph

Drawing examples from sport, science and even business, ‘Dare to Be You’ empowers young readers to follow their own path, love what makes them different and question the world around them. When you stop doubting yourself, embrace change and let your kindness loose, you become your own action hero.

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Book cover of The Same But Different

The Same But Different

Emer O’Neill and Debby Rahmalia

Little Emer doesn’t like it when she’s teased for having brown skin and fuzzy hair. She wishes she could look like everyone else. But with a little help from mum, Emer soon learns that we’re all the same but different – and life is better that way!

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Book cover of Being Me

Being Me: Poems About Thoughts, Worries and Feelings

Liz Brownlee and Matt Goodfellow

Read about the Land of Blue, where it’s OK to feel sad, find ideas for what to do with worries or how to slow down when your head is full of hurry. Give yourself time to chill out, find quiet voices in noisy places and discover kindness in yourself and others. Then maybe your own special thought machine will tell you, ‘This is going well. You’re doing great. You’ve got this!’ And you have! This important and unique anthology of over 40 poems by three leading poets, well known for their empathy and perception, speaks to the heart of what children think and care about, offering understanding, support and encouragement.

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Book cover of Is That Your Mama

Is That Your Mama?

Patrice Lawrence and Diane Ewen

Every family is different. Every family is special. Josie loves her family. Her mum, dad, brothers and sister – they’re all the best and they all look different. A beautiful, moving celebration of what it truly means to be family, from the brilliant new picture book duo Patrice Lawrence and Diane Ewen.

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Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different

Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different

Ben Brooks

Boys will be boys and girls will be girls – or so the meaningless saying goes. Because what if you’re a girl and you like cage fighting? Or you’re a boy and you love ballet? And what if you’ve always dreamed of being a scientist but you can’t see anyone who looks or sounds like you, and who has left a legacy – in the form of microscopes and Bunsen burners – for you to follow?

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Book cover of My Shadow is Purple

My Shadow is Purple

Scott Stuart

My Dad has a shadow that’s blue as a berry, and my Mum’s is as pink as a blossoming cherry. There’s only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it’s both and it’s none. A heartwarming and inspiring book about being true to yourself, by best-selling children’s book creator Scott Stuart. This story considers gender beyond binary in a vibrant spectrum of colour.

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Book cover of See What I Can Do

See What I Can Do!

Jon Roberts and Hannah Rounding

Jon Roberts relates the real-life experiences of children with a variety of differences through their own words in this gently-told but immensely informative picture book.

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Book cover of New In Town

New in Town

Marta Altés

This dog may be alone and without a home, but he’s excited and ready to embrace a new life in a new town – and everyone in it! This town is a busy, vibrant place but sometimes it’s hard being new and feeling different. Who will embrace him back? A big-hearted celebration of kindness and human connection, from the award-winning creator of ‘Little Monkey’. Rich in detail and meaning, with beautiful artwork, this uplifting story is ideal for any child facing a new or daunting situation.

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Book cover of The Same But Different Too

The Same But Different Too

Karl Newson and Kate Hindley

These children and animals are all very different to each other. Some are big, some are small. Some are gentle, some are rough. Everyone is playful, but who’s the best at hiding? But one thing’s certain: they all love a good bedtime story! The perfect picture book for little ones who are just beginning to make sense of their place in the world.

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Book cover of A World For Me and You

A World for Me and You

Uju Asika and Jennie Poh

Imagine a world where everyone looks identical, where all food tastes the same, where we all speak the same language. A world that is – well, pretty boring. But with an explosion of colour, the pages soon come to life. This joyful picture book encourages children to imagine the world as a vast library, with room on the shelves for everybody’s story. It is a celebration of our incredibly diverse world as it really is: home to 195 countries with thousands of different cultures, 10 million colours and 4,300 religions.

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Book cover of I Am You Are

I Am, You Are

Ashley Harris Whaley and Ananya Rao-Middleton

‘I Am, You Are’ is a powerful, practical book to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability and ableism. This book was written by disability activist Ashley Harris Whaley to support children, parents, teachers and carers, by explaining what disability is and why it should be celebrated.

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Book cover of Break the Mould

Break the Mould

Sinéad Burke and Natalie Byrne

Sometimes it can seem like the world isn’t built for you or like you don’t belong. But why should you change who you are for the sake of others? From the power of being different and discovering things you love about yourself, to using your voice to be an ally and show friendship to others, it’s time to break the mould and find your place in the world.

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Book cover of Perfectly Weird Perfectly You

Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You

Camilla Pang

Did you know that: finding your confidence is a lot like programming a computer? Understanding photosynthesis can teach you about following your passions? Peer pressure and Isaac Newton have more in common than you might think? Well, welcome to Dr Camilla Pang’s scientific survival guide to growing up! As a child Camilla loved patterns and putting things in order. She was obsessed with Stephen Hawking. And the only language she really understood was science. Diagnosed with autism age 8, Camilla saw the world very differently. But with science as her sidekick, she was able to translate ideas she could understand (like gravity, photosynthesis and algorithms) onto things she couldn’t (like peer pressure, emotions and finding your voice).

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Every Body

Every Body

Molly Forbes and Mollie Cronin

We all have a body. They don’t always function the same as other people’s. And they certainly don’t all look the same. But one thing is certain – every body deserves respect. This is an essential guide to embracing and respecting all bodies, for readers aged 9+. Sometimes social media can make us feel like we’re not good enough if we don’t have a ‘perfect’ body. But the truth is, everyone feels bad about their bodies sometimes – even celebrities with millions of followers. Author and campaigner Molly Forbes is here to show you that you – and ONLY you – get to decide how you feel about your body. And if we want to change the conversation around body image, we need to advocate for every single body – including those that look or function differently from our own. It’s time to stop criticising the way we look, and celebrate all our glorious differences!

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