Different A great thing to be!

PreS-Gr 3--Embracing uniqueness can be challenging, especially when others are not so welcoming of difference. Macy is a young girl with spunk and spirit, often dancing to her own beat and investigating the world in unconventional ways. When other children see her behavior as outside their perceived norms, Macy feels left out, but that does not stop her from being brave and inspiring others to change their outlook. Digitally rendered illustrations tell Macy's story using vibrant and varied hues. Beginning with the stems of flowers and an assortment of vividly pigmented birds, the story progresses through Macy's world and incorporates color throughout, ultimately concluding with an assortment of blooming flowers. Macy herself has light skin, glasses, and reddish-brown hair cut with bangs. Children of various races, ethnicities, and abilities are depicted alongside Macy and enhance the message of embracing differences of all kinds. The text is carefully placed to highlight the story without obscuring the illustrations. Rhyming lines, though stiff and often didactic, introduce Macy and her struggles directly, and encourage readers to celebrate the innate beauty within themselves. The book's message is that being different is the one thing that unites everyone. VERDICT A colorful and inspirational tale of embracing and welcoming uniqueness in oneself and others.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

Scoot closer in and sit next to me, while I tell you the story of my friend Macy. She can swim underwater, balance on logs. She can whistle (almost). She has a pet dog. She reads books and jumps high like kangaroos do. She takes hip-hop class and prefers to wear blue. She's a fun-loving kid, much like you and me, but she's also quite Different, a great thing to be! Excerpted from Different--A Great Thing to Be! by Heather Avis All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.