Acceptance & Appreciation of Self and Others

Recommended reading:

PreK - 3rd Grade:

• Last Stop on the Market Street by Matt De La Pena (PreK-1st) (Appreciation for what surrounds you)
• It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (PreK-1st) (Being true to yourself)
• Imogene's Antlers by David Small (PreK-1st) (Appreciation of your differences)
• The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio (PreK-2nd) (Tolerance and Acceptance)
• I am Mixed by Garcelle Beauvais and Sebastian A. Jones (PreK-2nd) (Multiracial)
• Brave Irene by William Steig (PreK-2nd) (Resiliency)
• If you Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson (PreK-2nd) (The effects of kindness)
• Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (PreK-3rd) (Having confidence in yourself)
• Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne More (PreK-3rd) (Acceptance of self)
• Noah Chases the Wind by Michelle Worthington (PreK-3rd) (Autism)
• Daddy's Wedding by Michael Willhoite (PreK-3rd grade) (LGBTQ)
• Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman (PreK-3rd grade) (LGBTQ)
• My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis (PreK-3rd) (Unconditional love and tolerance)
• A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman (PreK-3rd) (Gender roles)
• My Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak (PreK-3) (Growth Mindset)
• Whoever You Are by Mem Fox (PreK-3) (Self-Love)
• I'm Like You, You're Like Me: A Book About Understanding and Appreciating Each Other by Cindy Gainer (PreK-3)(Acceptance)
• All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka (PreK-3) (Celebrate Diversity)
• I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont (PreK-4th grade) (Appreciation of self/Positive self-esteem)
• Courage by Bernard Waber (PreK-5th)(Courage)
• The Boy with Pink Hair by Perez Hilton (K-1st) (Acceptance, tolerance, understanding)
• Just Because by Rebecca Elliott (K-2nd) (Siblings with special needs)
• The Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon (K-3rd) (It is good to be true to yourself)
• The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz (K-3rd) (Celebrating differences)
• Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome by Clarabelle van Niekerk and Liezl Venter (K-3rd) (Asperger's)
• I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jenning (K-3rd) (Transgender)
• The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric (K-4th) (Teaching tolerance and giving others a chance)
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds (K-4th) (Make your own mark and see where it takes you)
• Fur is Only Fur Deep by Julia Schettler (K-4th grade) (International adoption, inclusion, and seeing past differences)
• When Kayla was Kyle by Amy Fabrikant (K-4th grade) (Transgender)
• Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite (K-5th) (LGBTQ)
• Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy (1st-4th) (Courage to be yourself)
• My Friend Has Down's Syndrome (Let's Talk) by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos (1st-4th) (Down's Syndrome)
• "Have You Met My Brother John?: A story about a little boy named Nicholas and his very special brother by Mary Potts (Children of all ages) (Autism)
• I am Human: A book of Empathy by Susan Verde (All Ages)

4th - 6th Grade:

• "Have You Met My Brother John?: A story about a little boy named Nicholas and his very special brother by Mary Potts (Children of all ages) (Autism)
• Courage by Bernard Waber (PreK-5th) (Courage)
• The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric (K-4th) (Teaching tolerance and giving others a chance)
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds (K-4th) (Make your own mark and see where it takes you)
• Fur is Only Fur Deep by Julia Schettler (K-4th) (International adoption, inclusion, and seeing past differences)
• Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite (K-5th ) (LGBTQ)
• My Friend Has Down's Syndrome (Let's Talk) by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos (1st-4th) (Down's Syndrome)
• Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy (1st-4th) (Courage to be yourself)
• Am I Blue?: Coming Out From the Silence by Marion Dane Bauer (3rd-6th) (LGBTQ)
• Asha's Mums by Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse (3rd-6th) (LGBTQ)
• Totally Joe by James Howe (3rd-6th) (LGBTQ)
• The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee by Barry Jonsberg (3rd-6th) (Autism)
• When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders by J. Patrick Lewis (3rd-6th)(Civil Rights Heroes)
• Wringer Jerry Spinelli (3rd-12th) (Resiliency)
• Backwards Day by S. Bear Bergman (4th-5th) (Transgender)
• Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin (4th-6th grade) (Asperger’s)
• Same Sun Here by Silas House (4th-7th) (Friendship developed from being penpals that inspires bravery and defeats cultural misconceptions)
• Wonder by R.J. Palacio (4th -7th) (A community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance).
• Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary (4th -7th) (The trials and triumphs of growing up)
• The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson (4th-7th)
• George by Alex Gino (4th-7th) (Transgender)
• Firegirl by Tony Abbott (4th-7th) (Empathy)
• Out of My Mind by Sharon Creech (5th-6th)(How a child with cerebral palsy doesn't let her disability define her)
• Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (5th-7th) (The concepts of being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family)
• The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall (5th-7th grade) (Friendship and redemption)
• Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz (5th-8th grade) (Understanding OCD)
• Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin (6th-12th) (An honest look at the life, love and struggles of transgender teens)
• The Asperkid's Secret Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens with Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer Cooke O'Toole (Asperger's) (5th-12th) (A tool that children who have Asperger's find helpful with many situation in life)

Middle and High School:

Disclosure: Some middle/high school readings contain language and/or sensitive topics that need previewing by school before given to youth.

• Wringer Jerry Spinelli (3rd-12th) (Resiliency)
• Same Sun Here by Silas House (4th-7th) (Friendship developed from being penpals that inspires bravery and defeats cultural misconceptions)'
• Firegirl by Tony Abbott (4th-7th) (Empathy)
• The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall (5th-7th grade) (Friendship and redemption)
• Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz (5th-8th grade) (Understanding OCD)
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (9th-12th) (Friendship, family, and discovering a sense of self)
• The Asperkid's Secret Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens with Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer Cooke O'Toole (Asperger's) (5th-12th) (A tool that children who have Asperger's find helpful with many situation in life)
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon (9th-12th) (Autistic)
• Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena (9th-12th) (A story of friendship, acceptance, and the struggle to fine your identity in a world of definitions)
• Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (9th-12th) (The trials and triumphs of growing up)
• Luna by Julie Anne Peters (9th-12th)

Resources for all ages:

• Gratitude Activities and Tools for Students
• LGBTQ Inclusive Picture and Middle Grade Books
• Tip the Scale of Negativity Bias: 3 Kindness Practices for Your School