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Being Different

My Cousin Momo

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Submitted by Mr. Eric!

My Cousin Momo by Zachariah O’Hora. Momo is kinda odd. He’s a flying squirrel that is too shy to fly in front of people. He wears weird clothes (red sweaters with weird sweatbands?!) and doesn’t play games like all of the other squirrels do. He’s from the city, so he does things a little differently, but still… weird is weird. At first his cousins are totally excited to hang out with Momo (I mean, he’s a flying squirrel! How cool is that!?), but after a while they decide that he’s not cool at all. But maybe, juuuust maybe, Momo is a little cool, just a different kind of cool from the rest of us. My Cousin Momo is a story all about how even though a person may look or act differently from yourself, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They might just be doing their own thing, and that’s kinda the coolest thing a person can do. See this book listed in our catalog

Matilda and Hans

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Matilda and Hans by Yokococo. Matilda is a good cat. Hans is a naughty cat! Matilda is always quiet and well behaved. Hans is always loud, and ALWAYS up to something. They couldn’t be more different! One night, Hans breaks into the zoo, and sets all of the animals free to wreak havoc all over town. He must be stopped. The police offer up a reward to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the mischievous Hans. Kind-hearted Matilda tells the police she knows EXACTLY where they can find Hans. That night the police apprehend that ne’er do well Hans! Suddenly Hans removes his disguise to reveal… Matilda?!?!? “Can I have the reward now please?” she asked very sweetly, and promised that Hans would be very good from now on. If your child likes a good whodunit mystery, they’ll be sure to enjoy the intriguing Matilda and Hans! See this book listed in our catalog

It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

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Submitted by Ms. Brenda!

It’s Okay to Make Mistakes by Todd Parr sends a great message to everyone reading it. With a “mistake” on the left side of each two-page spread, and the resulting “fix” on the right, mistakes are shown to be normal, everyday parts of life. Each “fix” also sends a positive message that all kids can benefit from hearing. It’s okay if you are clumsy; you might invent a new move! The story, itself, can be added to with as many “Uh-Oh” situations and solutions that large groups or single readers can come up with. The illustrations are bold and colorful and bring humor to each little oops throughout the book. It’s okay to read this book! See this book listed in our catalog

Little Elliot, Big City

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Submitted by Ms. Jill!

Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curato. Little Elliot is a small, polka-dotted elephant who lives in a big city. He loves his urban home, but his tiny size presents problems: Little Elliot is jostled in big crowds, and struggles to reach things like door handles, sinks, and the top shelf of his own refrigerator. With creativity and a can-do attitude, Little Elliot finds ways to work around most challenges, but his biggest problem as a small elephant is simply to be noticed. Cab drivers never see him waving, and when he tries to buy cupcakes, the bakery workers can’t see him over the high counter. Sad and cupcake-less, Little Elliot gives in to despair and starts home. Along the way, he meets a mouse and realizes that this smaller creature’s problems are much bigger than his own… and that he, Little Elliot, is big enough to help! By working together, Little Elliot and Mouse take on the Big City and finally get what they want… and need. Curato’s lovely pencil drawings, digitally colored, show the tiny pachyderm hero making his way in a bustling 1940’s cityscape, alone and self-sufficient in his small apartment (where strategically placed cushions and book stacks help him manage chores and mealtime), or just barely peeking over too-high countertops. Small children, vertically-challenged grownups, and anyone who’s ever felt overlooked will find a kindred spirit in Little Elliot, and cheer when triumph makes him finally feel like the tallest elephant in the world! See this book listed in our catalog

Gaston

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Gaston, by Kelly DiPucchio, with illustrations by Christian Robinson, is a gripping tale of two puppies SWITCHED AT BIRTH. Mrs. Poodle, a perfectly sensible French Poodle notices one of her puppies is not like the others. Gaston grew much bigger than a teacup, he “RUFFS” when his siblings “yip yip,” he’s not particularly graceful, and he doesn’t look particularly pretty in pink. But Mrs. Poodle loves him all the same. One day she’s showing off her pups at the park when they run into a family of French Bulldogs. Mrs. Bulldog notices one of her pups, Antoinette, bares more than just a striking resemblance to the Poodles. “It seems there’s been a terrible mistake,” she remarks, and Mrs. Poodle responds with a “Oui oui.” So Gaston and Antoinette trade places. But it just doesn’t feel right. To anyone. Gaston may be a Bulldog, but he was raised by Mrs. Poodle to be precious like a Poodle. And Antoinette may be a poodle, but she was raised by Mrs. Bulldog to be brawny like a Bulldog. So they trade back. And it feels right. From then on, the Bulldogs and the Poodles would meet every day to play. The Poodles taught the Bulldogs how to be tender, and the Bulldogs taught the Poodles how to be tough, and when Gaston and Antoinette fell in love and had pups of their own, they taught them to be anything they wanted to be. See this book listed in our catalog

Froodle

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Submitted by Ms. Sara!

At the beginning of Froodle by Antoinette Portis all the animals in the neighborhood are making their usual sounds. The dog woofs, the cat meows, the crow caws, the dove coos, and the red bird chirps. The little brown bird always peeps, but one day, she just doesn’t feel like it. She wants to say something more fun… so she does! The other neighborhood birds soon join in the silliness and find their own voices. Little brown bird shows the neighborhood birds that they can be who they are, instead of who others think they should be. The animal sounds make this an excellent story to read aloud. Both kids and grown ups will enjoy creating new silly sounds for each bird. Portis includes some fun word play, and the illustrations are engaging and entertaining. See this book listed in our catalog