Scribbleville by Peter Holwitz

Illustrated by 40 p., Philomel, 2005. Although people are often uncomfortable with others who seem different from themselves, they can learn to appreciate diversity. This is the story of the town of Scribbleville, where everyone is scribbled, even the dogs and cats. One day, a stick-straight man arrives and builds himself a perfectly straight house. Most of the scribble people shake their heads and talk about how the stranger doesn't belong. They worry that more straight people might move to town, and then "there'll be more of them than there are of us!" But one scribbled woman becomes the stranger's friend. As she says to another friend, "on the outside he's odd, but that's not where I look." Belying the other townspeople's "us vs. them" mentality, she becomes a little straighter, and he becomes a little more scribbly. A similar kind of change appears in others in Scribbleville, starting with its children. The (former) stranger and the woman marry. And the entire appearance of Scribbleville changes. It has become a place where "whoever you are, you'll fit in well." This delightfully-illustrated rhyming story conveys a positive message about the value of diversity and hope for change. Ages 4-8

Tissue, Please! by Lisa Kopelke

32 p., Simon, 2004. When you have a cold, it's important to learn to use tissues. Unfortunately for Frog and his friends, although both their classroom teacher and and their ballet teacher object to their sniffling and wiping their noses on their arms, neither offers an alternative. But Frog's parents have the answer: when he starts to sniffle in the middle of dinner, his father explains that that isn't polite and the table, and his mother gives him tissues. Frog discovers that when he blows his nose into a tissue, it feels great. So when his nose begins to run during his big ballet recital, one look from his teacher is all that it takes for him to remember to get a tissue. He incorporates blowing his nose into his dance move, inspiring his class. Both his teacher and the audience are pleased - and this begins a tradition of performing the "dance of the Tissue-Box Fairies." With its edgy, acrylic illustrations, this story may help make appropriate nose-blowing attractive to children. Ages 3-6

Flabbersmashed About You by Rachel Vail

Illustrated by Yumi Heo.32 p., Macmillan, 2012. It can be hurtful when your best friend wants to play with someone else. Katie has this experience when her best friend, Jennifer, would rather chase imaginary bad guys with Roy at recess than make imaginary soup with her. Katie feels lonely, hurt, angry, and "completely flabbersmashed." The children have to walk inside from recess with one buddy each, and Jennifer chooses Roy. But a quiet new girl, Arabella, chooses Katie.Katie feels accepted, and finds herself hopeful that she can have fun with Arabella. It's clear that this is a very different feeling from the lonely, angry, flabbersmashed feeling. The illustrations are energetic and evocative. This story offers children empathy for an important experience in their lives, and shows them that they can feel better. Ages 4-8

Skin Again by bell hooks

Illustrated by Chris Raschka.32 p., Hyperion, 2004. Our skin is only a small part of who we are. With eloquence and passion, this book tells us that in order to know one another, we have to look past skin, which, although it matters, is ultimately only a covering; and experience one another from the inside, with an open heart. We have to hear one another's stories of both the factual and the imagined. We have to see one another for who we really are, not who we expect one another to be. Vivid and dynamic, the illustrations show a range of skin tones, experiences of internal complexity, and connections between people. This books shows clearly how prejudice makes genuine connection impossible, and conversely, how genuine connection makes prejudice impossible. Ages 5-9