RESPECTING OTHERS
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? (James Catchpole, Karen George)
What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off?
A positive and ground-breaking picture book featuring Joe – an imaginative main character who loves to play and who has one leg. What Happened To You? (Faber and Faber, 2021) aims to inform and educate non-disabled children about disabilities by acknowledging the challenges Joe faces… and the questions. One question in particular – what happened to you?
James’ text balances humour and message brilliantly. Karen’s characterful illustrations evoke childhood and the joy of imaginary play. And at the end of the story, the children in the book decide they don’t need to know what happened to Joe’s leg to play with him, and everyone is happy with that.
I DEFINITELY DON'T LIKE WINTER (Fiona Barker, Christine Pym)
Hank and Hoog are the stars of I Definitely Don't Like Winter (Scholastic, 2022) two adorable squirrels that are the best friends ...at least until winter draws near. Then, rather than doing everything together, they disagree on everything instead.
Hank is so annoyed! Falling leaves mean winter is coming, and Hank definitely does not like winter. BRRRRRRR!
But Hoog is overjoyed! Hoog loves winter - the snow, the snuggles, all of it! AHHHHHHH!
This wonderful wintry book is written in warm, fun prose by Fiona Barker and stunningly brought to life by Christine Pym. The story follows Hank and Hoog as they put their differences aside, agreeing on one important thing - they definitely need each other. As with all good friendships, they learn the importance of empathy - learning to see things from each other's point of view - and compromise.
A great book that could help readers navigate relationships with friends when they disagree.
FRANK AND BERT (Chris Naylor- Ballesteros)
In Frank and Bert (Nosy Crow, 2022), Chris Naylor-Ballesteros introduces us to an irresistible duo: Frank, a clever fox, and Bert, a big-hearted but silly bear. In this story, Frank and Bert decide to play a game of hide-and-seek, and Bert is determined to finally outwit his friend and find the perfect hiding spot. The only problem? Bert’s hiding skills are about as subtle as a giant bear’s can be.
The book’s charm lies in the gentle humour of Bert’s hiding attempts, as he tries (and hilariously fails) to stay out of sight. Frank, in turn, shows kindness and patience by pretending not to see his friend’s less-than-perfect hiding spots, giving Bert the confidence boost he needs. The narrative cleverly explores the idea of being a good friend - even when it means letting someone else win sometimes.
The illustrations, filled with expressive characters and delightful details, perfectly capture the light-hearted, playful spirit of the story. In the end, Frank and Bert learn friendship is about more than just winning games. It’s about cheering each other on, embracing each other’s quirks, and having fun together.
FRANK AND BERT: The One Where Frank Learns To Ride a Bike (Chris Naylor- Ballesteros)
Frank and Bert (Nosy Crow, 2023) are delightful characters that capture the spirit of friendship, persistence, and the joy of trying something new. Frank, the confident fox, and Bert, his slightly clumsy bear friend, embark on a playful journey learning how to ride a bike. While Frank’s patience and Bert’s determination are put to the test, the story highlights the importance of encouragement, resilience, and, most importantly, enjoying the journey together.
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros brings humour and warmth to each page, with endearing illustrations and funny dialogue perfectly suited for young readers. The book subtly conveys lessons about teamwork and perseverance, as Frank’s encouragement helps Bert find his confidence and balance. This story models how to treat a friend and shows readers that adventures are better when they are shared.
THE SUITCASE (Chris Naylor-Ballesteros)
The Suitcase (Nosy Crow, 2020) is a simple but inspiring story to start conversations about respect with young children. With everyone, in fact. A different-looking creature appears with a suitcase and the other animals in the story are uncertain about them. The creature has travelled for a long time and has come a long away. While the creature sleeps, the other animals break open their suitcase to find out more about them.
The economic speech and use of white space add to the poignancy of this story, and to the takeaway that we should treat newcomers people with empathy, kindness and respect.
THE LITTLE ISLAND (Smriti Prasadam-Halls, Robert Starling)
The Little Island (Andersen, 2019) is a timely and beautifully crafted story that uses animal characters to convey a big message about unity, kindness, and the importance of togetherness. Set on a small island inhabited by farm animals, a division occurs that separates the animals. But as challenges arise, the animals begin to realise that they need each other more than they first thought.
With thoughtfulness and warmth, this book explores complex themes like cooperation, tolerance and the drawbacks of isolation. It shows us how misunderstandings can lead to unnecessary conflict, and how coming together can solve even the trickiest problems.
Robert Starling’s illustrations bring extra depth to the narrative, creating a charming and colourful world. Together, the words and pictures are a gentle but powerful reminder of how much stronger we are when we respect each other’s differences.
WE DON’T EAT OUR CLASSMATES (Ryan T. Higgins)
Penelope Rex is excited but nervous for her first day at school. However, she’s surprised to find that her classmates aren’t dinosaurs like her – they’re children! Penelope can’t resist eating them (after all, they’re delicious), but her classmates don’t like being eaten and avoid her. Over time, Penelope learns that being a good friend means respecting others and controlling her impulses.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates is a humorous yet heartwarming story that highlights valuable social lessons about empathy, kindness and respect. The bright illustrations and relatable situations make it a fun and fabulous choice for young readers.
BRIAN THE LION WHO LEARNED (Frances Stickley, Chris Chatterton)
Brian The Lion Who Learned (Simon & Schuster, 2024) is a delightful rhyming picture book featuring Brian the lion - the mightiest, bitiest beast in the jungle - who overhears one day that the all the other animals are scared to stand up to him. He is King of the Jungle after all. When Brian doesn’t know how to change for the better, the other animals help:
“Listen,” says Mouse, “when we’re trying to speak, and don’t interrupt us or laugh at our squeak.”
Ask,” says Gnu, “if we all want to play, and if we say no – that’s our choice. That’s okay.”
“Be gentle,” says Sloth, “like the cubs and their mothers. Think about how what you do affects others.”
This is a warm, wise and thought-provoking story that will empower change and provoke discussion about respect, encouraging an awareness in young readers about how to treat others.
TROLL (Frances Stickley, Stefano Martinuz)
Meet Troll - an underground bully who learns the power of words and empathy - in this gently powerful picture book.
Each day, Troll shouts nasty warnings to passersbys… until he meets a rabbit who changes everything. The rabbit can’t hear and doesn’t understand Troll's bullyish behaviour. Suddenly, trolling isn't as much fun as it was before. Troll realises his mean words weren’t big or clever. In fact, they haven’t just been hurting others- they’ve been hurting him too.
And so, Troll decides to make a change, learning to use his words in a different way. The story follows his transformation from scary thug to kind friend, demonstrating to readers how powerful words can be when used to spread love.
Sometimes, it takes a special spark to light the kindness in the dark.
But who knows who or what you’ll find… …. when courage leads you to be kind.
A colourful, characterful and child-focused story with a positive anti-bullying message.