Picture books on individuality for children in preschool—second grade.
INCREDIBLE ME! / Kathi Appelt
A girl celebrates her own individuality, from her freckles to her wiggles.
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE? / Katya Arnold
A goose who envies other birds learns to appreciate her own qualities.
CLEVERSTICKS / Bernard Ashley
Wishing he had something to be clever at like each of the other children in his class, Ling Sung unexpectedly and happily discovers the others admire his prowess with chopsticks.
I LIKE MYSELF! / Karen Beaumont
A little girl expresses confidence and joy in her uniqueness.
CHOWDER / Peter Brown
Chowder the bulldog doesn't fit in with the other neighborhood dogs, but he sees a chance to make new friends at the local petting zoo.
ARTHUR'S NOSE / Marc Brown
Unhappy with his nose, Arthur visits the rhinologist to get a new one.
OTIS / Janie Bynum
Because he doesn't like mud, Otis is different from the other pigs.
THE MIXED-UP CHAMELEON / Eric Carle
A bored chameleon wishes it could be more like all the other animals it sees, but soon decides it would rather just be itself.
I'M GONNA LIKE ME : LETTING OFF A LITTLE SELF-ESTEEM / Jamie Lee Curtis
A young girl learns to like herself every single day, no matter what.
OLIVER BUTTON IS A SISSY / Tomie de Paola
His classmates' taunts don't stop Oliver Button from doing what he likes best.
OLIVIA / Ian Falconer
Whether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good.
ALFRED'S NOSE / Vivienne Flesher
Even though everybody loves him as he is, Alfred, a French bulldog, finds it hard to accept his unusual looks, especially his nose.
THE LITTLEST DINOSAUR / Michael Foreman
The littlest dinosaur thinks he is too small to do much of anything, until his family and neighbors are in trouble and need his help.
WHOEVER YOU ARE / Mem Fox
Celebrates the differences and similarities shared by people around the world.
WOOLBUR / Leslie Helakoski
Woolbur, a sheep with a mind of his own, never seems to follow the flock, despite his parents' reminders about how he should behave.
THE LITTLE MATADOR / Julian Hector
A young matador who would rather draw pictures than fight bulls finds a new way to entertain the townsfolk.
AMAZING GRACE / Mary Hoffman
Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace finds that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.
PURPLICIOUS / Victoria Kann
When her classmates make fun of her for still liking the color pink, a little girl feels all alone, but then a friend shows her the power of pink.
THE BEETLE BUSH / Beverly Keller
When Arabelle plants a garden, the only things she can grow are weeds, snails and beetles, but some people think it is the best garden of all. (j Er KELLER)
EDWARD THE EMU / Sheena Knowles
Tired of being an emu, Edward decides to try being like other animals at the zoo, but he soon discovers that being himself is the best of all. (j E-pb K)
LEO THE LATE BLOOMER / Robert Kraus
A tiger cub takes a while to catch up to his more accomplished friends.
NOODLE / Munro Leaf
When Noodle is granted a wish from the good dog fairy to be any size and shape desired, he decides to remain Noodle.
THE STORY OF FERDINAND / Munro Leaf
Ferdinand the Bull would rather just sit and smell the flowers than fight in the ring with a matador.
TACKY THE PENGUIN /Helen Lester
Tacky the penguin does not fit in with his sleek and graceful companions, but his odd behavior comes in handy when hunters come with maps and traps.
A COLOR OF HIS OWN / Leo Lionni
A little chameleon wants to have his own color like the other animals.
FREDERICK / Leo Lionni
Frederick the mouse stores up something special for the long cold winter.
SWIMMY / Leo Lionni
A little black fish in a school of red fish figures out a way of protecting them all from their natural enemies.
MARSUPIAL SUE / John Lithgow
A young kangaroo who longs to be a koala, a platypus, or anything except a kangaroo until she discovers the joy of being true to herself. (j CD Kit LITHGOW)
WIDGET / Lyn Rossiter McFarland
A small stray dog is accepted into a household full of cats by learning to "fit in", but when his mistress is hurt, he demonstrates that being a dog is not all bad.
FANCY NANCY / Jane O'Connor
A girl who loves fancy things helps her family to be fancy for one special night.
IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT / Todd Parr
Illustrations and brief text describe all kinds of differences that are "okay.”
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE / Marcus Pfister
Tired of their normal appearances, the animals want to look special for the big party but come to realize that they are special just the way they are.
THE BIG ORANGE SPLOT/ D. Manus Pinkwater
When a seagull drops a can of orange paint on his neat house, Mr. Plumbean gets an idea that affects his entire neighborhood.
ISH / Peter H. Reynolds
Ramon loses confidence in his ability to draw, but his sister gives him a new perspective on things.
STAR OF THE WEEK / Barney Saltzberg
Excited about being "star of the week" at school, Stanley spends a lot of time choosing and preparing his favorite things to share, but becomes discouraged when his classmates make fun of what he likes.
ALBERT & LILA / Rafik Schami
Albert, the only white pig on the farm, and Lila, a chicken too old to lay eggs, suffer the ridicule of their fellow animals until they join forces to defeat a hungry fox who comes to call.
A BAD CASE OF STRIPES / David Shannon
In order to ensure her popularity, Camilla Cream always does what is expected, until the day arrives when she no longer recognizes herself.
PEOPLE / Peter Spier
A nearly wordless picture book that celebrates the diversity of all the people on Earth. (j 155.2 Spi)
THREE PEBBLES AND A SONG / Eileen Spinelli
As his mouse family endures a long, cold winter, Moses's contributions of a dance, a juggling act, and a little song prove more useful than he had supposed.
HI, HARRY! / Martin Waddell
A tortoise tries to find someone who will play with him at his own speed.
HOP JUMP / Ellen Stoll Walsh
Bored with just hopping and jumping, a frog discovers dancing.
ODD VELVET / Mary E. Whitcomb
Velvet, who dresses differently from the other girls and does things which are unusual, teaches her classmates that even an outsider has something to offer.
CROW BOY/ Taro Yashima
A shy little boy in a Japanese village school is ignored by his classmates until suddenly--almost too late--a new teacher shows that Crow Boy had much to offer.
WILLIAM’S DOLL / Charlotte Zolotow
William’s father thinks William should play with ‘boy’ toys, but his grandmother explains William’s need for a doll “to hug and to cradle.”
Look for these and other great books at
The Children's Library
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15228