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Book Club—Author's Readings

Special thank you to the authors for filming and sharing their book readings!

The Too Small Elephant

Written and Illustrated by Christine Lauren Callahan

Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8

Simple and bright, The Too Small Elephant empowers young readers to respond to the behavior of others with kindness and understanding. The story of Emmaline, a very small elephant, reveals that sometimes those choosing to hurt others are most in need of our kindness. It takes the brave words of a new friend to inspire Emmaline to face her insecurities. Will her friends forgive her?  Order from Amazon.


A Wrinkled Heart

Written by Tracy Hoexter, Illustrated by Lindy Burnett

Suggested Audiences: Pre-K through 3rd Grade

A Wrinkled Heart is a touching and delightful story about learning to be kind to others. Elliott, a young bunny, encounters some friends who hurt his feelings and his heart begins to wrinkle… until it's all wrinkled up! Later, his friends and family apologize for their hurtful words and try to take the wrinkles out. Readers learn the importance of kindness, friendship, and the Golden Rule. Where to order: http://www.awrinkledheart.com/


Metal Like Me

Written by D.W. Saur and Illustrated by Danielle Green

Suggested Audience: Middle School

Vinny is from a family of metal heads and like his parents, he's one too. As the years passed, the more Vinny realized that being different is not easy. He noticed people staring, whispering to themselves as he passed, and sometimes shouting insults. However, this did not get him down, and as he entered middle school, Vinny was determined to find friends who were metal like him. Join Vinny as he shares his story of understanding differences, coping, and perseverance. To read along with D.W., you can order his book on Amazon.


Being Small (Isn't So Bad After All)

Written by: Lori Orlinsky

Suggested Audiences: Pre-kindergarten and older

Being small is the worst! No one ever picks me for their sports team and my feet hurt from standing on my tiptoes all the time. There can't be anything good about being small...right? 

Being Small is a picture book about a little girl who is scared to go to school because she's the shortest kid in the class. She talks about all of the reasons that being short is a challenge, but her mother presents to her funny and unique advantages that only she has because of her height, instilling self-confidence in her. This rhyming picture book is a great way to introduce children to concepts of self-acceptance, self-confidence and bullying prevention.Being Small” is available for order on Amazon.


Katy Didn’t

Written by Johnny Cuomo. Illustrated by Benjamin Lowery

Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8

Sometimes other kids can make faces, whisper secrets, and laugh. But a good friend can make all the difference in the world, which is just what this new bug finds out on his first day of school when he meets Katydid. She's not like all the other bugs. She's welcoming, kind, and caring. When all the other bugs picked on the new kid . . . Katy didn't! A slice-of-life picture book young readers will relate to, but with a twist: The school in the story is set in the insect world! Order from Amazon.

Here’s a behind the scenes look from Katy Didn’t illustrator Benjamin Lowery.