The Boy with Flowers in His Hair

Written by: Jarvis 

Why you should read this book: With simple, meaningful language and simple, colorful illustrations, the author conveys a vast allegory of meaning about what it is to be different, what it is to be accepting, and what it is to be a loving friend. A little boy is best friends with David, a child who is visibly unlike other children, but still happy and kind and well-liked. When his difference become more acute and less acceptable, his friend finds a way to make him happy, not by making him more like other kids, but by helping him feel more like himself.

Timothy Goes to School

Written by: Rosemary Wells

First line: Timothy's mother made him a brand-new sunsuit for the first day of school.

Why you should read this book: It's a story that recognizes the reality of verbal bullying in public school and, despite its cast of anthropomorphic animals, handles the situation realistically. Timothy the raccoon meets Claude, a much better turned out raccoon, on the first day of school, and immediately finds himself on the receiving end of a string of hurtful comments from a kid who seems to do everything better. At last he meets Violet, a rabbit who's just as annoyed by Grace, a more talented rabbit, as Timothy is by Claude, and their new friendship allows them to overcome their resentment and ignore their bullies.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You advocate violence.