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Different--A Great Thing to Be!

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This joyful rhyming book encourages children to value the “different” in all people, leading the way to a kinder world in which the differences in all of us are celebrated and embraced.

Macy is a girl who’s a lot like you and me, but she's also quite different, which is a great thing to be. With kindness, grace, and bravery, Macy finds her place in the world, bringing beauty and laughter wherever she goes and leading others to find delight in the unique design of every person.

Children are naturally aware of the differences they encounter at school, in their neighborhood, and in other everyday relationships. They just need to be given tools to understand and appreciate what makes us “different,” permission to ask questions about it, and eyes to see and celebrate it in themselves as well as in those around them.
© Sami Lane
Heather Avis is founder and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, a social awareness brand on a mission to make a more inclusive and loving world with an emphasis on shifting the Down syndrome narrative. She runs The Lucky Few's hit Instagram account and is the author of a book and co-host of the podcast by the same name. Previously she worked as an education specialist teaching high school students. Heather lives in Southern California with her husband, Josh, and their three kids Macy, Truly, and August. View titles by Heather Avis
Scoot closer in and sit next to me, while I tell you the story of my friend Macy.

She can swim underwater, balance on logs.

She can whistle (almost). She has a pet dog.

She reads books and jumps high like kangaroos do.

She takes hip-hop class and prefers to wear blue.

She’s a fun-loving kid, much like you and me,

but she’s also quite Different, a great thing to be!

Educator Guide for Different--A Great Thing to Be!

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

"Each page of this book is a beautiful work of art. Macy can do many everyday things but sometimes she is a little quiet, and other times she is not. People don’t always understand her, but with her bright heart, she manages to convince them that being different can be OK. A wonderful book to share with little ones, and open discussions about equality, kindness, being true to yourself and accepting others who are not exactly like you."
Barbra Hesson, Calgary Herald

Different—A Great Thing to Be! - Read Aloud With Author Heather Avis | Brightly Storytime Together

About

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This joyful rhyming book encourages children to value the “different” in all people, leading the way to a kinder world in which the differences in all of us are celebrated and embraced.

Macy is a girl who’s a lot like you and me, but she's also quite different, which is a great thing to be. With kindness, grace, and bravery, Macy finds her place in the world, bringing beauty and laughter wherever she goes and leading others to find delight in the unique design of every person.

Children are naturally aware of the differences they encounter at school, in their neighborhood, and in other everyday relationships. They just need to be given tools to understand and appreciate what makes us “different,” permission to ask questions about it, and eyes to see and celebrate it in themselves as well as in those around them.

Author

© Sami Lane
Heather Avis is founder and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, a social awareness brand on a mission to make a more inclusive and loving world with an emphasis on shifting the Down syndrome narrative. She runs The Lucky Few's hit Instagram account and is the author of a book and co-host of the podcast by the same name. Previously she worked as an education specialist teaching high school students. Heather lives in Southern California with her husband, Josh, and their three kids Macy, Truly, and August. View titles by Heather Avis

Excerpt

Scoot closer in and sit next to me, while I tell you the story of my friend Macy.

She can swim underwater, balance on logs.

She can whistle (almost). She has a pet dog.

She reads books and jumps high like kangaroos do.

She takes hip-hop class and prefers to wear blue.

She’s a fun-loving kid, much like you and me,

but she’s also quite Different, a great thing to be!

Guides

Educator Guide for Different--A Great Thing to Be!

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Praise

"Each page of this book is a beautiful work of art. Macy can do many everyday things but sometimes she is a little quiet, and other times she is not. People don’t always understand her, but with her bright heart, she manages to convince them that being different can be OK. A wonderful book to share with little ones, and open discussions about equality, kindness, being true to yourself and accepting others who are not exactly like you."
Barbra Hesson, Calgary Herald

Media

Different—A Great Thing to Be! - Read Aloud With Author Heather Avis | Brightly Storytime Together

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