Did You Know? A History of Thanksgiving Days

In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. But it was not always so, and the history of the chosen date for this holiday is rather convoluted. Here is the strange story.

In 1789, President George Washington became the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday when, at the request of Congress, he proclaimed November 26th, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the U.S. Constitution.

When Abraham Lincoln was president in 1863, he proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be our national Thanksgiving Day. 

In 1865, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the first Thursday of November, because of a proclamation by President Andrew Johnson, and in 1869, President Ulysses S Grant chose the third Thursday for Thanksgiving Day. 

In all other years, until 1939, Thanksgiving was celebrated again as Lincoln had designated, the last Thursday in November.

Then in 1939, responding to pressure from the National Retail Dry Goods Association to extend the Christmas shopping season, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday back a week, to the next-to-last Thursday of the month.

At the time, the president’s 1939 proclamation only directly applied to the District of Columbia and federal employees. While governors usually followed the president’s lead with state proclamations for the same day, on this year, 23 of the 48 states observed Thanksgiving Day on November 23rd while another 23 states celebrated on November 30th, and Texas and Colorado declared both Thursdays to be holidays. As a result, football coaches scrambled to reschedule games set for November 30, families didn’t know when to have their holiday meals, and calendars were inaccurate in half of the country.

After two years of confusion and complaint, President Roosevelt signed legislation establishing Thanksgiving Day as the fourth Thursday in November. Roosevelt, recognizing the problems caused by his 1939 decree, had announced a plan to return to the traditional Thanksgiving date in 1942, but Congress introduced legislation to ensure that future presidential proclamations could not affect the scheduling of the holiday.

Letter from Betty for October 2021

Hello Friends,

Many students have told me: "I don't like math" or "I'm not good at math." But I have seen many success stories when struggling students are given the right help. If your child is overly stressed or overwhelmed by math class, please take a look at our feature article for October, "How Your Child Can Overcome Math Anxiety."

Birds sing, church bells ring, drivers honk, and orchestras swell. Music is everywhere! But what reasons can we give to justify a place in a school's curriculum for music? Find a brief explanation in our bonus article for October, "Short Answers to Big Questions: Why Music?"

As always, we're tracking test dates and information for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE tests. So mark your calendar and check out all the details in our "Test Schedule for October 2021."

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for October 2021

Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.

SSAT
Registration for upcoming paper-based tests will be open after August 1st.

There are at-home SSAT test openings on October 22, 23, and 24.

ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org

All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.

How Your Child Can Overcome Math Anxiety

Does your child struggle with math anxiety? Here’s what you need to know.

Have you noticed that your child often has an increased stress level when completing math homework or studying for a math test? A little bit of stress may actually be a good thing, helping students be more productive and to strive to achieve, but math anxiety is more concerning. A child who struggles with math anxiety may make errors even when he knows how to work the problems, leading him to avoid doing math homework, and possibly causing him to lose interest in or avoid school altogether.

We don’t always know what causes math anxiety. For example, it could be that there was a bad experience with math, such as being called out in class for having a wrong answer, having to solve math problems at a chalk board in front of the class, or picking up a parent's math anxiety.

There are a number of ways parents can help reduce their child's math anxiety:

1 – Talk to your child to see if there’s an obvious cause for his worries. Was there an incident in school? Maybe an issue with getting a particularly bad grade? Your child may not even recognize the basis of his anxiety, but a conversation is a good place to start.

2 – Make sure that your child understands basic math concepts. This will give good groundwork and help him to feel more confident.

3 - Try to find the right level of challenge without working beyond his ability level so he doesn't get overwhelmed. Do recognize though, that some amount of stress is actually a good thing. It helps him to strive a little harder or a little longer, and he will feel a real sense of accomplishment when he reaches an understanding of the problems he is working on.

4 – Work together with your child’s teacher to find out what triggers the anxiety, to recognize behavior patterns, and to resolve these issues.

5 – Hire a tutor who will can work with your child, one-on-one, to grasp the concepts he's struggling with, or even to develop the learning strategies needed in order to overcome his particular struggle.

6 – Teach your child how to take effective notes while in class, to copy down any important problem-solving formulas, or any tips that his teacher shares. Reviewing these notes at the end of the day will reinforce what's been covered in school that day, a little at a time, rather than cramming all the information in before a test.

7 – When you’re helping your child with math homework, focus on the problem-solving process when a wrong answer is discovered, rather than focusing on the mistake. Let him know that you’ll figure out the problem together. Additionally, if you don’t understand the problem yourself, let him know that too. It may help him to know that you need to work to solve the problem!

8 – Watch how you talk about math. Is it a fun puzzle that you’re doing in order to come up with the answer? And make sure to avoid expressing your own math anxiety to your child. Don’t say, “I’m not good at math either.” This will not only increase anxiety, but will inadvertently tell him that you think he's not good at math. Express confidence that you can help to work out the problems and understand the concepts together.

9 – Play real-world math games. Have your child make change when shopping, figure out coupon discounts, help with cooking and baking activities, use fractions when measuring out ingredients or halving a recipe. There are many real-life math applications that are used every day, so take advantage of these moments.

Math anxiety can be a real challenge, but know that it’s also quite common. There are ways to work to overcome this struggle and should you want or need our services, Foundation for Learning is here to help. Just give us a call at 610-207-7811 and we'll work on this together!

Short Answers to Big Questions: Why Music?

Here's a big question: Why music? Here's one short answer: Because it relates to so much else.

Here is a slightly longer answer. Music contains the rhythms and divisions of math, the acoustics and frequencies of science, the styles and eras of history, the moods and emotions of art, the bodily coordination of physical education, the literacy of reading, the vocabulary of language, and the very beating of our hearts.

Letter from Betty for September 2021

Hello Friends,

How can a student best deal with completing difficult homework? The best way is to find coping methods that can minimize the "difficult" and clear the path for the "completing." For the parents of children who struggle with homework, we have a great feature article for September, "Homework Challenges and Strategies."

When the homework is done, why not sneak some learning into free time by enjoying a place where your child (and you) can doodle, explore, compose, puzzle, and play, by checking out our bonus article for the month, "You Can Do It! Toy Theater."

As always, we're tracking test dates and information for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE tests. So mark your calendar and check out all the details in our "Test Schedule for September 2021."

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for September 2021

Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.

SSAT
Registration for upcoming paper-based tests will be open after August 1st.

There are at-home SSAT test openings on September 17 and 18.

ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org

All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.

Homework Challenges and Strategies

Most children will face homework challenges from time to time, though some students struggle more than others. Since most families will have to deal with this struggle during this new school year, we thought we’d address the problem ahead of time and offer up some tips that might help.

Problem: Rushing to get it done
It could be that the work is boring, too repetitive, or that there’s something more fun to get to after a long day at school. But the problem with rushing is that parts of the assignment may be missed, that the work may be messy, or that there may be too many incorrect answers.
Strategy:
Try approaching the assignment in a different way, or break up the assignment into smaller bits just to mix things up.

Problem: Taking notes
Whether it’s an actual struggle with writing, reading, or issues with organization, note taking can be challenging.
Strategy:
Show your child how to use the outline method of note taking. To do this, the lesson is broken down into main ideas, then further broken down into subtopics and then details. You don't need to use Roman Numerals, just be sure to indent the subtopics and details. This is a clean and organized method which many find very useful.

Problem: Time management
Let’s face it, we’re all busy, have too much to do in our daily lives, especially during the school/work week. Your child’s week is no different so when faced with a big pile of homework to be done, they could use help budgeting their time.
Strategy:
Set a specific time and workspace for getting homework done. Plan for blocks of time to get the work done, but build break time in too. Twenty-five minutes on and then a five-minute break works well for many middle and high school students. Make and use checklists, because it feels great to cross off a task when an assignment is completed. You can also consider using a homework timer to help your child get a better sense of how much time they are spending on homework and to stay on track.

Problem: Lack of good study skills or effectiveness
Why is this a problem? Your child could actually be spending more time working away at assignments than is necessary.
Strategy:
Create a distraction-free study space. Encourage your child’s efforts by pointing out their strengths in order to give them confidence. Recognize their weaknesses or challenges and help them to find ways to adapt during homework time, include your child in the brainstorming of ideas. Help your child to prioritize, whether it’s starting with the easier work first or working with due dates in mind. Help your child to organize their work, and how to break assignments down into smaller steps.

Problem: Trouble with Recall
Some children will study hard, but when it comes time for the test, they can't recall what they learned during prep. This could be caused by an issue with working memory, inattention, or even test anxiety.
Strategy:
Different people have different learning styles (visual, written, auditory, etc), so try to make sure that you child's study strategies fits in with their personal/preferred style. Explore working memory boosters such as mnemonics and even muscle memory, when appropriate.

Problem: Trouble learning how to work independently
It’s important that your child knows that they can ask for help, but they will eventually have to be able to do the work by themselves.
Strategy:
Encourage your child to set realistic goals, and to think out loud while working on homework. Being able to meet those goals will help them to be more self-confident and will lead to more independence.

So, take a realistic look at your child’s challenges and strengths and try to create a personal study strategies that suit them. If, however, despite your best efforts, your child’s challenges need to be addressed by a professional tutor, contact Foundation for Learning.

You Can Do It! Toy Theater

We don’t often encourage screen time, but every once in a while we discover a website that is so awesome that we have to share. We spent some time poking around Toytheater.com and discovered a great site where your child (and you too!) can doodle, design, animate, explore, puzzle, compose, and play, all while learning new skills. Categories include math, reading, art, music, puzzles, and games. It’s spatial reasoning, memory building, deduction, persistence, numeracy, spelling, writing, decision making, art history, scientific intuition, cultural awareness, problem solving, abstract idea expression, and more.

Yes, screen-based play can be a distraction, but in this day and age, it’s important to help children find a balance between screen-time and “real life” activities. Exploring good websites with your children can open up all sorts of opportunities for discussion, learning, and safe fun-time together.  So, explore Toytheater.com and have some fun!

Letter from Betty for August 2021

Hello Friends,

"Mom, I'm bored!" "Dad, I've got nothing to do!" Every parent has heard these kinds of complaints. You might alleviate your concern about your children's periods of restlessness by reading our feature article for August, "Can a Little Boredom Actually Be Good For Your Child? Yes!"

Of course one of the best childhood boredom-busters of all is a good book. Check out our quick list of inspiring reads in our bonus article for August, "You Can Do It! Summer Reading Recommendations From The Editors of Scholastic Books."

As always, we're tracking test dates and information for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE tests. So mark your calendar and check out all the details in our "Test Schedule for August 2021."

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for August 2021

Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.

SSAT
Registration for upcoming paper-based tests will be open after August 1st.

There are at-home SSAT test openings on August 20, 21, and 22. Registration for test dates in August and beyond will be available after August 1st.

ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org

All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.

Can a Little Boredom Actually Be Good For Your Child? Yes!

Sure, we don’t want our children to be bored for huge chunks of the day, but studies have shown that being overscheduled, over-busy, and over-stimulated can result in irritability, anxiousness, physical complaints, sleep issues, and a feeling of being overwhelmed.

A bit of boredom actually helps children become more creative and to come up with more puzzle-solving and problem-solving ideas on their own. In fact, studies in both the Creativity Research Journal and the Academy of Management Discoveries found that after participants completed a boring task, they showed much more creativity when tackling a more interesting one.

Is there a difference between taking it easy and boredom? Of course. And we all need to have relaxation time, even our children. If your children are restlessly seeking out something to do and feeling unhappy, then their brains are not being stimulated enough to reach a healthy baseline level of stimulation. The brain itself will actually try to create stimulation, resulting in the uncomfortable nagging, negative feeling of true boredom. That can be a good thing. It’s a call to action which leads to opportunities to be creative.

The take-away here is to help your children to be a little bored. I know, that sounds counterintuitive, but if they are used to being constantly entertained, they won’t learn to entertain themselves, and that’s a very important life-skill. So what can you do as a parent? Build in downtime between scheduled activities and leave them to their own devices during that time. Then gradually increase the length of that self-directed time to something reasonable, say 60-90 minutes for younger children and up to 3 hours for the older ones. It may be a benefit to let them know that at the end of that time there will be something special or fun that you have planned for them.

It is a good idea to make sure to have books, puzzles, and loads of art and crafting supplies on hand, in a place that is readily available to them. Maybe even a musical instrument or two. With the availability of plentiful ingredients for creative fun, your children will figure out, for themselves, how to fill this unstructured time in a healthy way. Just to clarify, avoid letting your children fill their downtime staring at a screen. Let them create their own entertainment rather than be fed content. Get their brains working!

So the next time your child says to you, “I’m bored!”, think to yourself “Oh, good!”

You Can Do It! Summer Reading Recommendations From The Editors of Scholastic Books

Do your children need inspiration for their summer reading? Below are eight books to make summertime imaginations soar, according to the editors of Scholastic Books.

1. Wild River by Rodman Philbrick – grades 4-7

2. Fearless by Kenny Porter – grades 4-9

3. The Dragon Path by Ethan Young – grades 4-9

4. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson – grades 7-12

5. Sorry Not Sorry by Jaime Reed – grades 7-12

6. Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud – grades 7-12

7. Muted by Tami Charles – grades 7-12

8. Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater – grades 8-12

Letter from Betty for July 2021

Hello Friends,

Have you ever played the "Humming Game" during a road trip? Each person takes a turn and hums a melody without singing any words, and the others guess the name of the song. It's surprisingly fun! And if you're planning a family road trip this summer, we have some mind-expanding tips for you in our feature article for July, "Working Teachable Moments Into Your Family's Summer Road Trip."

In the early weeks of summer, the evenings light up with flickering insect glow-balls. Fireflies seemed like a normal part of summer growing up, but you might be left with many questions. Is a firefly a fly? Is there just the one kind? Most importantly, how do they glow? We've got answers to these questions in our bonus article for July, "Did You Know? How Fireflies Light the Night."

As always, we're tracking test dates and information for the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE tests. So mark your calendar and check out all the details in our "Test Schedule for July 2021."

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for July 2021

Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.

SAT
We know you're eager to sign up for a fall SAT test. Registration will open by early July. The next anticipated test date is August 28th.

ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.

SSAT
There are currently no paper-based tests available at this time, but registration for upcoming tests will be open after August 1st.

There are at-home SSAT test openings on July 9, 10, and 11. Registration for test dates in August and beyond will be available after August 1st.

At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.

ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org

All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.

Working Teachable Moments Into Your Family's Summer Road Trip

It’s estimated that 65% of the families traveling on vacation this year will be doing so by car, and that’s going to provide a lot of opportunities for out-of-school learning. With some planning, parents can take this travel time for in-car conversations, roadside stops, and other activities that will have their children engaged to the point that they may not even realize that they’re learning! 

Here are some ideas for road-trip fun: 

• Add up the numbers on a license plate or highway distance signs.

• Figure out how long it will take to get to the city or destination if driving 60 miles per hour.

• Make a written note of the populations of the towns you drive through, then have the kids add up the numbers to see how many “people” they’ve pass on the journey.

• Tell stories about family connections to areas, industries, historical spots, crops, etc, that you pass by.

• Choose routes that include Indigenous, women-centered, historical happenings, or other topics that include your child’s specific interests (sports, music, etc).

• Have your children look up how towns, cities, rivers, or mountains got their names as you pass through them.

• Talk about the origins of the people that settled particular areas and any other relevant historical facts about the area.

• Older children and teens might enjoy podcasts or other audio that talk about your destination, so search out sources before leaving home.

• See a dam, canal, or lock as you pass by? Talk about how they work and why.

• If you’re passing through an agricultural area, tell them how silos work, or those gigantic crop sprayers and irrigation systems.

• Have the kids keep track of license plates that they see, and then figure out on a map which car came from the farthest state.

• Stretch the legs during rest stops, and stretch those brains with a scavenger hunt or a bit of geocaching.

• Evening rest stop? Take a little time to work on identifying planets and stars. There are some fun and free smartphone apps that can be downloaded that will be perfect for this activity.

• Another rest stop idea: encourage them to take photos of bugs, trees, birds, or any other nature that inspires them. They can spend some time searching for information about their “finds.” And if you’re in a part of the state or country that is different than your hometown, be sure to point out the different plants, birds, and other wildlife that reside in this new place but not at home.

• Family sing-along! Have everyone join in and maybe even compose a new song together, being sure to capture a recording of it on your phone.

• Along those same line, join together to create a story.

And if you still hear “I’m bored” coming from the back seat, don’t fret. Boredom actually can be a real creativity stimulus, allowing the brain the room and chance to let minds wander. Next month we’ll have a feature article on why a little boredom is actually a good thing!

Finding a way to make unstructured learning a part of your family’s road trip can encourage curiosity, increase interest in the environment, impart family history, and expand your child’s view of the world.

Did You Know? How Fireflies Light the Night

Summer nights become quite magical after the sun goes down and fireflies begin to fill our backyards with brilliant light displays. Sometimes called a lightning bug, sometimes a glow bug, and in our area the name firefly is most common, but did you know that these spectacular creatures are not flies at all. They are beetles, and there are approximately 2,000 different species around the world.

What sets them apart from other beetles is a light-making organ located just below their abdomen. To make light, the fireflies take in oxygen, which mixes with a natural substance found in the cells of this organ, causing a chemical reaction to occur. The whole process is called bioluminescence. They use bioluminescence to communicate with each other and to find potential mates, each species has their own unique light pattern. Unlike a light bulb, when a firefly lights up, it produces almost no heat.

And adult fireflies aren’t the only ones that glow. In some species, the larvae and even the eggs emit light. Firefly eggs have been observed to flash in response to stimulus such as gentle tapping or vibrations.

There are two areas in the world where fireflies all flash at the same time, rather than the individual flickerings that we see in our area. This simultaneous flashing happens only in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, USA, and in southeast Asia.

Outdoor lights prevent fireflies from seeing each other’s flashes, so they have a hard time finding mates. Other potential threats to these amazing beetles include habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. So, turn off your lights at night during firefly season to ensure you have a spectacular display this summer!

Letter from Betty for June 2021

Hello Friends,

In case you missed it last month, I made an important announcement...

The last year has been an interesting one as we navigated COVID-19 and made the necessary changes to our daily routines and lives. Some of the changes we have made have been minor, while others have been more significant. Changes that I have made include going all virtual. I thoroughly enjoyed working face-to-face in my Morristown office and seeing all your smiling faces, but I have decided that it is best for my family if I remain virtual going forward. I will continue to use Zoom or FaceTime platforms and communicate with all of you and other professionals through phone calls, emailing and texting.

Once upon a time in our childhoods, we all lived in a world of crayons, finger-painting, bright primary colors, and, yes, picture books. The joy of reading begins with the joy of pictures. This month we have some super-fun suggestions for your fun-loving young readers in our feature article for June: "Summer Reading - Books For Younger Children That Celebrate Our Differences."

In a world without Father's Day, in the year 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington sprung into action. Read the back-story that involves horse-drawn carriages and red and white roses in our bonus article for June: "Did You Know? The Origins of Father's Day."

We've got test dates, plus information from the College Board about the coming discontinuation of the SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test, and some new SSAT at-home testing dates. So mark your calendar and check out all the details regarding the Test Schedule for June 2021.

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for June 2021

Here are some important notes about 2021 testing.

SAT

We know you're eager to sign up for a fall SAT test. Registration will open by early July. The next anticipated test date is August 28th.

Note from the College Board regarding the coming discontinuation of SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Test:

Why discontinue the SAT Essay portion: “We’re adapting to respond to the changing needs of students and colleges. This change simply streamlines the process for students who have other, more relevant opportunities to show they can write an essay as part of the work they’re already doing on their path to college.”

Why discontinue the Subject tests: “We’re reducing demands on students. The expanded reach of AP and its widespread availability means the Subject Tests are no longer necessary for students to show what they know.”

We know that this news may raise a lot of questions and concerns for you, especially if you’ve already scheduled the tests or are in the process of submitting to colleges. For more information regarding Subject tests and the Essay test, please see the College Board FAQ sheet.


ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.


SSAT
There are no paper-based tests scheduled at this time.

There are at-home SSAT test openings on June 4, 5, 6, and July 9, 10, and 11.

At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.


ISEE
Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes. Students currently have two ISEE At Home remote testing options. Families should follow any instructions provided by their application school(s) when selecting their at-home testing choice. For more information about this option go to:
ISEE At Home For Families | ERBlearn.org


All Tests
Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.

Summer Reading - Books For Younger Children That Celebrate Our Differences

It’s never too early to teach our children about people’s differences, whether its race, religion, size, abilities and more. Children’s books offer up a great way to share valuable lessons so, in that spirit, we’ve picked out 11 books to add to your summer reading list this year.

Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend. This tale is gentle inspiration for every child with dreams of greatness.

Happy in Our Skin, by Fran Manushkin
The title Happy in Our Skin sums up this book's message well. Readers learn about the beauty in diversity while keeping up with different families spending time together.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr Temple Grandin, by Julia Finley Mosca
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures tells the life story of 71-year-old Temple Grandin who as a child was diagnosed with autism and defied doctors’ expectations by earning her Ph.D. and becoming an authority on animal science and farming.

Why Are You Looking At Me? I Just Have Down Syndrome, by Lisa Tompkins
Inspired by her daughter who has Down syndrome, Tompkins writes about the importance of embracing everyone's differences and taking the time to truly learn about someone.

Winter Candle, by Jeron Ashford
A candle is the focus of this book that celebrates various cultures and religions as it weaves its way through the lives of many families. One family includes the object in their Kwanzaa celebration, another turns to it in place of their usual Havdalah candle and another uses it in their Saint Lucia crown.

Maddi’s Fridge, by Lois Brandt
Although economic differences can be a bit more hidden than others, Maddi’s Fridge doesn’t shy away from the topic of poverty. In this book, Sofia, who has a fridge at home full of food, learns that her friend Maddi has a fridge that’s empty and struggles with whether she should tell her parents.

What’s the Difference? Being Different is Amazing, by Doyin Richards
Doyin Richards, a father of two, breaks down race relations for kids in his book What’s the Difference? Being Different Is Amazing. His message motivates little ones to be aware of and appreciate the differences among people, instead of being “colorblind.”

What I Like About Me! by Allia Zobel Nolan
What I Like About Me helps kids acknowledge their differences and embrace their braces, glasses and many things in between. It also serves as a lesson in self-esteem and asks kids, "What is it you like best about you?"

A Family is a Family is a Family, by Sara O’Leary
When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby.

Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! by Maria Dismondy
Kid-favorite beverage chocolate milk serves as a symbol in this book about a growing friendship between a boy and his new classmate who doesn't speak English. Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! illustrates how actions speak louder than words and drives home the importance of celebrating diversity, kindness, inclusion and empathy. Because no matter what language you speak, kindness is the universal language of all. Learn how to celebrate differences in this powerful story and discover how chocolate milk plays a major role in the discovery of the real universal language.

Moses Goes to a Concert, by Isaac Millman
Moses Goes to a Concert is part of a series that follows Moses and his classmates who are deaf. In this particular book, which features American Sign Language, he and his friends learn their teacher has a fun surprise in store.