When Charley Met Emma by Amy Webb

When Charley goes to the playground and sees Emma, a girl with limb differences who gets around in a wheelchair, he doesn't know how to react at first. But after he and Emma start talking, he learns that different isn't bad, sad, or strange—different is just different, and different is great!

This delightful book will help kids think about disability, kindness, and how to behave when they meet someone who is different from them.

Reviews

"As a parent of a child with special needs, I know how important this book is for our community. But what excites me most about Charley and Emma is that it will be read by the families who need it most, the ones who aren't raising a child with special needs but are raising the children who will be the friends and neighbors and coworkers of people with disabilities. What we need right now is more awareness, empathy and true compassion; and this book has become a beautiful resource to help families talk about these important values when they matter most: early." — Kelle Hampton, disability advocate, blogger, and author of Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected

"When Charley Met Emma invites its young readers into an honest, disarming story about encountering difference. Unlike most stories told about disabilities, Amy Webb uses her first-hand experience as a mother of a special-needs daughter to subvert the traditional "us" and "them" narrative into a story about a boy and girl who are both ordinary and different. This book will play a rare and vital role as we teach our children to build more inclusive spaces where all of us are seen, valued, and celebrated for the difference we bring to it." — Rebekah Taussig, writer, teacher, and special needs advocate

The Boy with Big, Big Energy by Britney Winn Lee

From the creators of The Boy with Big, Big Feelings comes a new story about a boy who's bursting with energy: moving, talking, bubbling excitement--and how he learns to channel it for good.

This is a story about a boy with so much energy, he struggles to contain it. He's bouncing off the walls—during school, at museums, while playing with friends. Everywhere he goes, he's moving, laughing, fidgeting, and climbing... and he always has something to say. In some places, he's supposed to be quiet and still, but that's HARD! What's a boy with so much energy to do?

Beautifully illustrated and written in rhyming verse, The Boy with Big, Big Energy explores how energetic, active kids can find healthy outlets. With the help of his patient dad, the boy learns how to focus his energy in the appropriate time and place by trying new sports and calm-down techniques. The boy discovers how his unique gifts equip him to leap into action when his friends need him most. There are lots of ways his big energy can shine!

Perfect for high-energy children, kids with ADHD, big talkers, and anyone who is constantly on the move.

Reviews

"Rather than framing excess energy as a problem to be fixed, the book celebrates its potential, showing how enthusiasm, quick thinking, and big-hearted responsiveness can be genuine gifts.... An empowering and affirming addition to picture book collections. Ideal for readers who struggle with energy or focus, and a helpful tool for those seeking to celebrate children's strengths while supporting their needs." — School Library Journal

The Big, Big Series

Nancy and the Raccoon by Shamim Sasanpour and S. Raise

About the Authors

Shamim Sasanpour and S. Raise craft heartfelt stories where empathy and nature lead the way. In Nancy and the Raccoon, they blend realistic family life with a shimmer of the fantastical to show how small acts—rescuing a wild animal, listening to the land, speaking up at school—can spark big change. Their work invites young readers to notice the living world, care for one another, and believe that courage grows when we act with love.