This book offers a thoughtful exploration of how to navigate new people and situations, emphasizing the importance of adaptability. The author skillfully presents both the challenges and solutions with subtlety and diplomacy. Through its stories, the book demonstrates that adaptability isn’t an overnight process, but that making gradual, intentional changes can lead to meaningful, positive outcomes. A truly insightful read with a powerful, timely message.

It's a story of a little girl named La June. Author beautifully uses the real-life situations in a story form. It's the true depiction of the struggle of a young girl whose friend moved by and she feels alone all of a sudden.

Diversity is always near to my heart. "Our differences make us strong" has a clear message that being different won't cast you out from the community. Children as well as adults do face self-rejection instead of mixing up with the new people. The positive role of a teacher is highly appreciable. One can learn that how healing circle can be used with the small children.

Illustrations with text enhance the interest of the reader and can enjoy the story through the facial expression of the characters.

Such an accessible story! Exploring differences may feel uncomfortable at first, but brings us new ideas, foods, fun and friends.

Journeying with La June as her eyes open to the struggle we all face between choosing who and what we are comfortable with and exploring new friends and experiences made my heart blossom with empathy. The after-story insights into the real La June's life, the Healing Circles and questions that illuminate conocimiento are extra treats at the end!

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this DRC with me for an honest review.

When La June's best friend moves away, she doesn’t know where she fits in at school and ends up eating
lunch on her own. Her teacher notices and decides to do something about it. He has each student state his/her
name and what it means. He tells them that by learning about each other and embracing differences leads to
building an inclusive community. Doing things outside one's comfort zone leads to growth.
#OurDifferencesMakeUsStronger #DisruptionBooks #NetGalley

This children's book is actually a strong think piece for parents. I don't find the story plausible for kindergarten kids nor will TK-1 kids really grasp the content--there is a lot of text. I did love the background about the real La June and her journey from Detroit during white flight to the Kellogg Foundation. I also enjoy the discussion questions at the end. I can definitely see 2-4th graders engaging in a discussion about this story and its content with adaptability to real life, but the picture book format might not jive with them. I can see reading this to TK-1 kids as a parent and tucking it in my back pocket to revisit and more deeply discuss in a few years.

What a great story that touches on such an important topic for young children to learn- diversity and inclusion. As a mother to three young elementary aged children, I very much appreciated and enjoyed this book. The books themes of diversity and inclusion can easily be understood by young minds. I would certainly recommend this book to families with young school aged children.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

A great book showing us the important lesson of even if we are not the same, we can find common ground and learn from each other. No matter what we look like, where we are from or what we eat we all have similarities.

A message of racial healing is shared through the beautiful story of a young girl who discovers that differences are good! Content on racial healing is at the end of the book.

While the art wasn’t my favourite, I absolutely loved the story. Told from the perspective of a child readers can see a child start to develop a sense of self and racial identity. The author does an excellent job explaining the pros and cons of both sides of sticking with those who only look like you and those who are different from ourselves.
Personally I teach children ages 2-6 and so I enjoy a good picture book with bright colours to help capture the attention of young readers.
The topic of race is well explained and in a gentle way , making it appropriate for a wide variety of readers.
When the book comes out I will definitely be sharing this with my classroom !

This is a great picture book that deals with the concepts of community, race/ethnicity, cultural differences, and the ways we can enrich one another's lives by coming together to celebrate the things that make us all unique. I think many young readers will be able to relate to the story, especially those who live in multicultural areas, but it will also be an excellent read for those who have not had as many opportunities to meet others who look and speak differently than them. The author beautifully handles the feelings of nervousness or reticence that often accompany new and different situations (e.g., trying a new, unfamiliar food), validating those feelings while simultaneously providing insight into the benefits of getting out of one's comfort zone and being open to these new experiences.

Our Differences Make Us Stronger is a great book with educational elements for the older kiddies. I think it is an important book for children to read.
This book is an appreciation of different cultures and demonstrates the benefits that we receive once we understand and accept other people and their cultures.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and it was wonderful to see different hairstyles, colours and ethnicities.

The discussion and questions at the book of the book will make this a useful resource and learning tool both within the classroom and at home.

Great story on embracing change even when it's hard. About making new friends and finding out who you are in the process. I thought it was really well done.

When La June's best friend moves away, she is sad and confused about where to fit in with the other kids at school. Her teacher comes up with a great plan to help. This book shows us a very simple and beautiful way to step out of our comfort zone and expand our circle of friends. Whenever we take the time to know another person that may look different from us, our own lives are enriched.