Here are 100 books that We're All Wonders fans have personally recommended if you like We're All Wonders. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Rabbit Listened

Naomi Shulman Author Of Be Kind: You Can Make the World a Happier Place! 125 Kind Things to Say & Do

From my list on raising kind kids.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a little bit obsessed with children’s books. I have an extensive personal library of books from my own childhood as well as my kids'. I’m also a person who has become increasingly, shall we say, concerned about the deepening of the culture wars in our society and the ways in which children’s libraries end up being the battleground for those wars. Children’s books matter; if they didn’t, no one would be trying to censor them. And I’d argue that children’s books about ethics and morality might matter even more than most. The five books I’ve recommended here are, in my opinion, truly among the best. 

Naomi's book list on raising kind kids

Naomi Shulman Why Naomi loves this book

One of the key elements of being kind, maybe the key element, is simply being present in hard moments.

That’s what this book is about. When the child in this book is going through something difficult, the other animals do their best to help him feel better, but only Rabbit gets it right—and all Rabbit does is listen. It’s a profound message, one that grownups need as much as kids.

By Cori Doerrfeld ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked The Rabbit Listened as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a tender meditation on loss. When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs. Whether…


Book cover of How Kind!

Leslie Kimmelman Author Of The Eight Knights of Hanukkah

From my list on more elusive than ever kindness.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am no expert on kindness—though more than twenty years at Sesame Workshop, working on a TV show that focuses on kindness, may give me a slight edge. And I am not unfailingly kind, though I try my hardest. But I am passionate about nurturing this quality in children. At the risk of sounding naive, I feel that it’s our last best hope of solving some of the world’s biggest problems.  

Leslie's book list on more elusive than ever kindness

Leslie Kimmelman Why Leslie loves this book

This charming story showcases kindness pared down to its most basic: Kindness feels great to both the giver and the receiver, and it’s easily passed from one person (or, in this case, animal) to another.  Hen is kind to Pig, who in turn is kind to Rabbit, and so on, until the circle is complete. The simple, repetitive text and joyful, brightly-colored illustrations make me smile—and make this book an ideal choice for sharing with very young children.

By Mary Murphy ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How Kind! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What goes around comes around in this farmyard tale about the contagiousness of kindness.

Hen gives Pig an unexpected present. "How kind!" says Pig. Pig is so touched, in fact, that he decides to do something kind too. So Pig gives Rabbit a gift. "How kind!" says Rabbit, who does something kind for Cow, who is kind to Cat, who wants to be kind in turn. Where will all of this kindness lead?


Book cover of Kind

Leslie Kimmelman Author Of The Eight Knights of Hanukkah

From my list on more elusive than ever kindness.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am no expert on kindness—though more than twenty years at Sesame Workshop, working on a TV show that focuses on kindness, may give me a slight edge. And I am not unfailingly kind, though I try my hardest. But I am passionate about nurturing this quality in children. At the risk of sounding naive, I feel that it’s our last best hope of solving some of the world’s biggest problems.  

Leslie's book list on more elusive than ever kindness

Leslie Kimmelman Why Leslie loves this book

It’s the perfect choice for anyone who wonders, “But what can I do? I’m just a kid!” The book is filled with kid-friendly, practical ideas of ways to be kind: offering a smile or a hug; sharing; letting someone else take the first turn; learning words in a new arrival’s language; and much, much more. Each page features work by another terrific artist—it’s absolutely a visual feast for anyone who appreciates good illustration. The bonus is that sales of the book help raise money for a charity that assists refugees trying to make a new start. What could be better than feeling kind just for buying yourself a new book!

By Alison Green ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Kind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

Imagine a world where everyone is kind
- how can we make that come true? With gorgeous
pictures by a host of the world's top illustrators, Kind
is a timely, inspiring picture book about the many ways children
can be kind, from sharing their toys and games to helping those
from other countries feel welcome.



The book is endorsed
by The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler
one
pound from the sale of each printed copy will go to the Three
Peas charity, which gives vital help to refugees
from war-torn countries.
comes with a dust jacket




Illustrators included: Beatrice
Alemagna, David…


Book cover of We Don't Eat Our Classmates

Amanda Noll Author Of I Need My Monster

From my list on humorous picture books from someone who loves funny kid books.

Why am I passionate about this?

I never actually stopped reading children’s literature. Even as a grown-up, I figured out a way to read picture books every day. After earning a master’s degree in education, I found myself back in the library reading to students. I love reading funny books; they are more engaging and more likely to get kids reading and keep them reading. I love humor and think it is perfect in the shorter format of picture books. 

Amanda's book list on humorous picture books from someone who loves funny kid books

Amanda Noll Why Amanda loves this book

I love to read this as the school year is beginning. Children can identify with feeling different on the first day of school.

I love how Penelope (the main character who happens to be a T Rex) is blithely oblivious to the impact she has on the students around her. The tables are turned when she crosses paths with a hungry goldfish. 

By Ryan T. Higgins ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked We Don't Eat Our Classmates as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all. . . . Readers will gobble up this hilarious new story from award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.


Book cover of Janine

Norene Paulson Author Of What's Silly Hair Day with No Hair?

From my list on children’s picture books on inclusion.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a former middle school language arts teacher, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles some students face trying to be accepted and the heartbreak they experience when they are not. Every child deserves to be seen and appreciated for who they are and not be excluded or ostracized due to factors over which they have little control. I write and promote picture books about friendship, acceptance, and inclusion because everyone deserves to be included…always. 

Norene's book list on children’s picture books on inclusion

Norene Paulson Why Norene loves this book

As a middle school teacher, I knew a lot of Janines. Janine has her own style and isn’t afraid to be herself even if the “cool” kids think she’s odd. However, add in invites to a “cool” kids’ party and Janine has a problem. To attend, the “cool” kids want her to change. How far will Janine go to be included? To be included is a powerful desire but at what cost? Unfortunately, scenarios like this occur every day in classrooms across the country, but this book shines a light on the importance of looking at each person’s uniqueness through the lenses of kindness, compassion, and empathy. 

By Maryann Cocca-Leffler ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Janine as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

ILA 2016 Teachers' Choices Reading List

Meet Janine. She is one of a kind! Janine dresses a little different, remembers random facts, reads the dictionary for fun, and has her own style of cheering. Nobody does things the way Janine does things! One girl in Janine's class is throwing a party and all the COOL kids are invited. But Janine is not cool. Some kids think she is strange and want her to change. Will Janine try to be different or just be her spectacular self? In this charming story, Maryann Cocca-Leffler uses her own daughter as inspiration for a…


Book cover of Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories About Living Fabulously Fat

Christen Randall Author Of The No-Girlfriend Rule

From my list on young adult books that put fierce, fabulous fat girls front and center.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up as a fat kid, I hardly ever saw myself reflected in the media I consumed. If I did, it was by someone relegated to the side character status as the funny fat friend or the cautionary tale. Now, it’s my great joy to spread the word about books that put fat people in the spotlight—living our best lives, falling in love, and just having our much-deserved Main Character Moments.

Christen's book list on young adult books that put fierce, fabulous fat girls front and center

Christen Randall Why Christen loves this book

I’m an author by day, but by night, I’m a library worker, and as a library worker, I absolutely love a good anthology. They’re the perfect place to try a lot of authors on for size and find your next fave, and Every Body Shine has some gems on offer. I found two of my new favorite fat authors, Sheena Boekweg and Kelly deVos, thanks to this anthology.

I love how easy this book is to pick up and put down—nice little one-sitting packages of fat girls (and folks of all genders!) being fantastic for any genre or mood craving I have.

By Cassandra Newbould (editor) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Every Body Shines as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today's most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories. A Junior Library Guild Selection Fat girls and boys and nonbinary teens are: friends who lift each other up, heroes who rescue themselves, big bodies in space, intellects taking up space, and bodies looking and feeling beautiful. They express themselves through fashion, sports and other physical pursuits, through food, and music, and art. They are flirting and falling in love. They are loving to themselves and one another. With stories that feature fat…


Book cover of Odd Dog Out

Ali Gilkeson Author Of My Lighthouse: A Story of Finding Your Way Home

From my list on children’s books for adults and kids.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a mother of 3 kids, I’ve always valued story time in our home. It’s a moment in the day to catch your breath and watch your child’s imagination begin to run wild and free. It’s a moment that I believe should be enjoyed by everyone involved. I have read thousands of kids' books over the years, and when I began to find books that I could enjoy just as much as my kids, it was like striking gold. It became my passion to find books and then, in turn, write books that brought the family together. 

Ali's book list on children’s books for adults and kids

Ali Gilkeson Why Ali loves this book

I love this book because the artwork is so vibrant, and the message of teaching kids it's okay to be different from others is vital. The author created a fun rhyming scheme as you read through which normally I’m not into but when it is done this well I can jump on board.

I really enjoy reading this book with my kids and seeing them understand an important message while enjoying the beautiful rainbow color palette. It is wonderful.

By Rob Biddulph ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Odd Dog Out as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

It's a dog's life in the big city... Come join one busy dog on her journey to find her place in the world, from Rob Biddulph - the genius behind the #DrawWithRob phenomenon and the bestselling and award-winning Blown Away!

For busy dogs
A busy day
Of busy work
And busy play...

But one dog doesn't quite fit in. It's lonely being the odd dog out. She's willing to go to the other side of the world to look for her place in it... but it might take a different kind of journey for her to realise that maybe where…


Book cover of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times

Emily Crookston Author Of Unwritten: The Thought Leader's Guide to Not Overthinking Your Business Book

From my list on grow your business without losing sleep.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a former philosophy professor who fled academia when I realized that the Ivy Tower is where Big Ideas go to die. I started my business, The Pocket PhD because I wanted to help experts become thought leaders and translate their expertise for a lay audience. As a business book ghostwriter and developmental editor, I get to collaborate with my clients to help them find the ideas that will increase their credibility, authority, and visibility. I’m always scouting for great business books like the ones on this list (occupational hazard). I hope these books give your business a boost!

Emily's book list on grow your business without losing sleep

Emily Crookston Why Emily loves this book

I appreciated this book for refocusing my attention on asking questions and getting curious rather than believing I have all the answers. Although the lessons in this book apply to life as much as business, the reason I added it to a list about growing your business is because I believe curiosity should be number one on every business owner’s list of skills.

In an increasingly partisan landscape, the most practical tool I can develop to build relationships—which are key to growing my business—is having curious (and difficult) conversations. 

By Monica Guzman ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked I Never Thought of It That Way as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

PORCHLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 2022 NONFICTION BESTSELLER

"I can see this book helping estranged parties who are equally invested in bridging a gap-it could be assigned reading for fractured families aspiring to a harmonious Thanksgiving dinner." -New York Times

"Like all skills, these techniques take practice. But anyone who sincerely wants to bridge the gaps in understanding will appreciate this book. Guzman is emphatic about making an effort to work on difficult conversations." -Manhattan Book Review

We think we have the answers, but we need to be asking a lot more questions.

Journalist Monica Guzman is the loving liberal daughter of…


Book cover of Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

Christine J. Ko Author Of Sound Switch Wonder

From my list on promoting curiosity about our differences.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love reading, partly because I believe in the power of books to feed curiosity, promoting understanding, inclusivity, and belonging. While growing up, my favorite books didn’t have anyone that looked like me. Through reading diverse books to my kids, I realized I’d missed out on this meaningful experience as a child. Even more, I wanted my son, who has bilateral cochlear implants, to be able to read a picture book with a main character with cochlear implants. I hope you enjoy the books on this list as, in unique ways, they all celebrate curiosity about our differences.

Christine's book list on promoting curiosity about our differences

Christine J. Ko Why Christine loves this book

This book is about different abilities and being inclusive, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor herself, partially based on her own lived experience of being diagnosed with diabetes as a child.

I love the thread of respect that infuses the book – a gentle push that we can stay curious and ask about things that we don’t quite understand when others seem different from us. As a bonus for the nerd in me, there is a baked-in deliberate practice component because many pages incorporate questions that each reader can answer for themselves.

By Sonia Sotomayor , Rafael López (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges - and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to…


Book cover of A Tale of Two Sloths

Renee Kurilla Author Of The Flower Garden

From my list on children's books that celebrate the joys of friendship, exploration, and imagination.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi there! I am a children’s author, illustrator, and designer living in MA. I spend a lot of time thinking about how important friendship is to me; both the good and bad times, and how I could have handled certain scenarios differently. Books give us the opportunity to act out scenarios without having to live them. Books can teach us mannerisms and coping skills, making us more prepared for life. They also give us an opportunity to take a break from reality and sneak off into other worlds from time to time. Every book on my list highlights the importance of friendship and the thrill of adventure, I hope you enjoy them!  

Renee's book list on children's books that celebrate the joys of friendship, exploration, and imagination

Renee Kurilla Why Renee loves this book

This book has the perfect sense of humor to grab your attention, but then slips in notes on being a good friend, bravery, trusting others, and general appreciation for the world we live in. 

Peter and Ernesto are so relatable (I truly think there is a little bit of my own personality in each of them). Peter is content to experience life right where he is, Ernesto wants to explore. When Ernesto leaves their shared tree home to see more “pieces of the sky,” Peter panics and tries to catch up with him to make sure he doesn’t get hurt. In doing so, nervous Peter has unknowingly been as brave as Ernesto! In the end, they reunite (in the most hilarious way) and realize how much they need each other. 

I can see kids re-reading this one a lot, and also grabbing one of the other 2 books in the…

By Graham Annable ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Tale of Two Sloths as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

Peter and Ernesto are sloths. Peter and Ernesto are friends. But Peter and Ernesto are nothing alike. Peter loves their tree and never wants to leave, while Ernesto loves the sky and wants to see it from every place on Earth. When Ernesto leaves to have a grand adventure, Peter stays behind and frets. The two friends grow even closer in separation, as Peter the homebody expands his horizons and Ernesto the wanderer learns the value of home. With ridiculously cute art and simple, funny text, their reunion is even more adorable than you are imagining.

Laika Studios superstar artist,…


Book cover of The Rabbit Listened
Book cover of How Kind!
Book cover of Kind

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Interested in identity, film, and empathy?

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Film 251 books
Empathy 175 books