100 Books Like You Are Special

One of the greatest parts about this book is the illustrations! Yes, the story is fabulous, too, especially because it's a child version of the Bible stories, but man, the illustrations just send it over the top.

The Bible is too difficult for young readers to comprehend, but this book does such a great job of making the stories understandable for little guys that when my kids and I read it, we all come away with a childlike understanding of the original Bible stories.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a story about the redemptive love of a civil rights icon who was brutally beaten, threatened, and who lived through the era of civil rights unrest and huge racism. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and has received notable awards such as a noble peace prize.

His book is a fascinating read about a man who had every reason to hate white people along the journey or racism and civil unrest but instead chose the path of love and forgiveness. He has titled it One Blood as he believes that we all have things in common, even in the midst of suffering and pain, if we allow ourselves to grow through the suffering and become the mirror image of the hate and bitterness that we have received on the journey of life.

This book ties in so closely with what I believe about the beauty of diverse friendships if we allow ourselves to come out of our comfort zones to truly connect with people heart-to-heart.

When I read this book it really affirms what I believe, that it is really possible to heal racial divides through humility, listening, and a willingness to connect with a person from a diverse background that we would have never thought possible.

This generational read opens with an encounter with suicide that took a supernatural occurrence to escape. From there, readers travel through pages of a child’s near-death experience, surviving flames of a house fire that left her with third-degree burns to encounters that only she can explain. As the author chronicles her process of facing elementary taunts of bullies, to the 30 reconstructive surgeries she endured to regain her mobility, readers uncover a story of the father’s love and the family ties that we can all relate to.

See His Glory, unravels the broken pieces of this burn survivor’s past to reveal a most beautiful work…her story. What I really love the most about this author and the story is how she highlights the love she experienced from different people through her suffering. She described one of the lessons she has learned along her journey is the universal language of love… show more.

In this book, the author does not allude that we need to ignore attributes such as class, race, ethnicity, etc. We don’t have to be color-blind to accept people who are of a different race or ethnicity. We just need to extend respect, care, empathy, and love while acknowledging that we haven’t always gotten it right with different cultures.

He presents a great case for grace and being a bridge builder in our communities.

I love reading this book with my children because it’s more than just story time; it’s a chance to explore mysteries and discover lessons about resilience and empathy. I read it with my kids at least once a year.

The main character, Gobie, has gone through more than any 12-year old should have to, still, she consistently displays kindness and selflessness. It really challenged me to think about my own life and how I deal with challenges, either gracefully or not so much. 

The book opens up conversations about faith, friendship, and empathy that are great for family talks.

When I read this devotional to my kids in the morning, I really believe it makes a difference in their day (and mine!).. I love the idea that the kids are able to apply scripture to how they are feeling and speak powerful promises from the Lord over their lives, either with me or all by themselves (for the ones who can read).

When I pull this book out, I know that they will learn a lesson, learn a scripture, and think about God in their situation. I know that their hearts are in the right place when this book comes off the book shelf.

This book, like my first recommendation by the same author, is one we read once a year (at Christmas time, of course). The writing makes you feel like you were there when Mary and Joseph took the ride to Jerusalem and delivered the baby Jesus. 

The adventure that the dove has along the way is non-stop excitement and awe. The kids can't wait for the few weeks before Christmas because that's when we crack open this book all over again and read a chapter a night leading up to the big day. It has been a tradition for almost ten years now and counting, and we can't imagine Christmas without the reading of this book. 

Here is a fun story about the author if you care to read further. She was a customer at the organic farm stand where I worked, and when she learned that I had 3 children… show more.

When you have a child with a severe communication impairment, they probably are in therapy almost every day of their life. Too often, I’ve found parents forget children with special needs are still children.  While appropriate speech therapy is critical for apraxia, children learn through play, and too often the importance of play is underestimated. What I love about The New Language of Toys is it shows us, the parents (as well as therapists) how to take typical toys found around the house to use as fun therapy tools to help bring your child a voice.  

 I used to work in toy design prior to being a parent so being able to use toys as therapy for speech is amazing. In addition, it helps the child’s self-esteem when you can teach them how to play, something that doesn’t always come naturally to a percentage of children with special needs. This… show more.

I recommend this book as it offers a compelling journey of resilience and healing in the face of trauma. Todd’s narrative resonates deeply with themes explored in my true crime memoir, such as overcoming adversity and finding strength in the midst of challenges.

Through his candid storytelling and insights, Todd's book inspires and empowers readers, encouraging them to embrace their own journey toward healing and triumph.