Acceptance of similarities, acceptance of differences.
All very important things—especially in our (often) intolerable society. These topics seem a little heavy for a children’s book, but what is more basic and fundamental than learning to love yourself?!
WILD ABOUT US teaches just that. Everyone is different. And while the grass is sometimes greener, err hair is sometimes straighter, nose is sometimes smaller, our differences should be celebrated!
Karen Beaumont’s words, coupled with Janet Stevens illustrations, pair perfectly to make the point that, sometimes, the things that make us different are the things that make us great! The lesson is delivered gently, as Beaumont and Stevens use animal characteristics as the examples in the story, but the message is clear, “We like us just the way we are!”
(Wild About Us is listed as appropriate for 4-8yo, but I think it’s a universally-appropriate theme!)