Not So Different

by Cyana Riley, Anastasia Kanavaliuk (Illustrator)

Not So Different is a picture book encouraging young children to embrace their differences and celebrate diversity. A fun rhythmic read, it can be used as a tool to start necessary conversations with our babies about differences in the world. Inspired by her interracial marriage and biracial children, Cyana hopes to help create a world in which children are able to engage in difficult conversations and learn from each other in a positive way. The illustrations provide clear imagery of the many ways we are different, while also recognizing the ways we are the same. With this book, Cyana hopes to help children realize that their individual characteristics are the very things that makes them special and unique. She indents to normalize talking to our children about diversity and race in a positive way...and celebrating our unique qualities by embracing them.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Latinx, Disability, Poetry

30 pages, Hardcover

Published May 10, 2021

Reviews

[Carolina Combetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teachers and parents can use this book to teach about diversity and inclusiveness. Children are very curious little human beings who start to try and make sense of the world. Adults can teach them that everyone is different from one another, and that is okay. We can have different hair styles, eye color and skin shades. We can also speak different languages and have different things we like to do. We can also teach them about self-love and acceptance. The illustrations in the book represent different races, skin colors, hair color, and even students with disabilities.

One of the pages that stood out to me the most said, “The world needs different people. It's called diversity. Let's shout out loud about it. It's up to you and me. Let's celebrate our differences and spread our love around. deep inside each of us so much love can be found.”

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character of the book says she 'came out just right' which means her mother is Caucasian and her father is African American. This is relatable to many students that may not see a similar representation in other books. Growing up many students may wonder why they do not look like one of their parents, and this book gives them something to relate to. This is a rhythmic read for young readers to spark conversations about the differences in the world and how they are special. We may not look similar, but everyone still has emotions and feelings. This book does a great job at recognizing everyones differences while also acknowledging how they are similar. This images are beautifully drawn, with emphasis on the special features that make each race unique. This is a great book to read in the beginning of the year when setting up expectations on how students should treat each other and embrace our differences. This would make students who may not be able to relate to the main character of books feel special.

[Madison Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Age range (K-3rd)
2. This book is really what it sounds like, a book that showcases that everyone is not so different as their outward appearances may make it seem. It illustrates all of the ways that everyone is different, their hair color and texture, eye color, religion, skin color, etc. But despite the many differences between people in our world, people are more similar than we seem, recognizing beliefs, ideas, and interests. The whole message of the book is based on the idea that diversity is something that should be embraced and not something that should divide those who look or even act differently from one another. We make look different, but we are all similar in one way or another.
3. I chose this book because I really like to include books that embrace the idea of diversity and show young readers that diversity is a good thing.

[Felicia Gist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to talk to young children about diversity - excepting others for who they are and their differences. Everyone is different in their own way. People are different in which they may speak different languages, they may dress different from others, they may wear their hair in different styles, or they may like different things than what you may like. A biracial little girl sees herself different from her other peers (her hair is kinky curly, her mom is black, and her dad is white). She learned to celebrate her differences, and she understood that being the same was not be fun. We can all like some of the same things - this will make us "Not So Different" after all.

[Brea Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who is mixed. Her father is white, and her mother is black. Her hair is kinky curly, while others hair is straight, but they are both beautiful. "The world needs different people, it's called diversity." Celebrating our differences and spreading love in kindness is important. The author explains how boring it would be, if we were all the same. It talks about the importance of becoming friends with people that don't look like you, and how you may find that though you look different, you can have similar interests and experiences.

[Macy Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

`In the book the character has an african american mother and a white father. I have a white mother, and an African American father. She discusses in the book both of them made her, which made her “come out just right”. Growing up It seemed like my peers on field trips or birthday parties would question if that was my dad, and why is he brown and I'm not. I think this book would give a great explanation and uplifting look on diversity.

[Rebecca Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book to read in your classroom. I love how this book talks about differences in not only race, but also in activities, disabilities, hair type, and more! Reading this book to your students about being proud of how you are different than someone else is such a good lesson for them to learn and embrace especailly when they are young. Pointing out differences in others is not a good thing but pointing them out of yourself can be good if you embrace them!

[London Tri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a book that encourages students to celebrate and embrace their differences with it being about diversity and or backgrounds. This book could be used as a tool to start conversation about differences and diversity and how we accept everyone for who they are and we might have different backgrounds, but that doesn't make us different. The author of this book helps that kids will understand how to talk about differences in a positive way and not a negative way.

[Becky Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book provide clear imagery of what is going on! This book allows students to see the differences in cultures but how our differences make us special and unique! This is a positive way to talk about diversity

*critical pedagogy! theory to help students achieve critical consciousness! This book allows students to see other worlds and cultures and step into their world and put them in their shoes.

[Brooke P]

This is another good book about children who are mixed. It emphasis that everyone is different and that is okay for everyone to be different because you can learn from each other, show different experiences. I would add this to my class library because one class can have many diverse students and everyone in your class will not look and do the same things that you do. It would be a good book as well to have a lesson on and create an activity.

[Maddie Mcdermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one that should be read to every classroom. I say this because it gives teachers a chance to teach diversity and how to celebrate their differences. This book teaches kids that it is ok to be different because that's what makes you, you. It had great illustration and powerful statements that will have your students wanting more.

[Jessica Guzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is about a Hispanic child that was being treated differently by her peers at school, until one day she stood up for herself and explained why she was different. However, she went on about how she and her peers were also the same, they all had two eyes, two hands, and so on. So, at the it she was not so different than me.

[Meridee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book promoting diversity and celebrating our differences. The main character is a girl who has a black mother, and a white father. She points out how boring it would be if we were all the same. She also points out how people also have similarities. This is 100% a book that should be in a classroom.

[Molly Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, the main character has a Black mother and a White father. She talks about how both of them made her, which cause her to “come out just right”. I think this book would give a great explanation to children about how families can look different in so many ways, and give an uplifting look on diversity. Definitely a must-have in my classroom library!

[Courtney Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows a lot of diversity in our lives. I think that this is important for students to understand as soon as they can read a book or understand how we are all different. This book is a new one to 2020 and it came in the perfect time.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for younger readers on diversity. Main character is a girl of mixed race which she explains by talking about the races of her parents on one page. The rest of the book is about the benefits of everyone being a little different--so much to learn from everyone.

[Maleigha Krith · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020
picture book
A sweet story about embracing diversity and differences.
I like this book because I think its important for young girls to learn that their differences are what makes them so special

[Cameryn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustration and the message of the story. It recognizes that we are all different and that we should celebrate this and learn from one another. Using kindness and love when interacting with each other will make this world a better place.

[Dat Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In today society is so divided into many things. This book is a book I find can teach kids and adults that there is nothing wrong with being different. It tells about how by having diversity that it makes the world a better place and if there were no diversity then everything would be boring.

[Mackenzie Saggau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pleased to see that this book is based around an interracial family. There is a simplicity in the story that will help children understand how to celebrate their differences and how much power that holds. I loved this book.

[Ashley Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It is a biracial family and the main character explains what and why we are all different and why that is so important. I think this would be a good book for students and could lead into activities surrounding who we are!

[Casey Fulfs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book would be a great one to incorporate into the classroom because it talks about being unique and saying how it is okay to be different because we are all different in our own ways, and that is okay!

[Claire Sparrowgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how this book talks about how everyone is different but everyone is still great! A great book to use in a classroom to talk about differences and how it’s okay to be different! This would also be good for kids to see themselves represented in a book!

[Ma. Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it shows the diversity in the world. I would recommend it as a good starter book for students because I feel. like many students can. at least find something that relates to them in this book. I love that it embraces your uniqueness.

[Makenna Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book! It talks about celebrating students differences and how everyone needs to love each other. It also talks about what you can learn from everyones differences. This could be paired with a discussion about what makes everyone unique and what you love about your classmates!

[Maggie Schlieman]

This book is a perfect example of how a young girl becomes comfortable in her own skin. It is also a great example of a family that has different ethnicities. The book welcomes diversity and the differences that everyone has.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. The way the illustrations are done set the tone for the whole story. It is so inclusive and provides such a good message to children about embracing their differences because if we were all the same, it wouldn't be as much fun.

[Cyana Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect book to help start those difficult conversations about diversity. Children can learn some really important life lessons from this book and honestly so could far too many adults.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not So Different is a great book! I love the representation and diversity throughout the book. I think it represents any child and is a great book to read to your students to celebrate diversity.

[Kaylin Kojima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super cute and a good way to talk about diversity with students. It can encourage students to embrace and accept the differences they see in each other and be inclusive.