3 new picture books about being unique

I regularly receive picture books to review, and here are three of the titles I’ve enjoyed reading recently:

The Big Race by David Barrow (£6.99, Hodder Children’s Books)
In The Big Race by David Barrow, readers meet a little aardvark who joins a race against a group of much larger animals who are faster, bigger and stronger than her. The story teaches children that it is not always winning, but taking part that counts. The Big Race, which was out in September last year and was released in paperback this winter, features funny illustrations and I like the twists and turns in this sweet story.

Goliath: The Boy Who Was Different by Ximo Abadia (£12.95, Little Gestalten)
For a heart-warming and moving picture book about accepting who we are and celebrating uniqueness, look out for Goliath: The Boy Who Was Different by Ximo Abadia. The book tells the story about a boy who is big and tall and tries to find others who are just like him before coming to terms with being different. Goliath: The Boy Who Was Different features striking, modern and minimalist illustrations in bold colours.

Cyril The Lonely Cloud by Tim Hopgood (£11.99, Oxford University Press)
Cyril The Lonely Cloud by Tim Hopgood is about a rain cloud called Cyril who keeps being met with unhappy faces until she travels to a hot climate where the shade and rain she provides is celebrated with welcoming smiles. To me, this story, which features colourful and charming illustrations, is a reminder of the joy we can feel when surrounding ourselves with people who love us and are happy to see us, as well as how we can have varied perspectives on different situations–particularly rain. In this sense, I think the book is good for talking to children about the weather, including differences between hot and cold climates.

Tags: Children's books, Hodder Children’s Books, Little Gestalten, Oxford University Press, Picture books, Review