What Makes Us Unique?: Our First Talk About Diversity

by Jillian Roberts, Cindy Revell (Illustrations)

When it comes to explaining physical, cultural and religious differences to children, it can be difficult to know where to begin. What Makes Us Unique? provides an accessible introduction to the concept of diversity, teaching children how to respect and celebrate people's differences and that ultimately, we are all much more alike than we are different. Additional questions at the back of the book allow for further discussion.

Child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts designed the Just Enough series to empower parents/caregivers to start conversations with young ones about difficult or challenging subject matter. Other books in the series deal with birth, death, separation and divorce. For more information, visit .

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Juvenile, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 27, 2016

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

People are different, or unique, in many ways.
Some of these differences are things we can see on the outside.

A book explaining diversity with rich, colorful illustrations. It has simple language that is easy to read and understand but it makes a powerful impact. This doesn't only include cultures and race but also about people who use sign language. A special shout out to the writer and the illustrator for including Sikh people which a lot of the other diversity books don't include. Simple, amazing and powerful.

5 stars

[Lisa]

I found this book overly didactic but my 6 year old enjoyed it. I was surprised and disappointed that gender diversity was not discussed. I have mixed feeling about the last page "just a few more questions," which is the only place sexual orientation, racism, and prejudice are discussed.

[Safara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menjelaskan diversity bukan cuma dari segi ras, tapi dari segi orientasi seksual juga. 👍

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Makes Us Unique was a wonderful way to explain diversity! The examples were written in a child’s voice and the beautiful and colorful illustrations help tell the story.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 4.5.
This will make a great primary resource to initiate a conversation about how we are the same and how we are different. It's a must have to include in a unit on families. The text is straightforward and quite simple. Cindy Revell's dynamic illustrations celebrate our diversity in her bold use of colour and the joyful expressions on faces of her characters.

[jenee tuggle]

due Nov 29, 2016
d) Text-to Teaching Connection: What is a response activity that you can do in a classroom with children in response to the book? (e.g. drama, music, art, or writing)

After reading this book to my class each student would trace there hand on a piece of construction paper. students will label each finger with a different question about them self's. ( The questions would be: 1. The color of your skin. 2. the color of your favorite food. 3. your favorite color.4. the color of your eyes.5. the color of your hair. ) Next they will color each finger according to the answer they put on their finger. This activity will show the students how everybody in the class is unique in their own way. another activity students can do is play diversity bingo. Each student will get a bingo card with different statements and questions describing them and their culture. If that statement or question describes the student ,then the student will place a chip in that space. The first student to get bingo wins .

[Salsabrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suitable for preschoolers, this addresses the ways we are unique: outside, inside, the way we move and communicate, personal likes and dislikes, family structures, and cultural heritage. It also states the basic needs we all share: to laugh, grow, learn, love and be loved. Engage kids in a discussion of the ways we are different and what we have in common.

[Jess Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for a lesson about the differences between people and learning about other cultures. It would be a good book to read to a class that you are introducing culture to for the first time.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible introduction to diversity.

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storybook way to bring understanding to a complex subject for kids. I want to use this for all my kids through 2nd grade. We will have amazing conversations. We need more books like this.

[Halie Korff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and I think it is such a good book to start children on with talking about diversity or just being different in general. It touches on how people are different and come from different backgrounds. Talked about hair and eye colors as well as skin all being different as well as shapes and disabilities people have. Then goes into cultures and how people have their own cultures. I want this book in my classroom because all children need this book in their lives and to be able to have a good conversation about this topic and to normalize diversity before they start to discourage it. The illustrator also did a good job with working in double page spreads, cutouts, bleeds, and even the end pages

[Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to discuss certain types of diversity: physical, religious, cultural, etc. It's a good tool to tackle a concept that might be already obvious for kids, but it is still good to put it in order and in a single, accessible book. There is a good introduction to the concept of culture, too.

I don't give it more stars because, as always, diversity is understood as something that is mostly seen: skin color, clothing, food, but never as diversity of thought. You are allowed to look different, but not to think differently. Diversity is a bunch people of various colors saying the same things.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a parent, I thought this book was really well done. The illustrations were beautiful, and the text was simple, straight-forward, but comprehensive. I would give it 5 stars, except it didn’t seem to engage my child as I had hoped. She listened nicely, but didn’t demand a re-read as she will with any book she really connects to. So for us, Last Stop on Market Street has been a better gateway for discussing diversity.

[Chelsea Eichelberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to explaining physical, cultural and religious differences to children, it can be difficult to know where to begin. What Makes Us Unique? provides an accessible introduction to the concept of diversity, teaching children how to respect and celebrate people's differences and that ultimately, we are all much more alike than we are different. Additional questions at the back of the book allow for further discussion.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a great book to add to your outdated nonfiction section. It addresses topics that a lot of people are buzzing about now. Here in my district we are examining our biases. We have kindergarteners chanting that we should build a wall. This would be a great lead into a discussion about what they are hearing and how they are interpreting current affairs.

[Lydia Nisen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grade Level: Primary
I think this book is very relatable to everybody. The characters represent everyday experiences dealing with issues you see around the world now. I think this book could be used in the classroom to help show that everybody is unique and that unique is not a bad thing, but a good thing. It can also help with respect in the classroom.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for talking about things that may be different between people. It covers living situations, how we look, and even special needs. The book has fun colorful pictures for entertainment too.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this book because it takes what some think to be a very complicated topic - the subject of differences and cultures - and makes it extremely accessible and easy to understand. (And the illustrations are beautiful!)

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reading this for recommendations for anti-racism books in my little sister’s elementary school 😭 but in all seriousness it does a very good job of introducing young kids to diversity and accepting differences.

[Julianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make a great first week of school read aloud/community building book (for grades 5 or lower). There's not a really story just a bunch explanations so without planned questioning/prompts for self connection kids may lose interest.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is indeed pretty basic, but as a first book it’s a good intro. It definitely works best for young kids (pre-k?) for whom the idea that other families vary from their own norm at home is a bit of a new idea.

[Luz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read and remember that everyone is unique and even when we can have similarities, we can also have differences and is ok because we are unique. Good book to read to preschoolers to second graders. This is also good to read when we are talking about opposites, and diversity.

[Kairi Ehlers]

A book about different types of cultures and people and how they make us unique from one another.

This book is really helpful for showing off how different people are unique but we also have a lot in common.

[Kyra Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great juvenile non-fiction book celebrating cultural diversity and encouraging respect for others.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book gives a good introduction to start a discussion about diversity and uniqueness.

[Minxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great introductory book for kids and love how it compares us to the various colors in the rainbow.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helps explain physical and cultural differences in a simple way so that kids will understand. Genre nonfiction

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro about diversity. Age 4 - 7 would enjoy this.

[Vani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

[Lupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The differences explored are physical, religious, cultural, and home life. The illustrations are sweet, too. I will be adding this to my library wish list.