I have been working as a primary school teacher for 12 years, and believe me it still hurts when I hear: ‘I do not want to play with him, he has a dark skin!’ , or ‘Mommy say I shouldn’t sit next to her, she’s poor and has no branded sneakers. She can’t be my friend, we’re different!’ Children are not born with prejudices, we as parents and as a society make them to become. Stigma often exists because of knowledge built on stereotypes. Lack of information, misconceptions, isolation and segregation perpetuate such stereotypes - so the best way to address stigma is to break stereotypes. But how do we do that?

It should start at an early age and reading books is a fantastic choice. Not only will it reduce prejudice, it will also encourage the child to think and draw their own conclusions. For that very reason ‘Different Like Me’ by Xochitl Dixon is a must read for all families.

Using rhyme and vivid illustrations, the author depicts the world around us in a very interesting way. All children are different, skin color, eye color, appearance. Not everyone wants the same things and activities, not everyone has the same hobby. And the choice of food can be different. But all children are exactly the same in one respect: everyone wants to be loved and accepted by others. What I particularly liked was the way the author very subtly points to true human values, without offending bad habits. Wonderful words encourage children to see the beauty in differences, as well as the fact that this world belongs to all of us. As you read it with your children, you can connect the pictures with real situations, with children and people close to you, stimulate a discussion about friendship. Believe me, this book contains many elements that will allow you to spend a few hours of quality time with your little ones.

I do not have enough words to express how delighted I am with this book. Rhymed verses, portrayed through beautiful illustrations that speak loudly about a world in which all children are loved and accepted, about the beauty in the differences, about the truth in the similarities ... A children’s book that should be part of every family library.

Great rhyming story that highlights our differences and what makes us beautiful. There are Bible verses at the beginning and end, but teachers can easily omit them without interfering with the story.

Different Like Me, written by Xochitl Dixon and illustrated by Bonnie Lui, is a beautiful 32 page book that helps children to learn about other children of all kinds. The story points out children come in different color, shapes and sizes with different hair and smile. They like different foods and activities. Some may even get around differently by using wheel chairs and canes. But some things are the same, we all have the same feeling and do the same things.

I just love this story. It is well written and beautifully illustrated. It helps to explain to young children that God made us all different but special. I especially think this would be a helpful book to help children understand that some children have special needs as well. I also love the pictures in this story. They are bright and colorful filled with children doing many things.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author and Our Daily Bread Publishing through NetGalley, this is my honest review.

Different Like Me helps children to understand that people are different, but not really. They might look different or sound different, but everyone has the same feelings and fears. I especially appreciated the author included children with disabilities, a group that is often overlooked. Children want to know why someone is different and this book shows love and acceptance of others. Good for elementary and preschool learners as well as people of all ages with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Five stars. A sweet picture book with rhyming text about the ways children are different and the same, regardless of how they look, regardless of abilities or disabilities, regardless of hobbies or interests, or where they come from.. All children have emotions. All children act silly or get grumpy at times, etc.. Endearing illustrations throughout.

I thought this was a great book embracing everyone’s differences. It is well illustrated showing other ethnicities and physical impairments. It teaches others that even if someone looks or acts different, we are all somewhat the same. We all have feelings and we should be mindful of that when interacting with others. My children enjoyed the book because they have a 10 year old cousin who is partially blind and they have a few classmates in wheelchairs. My children are also mixed ethnicities and this book is a great tool for them to learn about others.

Thank you Netgalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for the opportunity to read a copy.

The book is beautifully illustrated. That said, I had not realised this was a religious text. And while the message is lovely: "we are not all so different", the psalm quote about God on the very first page bothered me for the simple fact that it cuts off people who have different religious beliefs right away. Ironically, it feels culturally insensitive. I know it isn't the goal, this book is aimed at Christian children, so they understand God wants them to be tolerant... but I wish it had been done in a more inclusive way. The quote at the end was sufficient, I thought, because the tolerance message is important to everyone, no matter how they look and think.

This is a wonderful book on how God created us all uniquely and how that we are all different on the outside, but we all experience the same emotions. I loved the illustrations--they are beautiful! I loved that the pictures included pictures kids with disabilities--that is often overlooked in our society. There is also a discussion guide in the back that would be great for family devotion or a classroom setting. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! (I also shared the review on Goodreads)

"Different Like Me" is a fabulous book for small children! I how the book represented so many diverse groups of children including children with health impairments or conditions. It was great that the book's main message is that even though we may be different on the outside we are all the same on the inside. The illustrations were great. I will be purchasing this book for my daughter's collection and for some friend's children as well.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A great book on being made in God’s image and a good reminder to look at others as fellow image bearers. My daughter enjoyed reading this with me!

Different Like Me is a great book to incorporate into Sunday School or your home library. It tells the story of how all of us were created in God's eyes. He designed us to be different and unique in our own ways. The illustrations are beautiful. There are all types of kids. It is a good story with a great, simple message.

This is a super-duper adorable book, particularly for children. Kids need to be educated regarding human values carefully and subtly without injuring their own emotions as well; this book does precisely that. I had a smile throughout while reading it. The pictures are so elegant, vivid, and vibrant, despite being a grown-up, I couldn't help but continue gazing at it. The lyrical and rhyming expressions take it up a notch further.

'I look all around me, and what do I see? / So many kids, not so different from me.' It's the best way that the book could be summed up, everyone so diverse yet so alike. This is my first-ever children's book, and I ain't disappointed a bit. I guess this could clearly be a part of the Pre-KG curriculum to instill moral values. Please do read this one; I am positive you'll enjoy it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing, for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Different Like Me is a children's book that every family needs. With illustrations that pull you right in, the short but heartfelt words make it easy for any child to understand that someone's differences are not to be feared or laughed at, but to be embraced and respected. I love the phrasing of the words and how the illustrations interact with one another! This is definitely a book my youngest nephew would enjoy whole heartedly! 5 out of 5 stars! Thanks Netgalley for access to these motivational books!

Oh my love! This book is a delight! The diversity, the ability levels, the positive language, it's all here and I am HERE FOR IT! What an incredible picture book for kiddos to see all of God's creations playing together, being equally loved by our Creator. While we look or act different on the outside, Xochitl shares the important message that we're actually NOT that different after all. YES! I love this!

"Different Like Me" is a delightful book that celebrates our differences and commonalities. Colorful illustrations bring life to the rhyming text. I especially loved that the book included children who are differently-abled as well as children of different colors and ethnicities. "Different Like Me" would be an amazing addition to any school or home library.

Beautiful book allowing children to connect to scripture and those around them - fantastic depiction of a wide range of cultures and abilities.

A good resource to explain the similarity in lived experiences to children. We might look different in our skin color or where we live, but the basis of underlying experiences are the same. The heart of the book is the shared human experience. There is so much value and dignity of living presented in these stories. Questions at the back of the book help to lead discussion and base activities for kids.

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely loved this book! The art, the message, the prose, everything! I really think this should be used in school to help cherish individuality and community even though we all are different.
My only wish would be that the blind kid did not have those VERY stereotypical Hollywood black sunglasses. Like, ordinary sunglasses or no sunglasses would have been fine.

Different Like Me by Xochitl Dixon is a children's fiction book about diversity. It is gloriously illustrated with rhyming verses that will teach children that it's okay to be different; that it's okay not to like the same things; and that it's okay to have different hair and skin color.

A wonderful book to read with your child or grandchild at bedtime or story time. I loved this book. Five stars. I'm
definitely adding this book to my gift list.

I received a digital copy of this book from Our Daily Bread Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This book is a beautiful story about teaching children that although we may all look different on the outside, inside we are all the same.
The verses are short,sweet and rhyme which I feel will keep the attention of all children. And not only does the story cover the colours of people's skin, it also covers disabilities and blindness.
The illustrations are very colourful and eye-catching too.
Lovely little story, with an equally lovely message that I think is perfect for all children to read.