An important and prescient book, even for younger kids who often have questions about these events! The artwork was interesting and a fun modern style.

There aren't really enough books about protesting racial injustice and this one brings in a point of view that really adds to the field. This book is told through the point of view of a little Asian girl who has a best friend that is Black. At first the main character's family doesn't see the racial injustice upon others as their problem, but the main character convinces them that this is a fight that everyone should join. A great addition to any collection.

This book was cute, thoughtful, fun and colorful. It has a great message. It may not be the best writing for the age group though. 4/5 stars

Books like these are so important! I appreciate that the main character is Hmong! I don't think I have ever seen a childrens book with a Hmong character before and representation is important.

Doua Moua has written an entry level easy-to-understand book focusing on community and social justice. Using a series of questions enhanced by images readers will gain a better understanding of activism and social marches for what they believe and will stand up for.

This is an excellent book to introduce complicated topics like protest, allyship, and injustice to elementary kids. It could be a wonderful conversation-starter. Mai is confused when her friend Kiara isn't at school one day, and even more confused to see protesters and hear her parents talk in hushed tones about things she doesn't quite understand. As she notices and listens more, she wonders how to take action. With the help of her brother, she comes up with a plan and learns about the power of showing up.

This story addresses very difficult topics in a way that kids can relate to. The illustrations are bold and vivid and really help bring the story to life. The overall messages about the power of standing together and the duty of everyone to right injustice are powerful. Kids hear more and pick up on more than we think, and they are also capable of understanding more than we give them credit for. This book is a great tool to tap into that!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I loved this book and so did my students! It was a great read aloud that led to awesome conversations between myself and my fourth grade students. I have recommended it to all of my coworkers and can't wait to buy a physical copy in the future.

People tend to indiscriminate against others because they are different in terms of their culture, skin and nationality.

The illustrator gives the reader Asian and Black characters to begin with, as we all know Asians and Blacks are the common victims of discrimination having them as the main characters emphasizes the strong feelings that the author wants to tell to the world. The unfair treatment, the disrespect and the worry people affected feel about it.

It also says that we should not be afraid to express and fight for our rights, we may be different, but if we fight together it can make a difference.

Today is Different was a much-needed book for today! It tells the story of a young Asian girl who wants to join her Black friend Kiara in rallying for Black Lives Matter. It has great themes about supporting others, and that there is strength in numbers.

THIS is a really great book for kids who are just learning about social injustice and what it means to stand up for those around you, including all those that don't look like you do.

Set in the time of the George Floyd killing, this is the story of two girls, one Hmong and one Black and how the young Hmong girl learns what is happening in her community and how she can be brave and march with her friend and support her and Black Lives and how her bravery shows her parent's she isn't too young to learn about what is happening in our world today.

This is a really magnificent book and will help parents and caregivers start that conversation with their kids about what social injustice is and how we ALL can make a stand for good. Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doua Moua, Kim Holt [Illustrator] and Lerner Publishing Group/Carolrhoda Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Today Is Different is also very different as a whole from many of the cultural diversity books I have read.

I liked how instead of immediately showing a whole community rallying together in support of an important movement there was build up and uncertainty. Mai, the main character in this story, doesn’t immediately understand what is going on or her importance in the community. Her parents are concerned and do not want to participate in the protests in an effort to stay safe. This is a very real inner conflict many people have recently found themselves having and can relate to. Mai and her brother use their own passion and courage to inspire their parents and get the whole family out for the occasion.

This is an excellent story to start powerful discussions and teach others how they can make an impact no matter what their background is.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful story.

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Empowering story to encourage standing up for what you believe. Readers meet a Hmong family who first try to shield their daughter, Mai, from world events. Her best friend, Kiara, has made her feel welcome, and Mai is concerned when she is not at school one day. No one will tell her why. Once she figures this out, she and her brother commit to march for justice too. By the end, the entire family has left the safety of their home and stepped out to protest an unjust death.
The illustrations are well done and give readers further details on what is happening.
Don't miss the author's note at the end where she shares her background.

Today is Different is about a Mai who notices that one day her friend, Kiara is missing from school whom she does everything with. Mai also notices that there are many poeple missing from her community, she also notices something that she has not seen before - people holding signs and her parents covering the windows.

With many social issues, this book does a wonderful job with exposing this national issue in a way that many young children would understand. The illustrations are well done and have connections to the community as the messages that are the signs are similar to the ones that we have seen in our nation. In regards to the writing of this book, it is easy for young children to understand. There is also a glossary in the back with additional word that one might hear regarding this social issue. Lastly, I think that this book should be one that every teacher has in their classroom for their students.

I look forward to purchasing this book to my book collection. Many thanks to the aurthor, publisher, and NetGallery for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Today is Different is a beautifully illustrated and moving explanation of the importance of protest as civic duty, solidarity, and collective action. It offers an empathetic explanation of the Summer 2020 protests with Black Lives Matter for both young children and their parents. I especially appreciate that the book acknowledges grown up's concerns over how to tell their kids about difficult issues, such as racism and police brutality, while also portraying how unsettling adults' uncertainty in these events can be for kids. Ultimately, this book upholds' kids empathy and desire to help as admirable traits, emphasizing that children are more capable to handle difficult events than some adults might want to give them credit for, culminating in a compelling portrayal of the power of collective action.

I think this book is going to be really important for children.

Today is Different is a really moving story of a young girl, Mai, whose best friend doesn't show up to school one day, and then Mai sees a bunch of people with signs, protesting. Her parents tell her brother and Mai about the protests, and then Mai decides she's going to help her friend. Her parents and brother are moved by her compassion and determination, and join in on the protest with her.

The art and story are really moving, showing a young child's bravery, reminding those of us who are older that we can be brave as well, and inspiring children to do everything they can to make a difference.

great book to introduce social and racial injustices to small children. a reminder that we should all stick together and uplift each other through these kind of difficult times.

I thought that Today is Different is a great example of two diverse kids supporting each other during a very confusing time for most children. I think that Mai, who is a young Hmong girl is is a great character and one day her best friend Kiara, who is a young black girl was not at school and Mai was very concerned and very confused and when she went home her mom wanted her and her brother to stay home because of the marching going on on the streets and does not want to tell Mai about what really is going on thinking she is too young, but her brother helps her make a sign and convivence her parents to let them to go out and march with Kiara to support her.

There are so many social issues that are difficult to broach with young children, but they are also very important to broach with them. Children are more aware than adults realize and don't want to have the truth brushed under the carpet, they want to understand. We need to be real with our kids, silence does them no favors and this book covers an issue that kids are or should be aware of; racial injustice and systemic social inequality and violence. This book helps teach kids the great lesson that we can unite and create a stronger society together. I really appreciated the author's notes and glossary at the end of the book. This is a great resource to make tough social topics accessible to kids and the adults that will be talking with them about hard and sad realities of our society.

What a powerful way to bring light to something so important. Children need to be taught about the world and how they can make a difference at a young age. This story does a good job of showing differences and similarities between races. It shows the commonalities of families from different backgrounds; parents want to protect their children for as long as they can. It shows that difficult conversations need to occur and only make us stronger.

Thank you NetGalley and Learner Publishing Group for an advanced copy.

Mai is a young person who begins to notice different things about her family, s community, and school. Mai’s friend Kiana is missing and there is a scene where Mai’s parents are boarding up their windows in preparation for something Mai isn’t able to explain.

Written by a Hmong author with a short biography at the end of the book, an excellent resource for uplifting other voices. I plan on purchasing this when it releases to address activism in my classroom. Concepts are complex, but this book starts the conversation of activism and uplifting others as a natural action.