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Author: Billy Joel
Publication Date: 1977
Genre: Music/Music video
Interest level: Grades 3-12
Billy Joel's just the Way you are is a artistic display of accepting other for how they are.  Through his lyrics and affection in voice, Billy tells a story of his love for someone else and his wish for them to never change.
Teaching Idea: Students will complete a text analysis of the lyrics individually through close reading and interpretation.  Initially, the students will listen to the song a few times and will then be asked to interpret the lyrics.  After their interpretation, the students will then be given a copy of the lyrics and will then be asked to work with another student to discuss their thoughts.  After a few minutes, the students will then come together as an entire class to analyze the lyrics.

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Billy Joel - Just the Way You Are (Live 1977)

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Author: Andy Cutbill
Illustrator: Russell Ayto
Publication Date: January 2008
Genre: Narration
Interest level: 1-3
Majorie was a just like any other cow.... until she laid an egg.  Majorie initially struggles with her unusual occurrence but soon accepts her own self along with others accepting her.
Teaching idea:  The students will be apart of reader response groups where the students will be within assigned groups to discuss the theme of the text.  Once the students have a good understanding of the text, the students will discuss amongst each other about a time where they had felt uncomfortable and out of place.  The students will then be asked to be to answer follow up questions such as "how did these event make you fee?"

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Author: Lori Degman
Illustrator: Marco Bucci
Publication Date: August 2016
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Grades 1-3
Norbert is a pig with the dream of being able to swim across the English Channel.  While being a pig, his dreams are big and his motivation is high.  However, the other animals in the farm mock and make fun of him for his dreams.  Throughout Norbert's journey, the other animals begin to accept his dreams as they gradually help him with his dreams of swimming across the English Channel.
Teaching Idea: The students will create a life story time line which they will address a time in their life where they had a goal that they wished to achieve that was challenged by obstacles and other difficulties.  The students will then get in groups of 3 where they will share their story time lines with the other students in their group.

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Author: Lori Mitchell
Illustrator: Lori Mitchell
Publication Date: February 1999
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Grades K-1
Through the perspective and narration of a young girl, April becomes fascinated with the different qualities that are different amongst everyone. April watches a little girl talk with her hands and a woman who only reads with her fingers learning that these people and others are different than her.  This easy to read picture book helps readers appreciate their distinctive qualities as well as the qualities of others.
Teaching Idea: The students will create a coloring page of an illustration of the main character (April) on the bed.  The students will be encouraged to color the illustration anyway they please and to express themselves rather then demonstrating work that is not theirs.

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Author: Nickelback
Publication: 2011
Genre: Music/Music video
Interest level: Grades 3-12
Throughout the lyrics of this song, Nickelback tells the truth behind the continuous battles we face as people and how through thick and thin we must stay together and live amongst one another.  On top of the lyrics, the music video displays images and clips of aftermaths of war, terrorist attacks, and tragic events.
Teaching Idea: The students will conduct a writing analysis of the lyrics of the song for further understanding and meaning of the theme.  Students will be paired in groups of two where they will be given a copy of the lyrics to analyze for deeper understanding of the importance of acceptance.

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Author: Max Lucado
Illustrator: Sergio Martinez
Publication Date: 1997
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Grades 1-3
You Are Special takes onto a journey into a small village ran by small wooden people.  The Wemmicks are wooden dolls created by the woodworker where they put gold stars or gray dots on each other.  The gold stars are given to the prettiest and most talented Wemmicks while the gray dots are given to the Wemmicks who have chipped paint or are not talented.  The story follows one Wemmick named Punchinello who journeys through life struggling to realize how special he and everyone else really is.
Teaching Idea:  One teaching idea that can be used to related to the text is an activity where the class brings in an item from their personal life where they will share with the class that describes something unique about themselves.

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Author: Todd Parr
Illustrator: Todd Parr
Publication Date: 2007
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Grades 1-3
It's Okay to Be Different demonstrates and explains the importance of acceptance through understanding others.  Throughout colorful illustrations, the book is targeted for young children to express acceptance individually as well as self-confidence.
Teaching Idea: The class will conduct a "points of view" activity.  This activity will have students role play different perspectives given by the teacher and then will discuss how it made them feel to be experience what they did.  This lesson will demonstrate that no one is the same and will express the importance of acceptance.

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Author Michele Gianetti
Illustrator: Tanja Russita
Publication Date: January 2017
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Grades 1-3
Through the perspective of a young girl, Emily understands and discovers how to assist her younger sister in having a happier life.  Emily's younger sister has sensory processing disorder (SPD), and Emily does not fully understand the disability.  Throughout questioning and awareness, Emily gradually begins to learn about SPD and ways to help her sister.
Teaching Idea: Create an independent writing activity where the students will be asked to write about a time where they were curious about something or someone else.  Ask the students questions such as, what did you do to find information about someone or the something?

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Author: Android comp/
Publication Date: 2016
Genre: Animated commercial
Interest level: All ages
This commercial is not only a phone network ad, but also a life message for people.  This commercial takes the game of rock paper scissors into an animated short that demonstrates he importance of being an individual.
Teaching Idea: "What is my Name" activity.  Have the students in the classroom pair up with another student.  They each tell each other their name and an interesting fact.  The students then play rock paper scissors and winner continues to play while loser cheers on the person they lost to.  This activity allows students to get to know each other more as well as understanding that no one is the same.

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Author: Airbnb comp/
Publication: Superbowl 2017
Genre: Commercial
Interest level: Grades 5-6
This commercial demonstrates the importance of acceptance racially and culturally.  Airbnb is not only an online service center for apartment rentals and or lodging, but also a demonstration to the younger population as well as others all around the world about the differentiation amongst others.
Teaching Idea: "Life Story Time Line" is a writing strategy lesson/activity that has the students reflect on personal experiences and moments.  For this specific activity, students will provide their family backgrounds addressing their family tree and the races and cultures of their family members and themselves.  This activity will help the students understand the individuality other people have and the acceptance we must embrace in today's society.

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Author: David McKee
Illustrator: Harper Collins
Publication Date: September, 1989
Genre: Narration
Interest Level: K-3
In a world of animals, one elephant stands out from everyone.  Elmer the elephant is a vibrant colorful animal with checkered colors all across his body.  Since Elmer is much different then all the other elephants, he is made fun of and laughed at.  Throughout his journey, the elephants soon realize how important and special Elmer really is.
Teaching Idea: Have students draw elephants any color and design they want.  Once they complete their elephants they will be hung on the walls together demonstrating that they are all the same but different at the same time, and all should be accepted.

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Author: Robert L. May
Illustrator: David Wenzel
Publication Date: May, 1939
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Pre K- K
In this iconic kids story, a young reindeer is born with a glowing red nose that is much different then all the other reindeer.  He is made fun of and picked on for being different and is never treated fair.  In a changing turn of events throughout the story, Rudolph saves the day and becomes accepted amongst the reindeer.
Teaching idea: A teaching idea for the book would be to connect it to the movie.  The students would watch the animated movie in class and at the end would reflect on the actions of the other reindeer towards Rudolph.  Questions like, did the other reindeer treat Rudolph fair, why? And, How would you feel if you were treated like Rudolph?

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Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
Publication Date: 1999
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Grades 1-3
In this rhyme filled story, a young Giraffe named Gerald wishes to dance like all the other animals.  However, the animals laugh and mock him, making fun of his clumsiness and tall and long body shape.  Throughout Gerald's adventure, he gains the confidence to express himself:  Showing the other animals that Giraffes can dance.
Teaching idea: Students individually think of a time where they were picked on in their life.  Ask them specific questions like how they felt? and why did it make you feel the way it did?

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Author: Hans Christian Andersen
Illustrator: Jerry Pinkey
Publication Date: March 24, 1999
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Ages Grades 3-5
This old tale tells a story of a baby bird born into a world of bullying and abuse from other birds.  This bird looks nothing else like the other birds, making him an easy target to be made fun of.  Throughout his journey as a young bird  into adulthood, the "ugly duckling" becomes a marvelous creature of pure beauty.
Teaching Idea:  This book can be connected to the understanding of different cultures in school and society.  To stress this, students will discuss in groups their origins and backgrounds as individuals: understanding that no one has the exact same family or origin.  The class will then come together and discuss their understanding of acceptance as well as what they learned.

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Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Harry Bliss
Publication Date: 2003
Genre: Narration
Interest level: Ages Grades 1-3
This fun to read kids book is not only enjoyable for the kids but as well as the parents.  DIARY of a WORM takes the reader on a journey through the life experiences of a worm as he conquers daily tasks and challenges.
Teaching Idea: Partner up with a student in the classroom and have each student select an animal. The students would then create a short story about the two different animals friendship and then bring the class together to reflect on the importance of acceptance even though everyone is different.