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By: Maria Shriver
Illustrated by: Sandra Speidel

Summary: When eight-year old Kate goes to the park with her mom, she notices a boy that looks and behaves differently from her friends. Kate asks her mom, "What's wrong with Timmy?". Once Kate is introduced to Timmy, she realizes that they have a lot in common. Her question of "What is wrong with Timmy?" turns out to be an irrelevant question because she realizes that nothing is "wrong" with Timmy at all.

Transformative Rationale: This story is transformative because it brings light to a group of people that are marginalized by others in society. This story can teach children that individuals with disabilities do not have things wrong with them. Instead, children can learn that individuals with disabilities may just have different abilities than them. It can open up a discussion for children to understand how they should act and talk to peers with disabilities. Kate, the main character, can show readers that just by talking to Timmy who has an intellectual disability she was able to realize that they like some of the same things and there was no reason to be afraid or judge Timmy. This story can be used to teach young readers about inclusion and what it means to be inclusive to all types of people.

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By: Mary Hoffman
Illustrated by: Ros Asquith

Summary: A story that features a variety types of cultures, family structures, and races. It brings readers into the lives of all kinds of people while also highlighting varying life experiences in regards to economic statues, housing situations, and transportation.

Transformative Rationale: This story allows readers to see into all types of life instead of focusing on just one family. The illustrations in the story can depict distinct features about the characters that make them all be seen as genuine human beings. Students can see similar characteristics of themselves and their families in the story while also being exposed to different lives and situations compared to their own. This story can show readers that not one race or family is superior to another.

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By: Ellen Levine
Illustrated by: Steve Bjorkman

Summary: After her family moves from Hong Kong to New York, Mei Mei struggles to adapt to American life. She struggles to learn the "alien sounds of English".

Transformative Rationale: Readers can have a window into what it may be like for people from other countries who move to the U.S. and try to live in a new, unknown country. This can introduce readers into a different lifestyle than their own that has different cultural practices. This story can also be a mirror for students who speak more than one language. They can make connections to how they've struggled to transition from one language to the other.

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By: Sophie Beer

Summary: A story that takes you on a trip through the lives of various families and the ways that they show love to one another.

Transformative Rationale: This story can spread awareness about the diverse types of family structures that exist. This story doesn't make one type of family structure stand out more than another which allows for all family structures to be represented accurately and not make one seem more normal than another. All children can see themselves reflected in the story because various family structures, genders, and races are presented in the story. This story can teach the valuable lesson that no matter where you come from, how you look, or what your family looks like you all share the common feelings of love for your family.

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By: Gloria Lintermans
Illustrated by: Kristina Tosic

Summary: The story follows a young cat named Sam who is missing his tail. Sam realizes that he is different from other cats due to his missing tail, but he learns the importance of diversity, acceptance, and self-worth.

Transformative Rationale: This book focuses on diversity and the importance of there being differences among people. Although it is a book about cats, it allows for readers to not be narrowed in on one type of race or identity. This means that this book allows the story to be connected to people with disabilities, racial groups, gender identity, and/or ethnicity groups. It allows for teachers to take the book in any direction while still getting the same meaning across. In addition, the book allows for there to be a window into the feelings of someone who may look different from others. Students who may have had similar feelings as Sam can make connections to the story and feel that they are not alone in the world.

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By: Kelly A. Tinkham
Illustrated by: Amy June Bates

Summary: A young boy named Marcus learns that his mom has been diagnosed with cancer. When Marcus realizes that his mom doesn't want to be in their annual family photo due to her loss of hair, he decides to everything he can to get his mom new hair. In the end, Marcus may have not been able to get his mom new hair, but he did learn an important lesson about family and what should be important in life.

Transformative Rationale: This story follows the life of an African American family which can be a mirror for students of minority who may not see their race reflected in stories often. It can also be a window into the life experience of dealing with a serious illness. It can open up discussion for readers who may have questions about cancer or similar types of illnesses. It can teach students how to express their emotions and learn to understand the serious of some life experiences. Students that have had experience with cancer in their family can use this story as a mirror that gives them the opportunity to open up and reflect on their life.

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By: Joan Fassler
Illustrated by: Joe Lasker

Summary: Howie, a young boy with cerebral palsy, loves to go to school and be with his family. Howie's wish in life is to build up his strength in order to be able to push his wheelchair by himself. Will Howie's wish come true?

Transformative Rationale: This book is transformative because it can teach children that not everyone around them may look the same as them or have the same experiences. However, they can all relate to the desire to be independent. This book also introduces readers to other individuals with disabilities in the book who are different from Howie and face their own desire for independents. Readers have a window into a different lifestyle compared to their own. Howie is able to do similar things to his peers, but with a few accommodations due to his wheelchair.

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By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Summary: Ally tends to be seen as a troublemaker in school. What is she trying to hide? Her dyslexia. Ally has a learning disability that makes it hard for her to read. Ally does everything she can to hide her disability even if it means she may get in trouble for the distractions she creates to get out of reading in front of others. Ally's shame and embarrassment causes her to never want to ask for help because she believes she's stupid. Through the help of one of her teachers, Ally learns to not be ashamed of who she is and that she has the ability to accomplish anything she puts her mind to.

Transformative Rationale: This story confronts the idea that people with disabilities are defined by their disability. It can teach readers not to assume things about people because there may be more to the reason why people may act a certain way. This can be a mirror for readers who have felt hopeless or embarrassed about who they are. This story can expand the idea that no one should place labels on others because labels do not define who people are.

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By: Gayle E. Pitman
Illustrated by: Kristyna Litten

Summary: A story that gives a look into the experience of attending a pride parade and the people you may meet there. It can give insight into the history of the LGBT community.

Transformative Rationale: This is a transformative text because it opens up discussion about acceptance and the understanding of different sexual orientations and gender identities. It confronts the dominant norm of sexual orientation and gender identity in a vibrant way. A reading guide is included at the end of the story to allow readers to have a better understanding of the story. This story can allow readers who may relate to the ideas presented in the story to feel valued and respected. This can also be window into a different culture for some readers. It gives general insight into a different type of lifestyle that not everyone may be able to relate to.

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By:  Brittany Adkins and Kristen Bell

Summary: Nolan and his best friend, Teddy, go on new and fun adventures together. How do they go on these adventures? Using Nolan's new power wheelchair.

Transformative Rationale: Readers can connect to the wild imaginations of Nolan and Teddy while having a window into the life of a peer who may not physically look the same as them. This story can teach young children that just because someone looks different than them doesn't mean they are less than.