Books like 'Jacob's School Play: Starring He, She, and They'
Readers who enjoyed Jacob's School Play: Starring He, She, and They by Ian Hoffman & Sarah Hoffman also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
psychological lgbtq realistic children friendship trans-mc family non-binary-mc
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Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA picture book about the power of kindness.When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind... -
![The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig]()
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend…Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party... until, that is, a new kid comes to class.When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic bullying children-books contemporary disability female-author -
![Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival]()
Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA sensitive and reassuring story about what to do when a worry won't leave you alone. Meet Ruby—a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It's not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger... And a little bigger... Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about... -
![Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt]()
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA extraordinary novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference.Selah knows her rules for being normal.She always, always sticks to them. This means keeping her feelings locked tightly inside, despite the way they build up inside her as each school day goes on, so that she has to run to the bathroom and hide in the stall until she can calm down...Categorized as:
realistic family children friendship middle-grade fiction mental-illness contemporary -
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![One by Kathryn Otoshi]()
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsUsing only colors and numbers, author Kathryn Otoshi puts a subtle voice to a lesson about courage against bullying. Red likes to pick on Blue. But other colors don't know what to do until One stands up. "Red can be really HOT,' but "Blue can be super COOL" Excellent book about accepting yourself... -
![You Get What You Get by Julie Gassman]()
You Get What You Get by Julie Gassman
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsMelvin throws fit after fit when he doesn't get what he wants. He must learn how to deal with disappointment. After all, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit... -
![Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt]()
Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"A brave and breathtaking musical... -
![I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems]()
I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsGerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends.In I Love My New Toy!, Piggie can't wait to show Gerald her brand new toy... -
![The Cool Bean by Jory John, Джори Джон]()
The Cool Bean by Jory John, Джори Джон
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEveryone knows the cool beans. They’re sooooo cool.And then there’s the uncool has-bean . . .Always on the sidelines, one bean unsuccessfully tries everything he can to fit in with the crowd—until one day the cool beans show him how it’s done... -
![First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, Judy Love]()
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, Judy Love
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEveryone knows the jumble of feelings as the first day of school approaches -- especially if it's the first day at a new school... -
![Real by Carol Cujec, Peyton Goddard]()
Real by Carol Cujec, Peyton Goddard
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMy name is Charity. I am thirteen years old. Actually, thirteen years plus eighty-seven days. I love sour gummies and pepperoni pizza. That last part no one knows because I have not spoken a sentence since I was born. Each dawning day, I live in terror of my unpredictable body that no one understands... -
![I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët]()
I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis picture book tells the story of an elementary school girl named Vanessa who is bullied and a fellow student who witnesses the act and is at first unsure of how to help...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic bullying children-books female-mc fiction middle-grade -
![Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney]()
Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsYucky music, great big feet.Ladies smelling way too sweet.Look at knees and stand in line.Llama Llama starts to whine.Does any child like to go shopping? Not Llama Llama! But Mama can't leave Llama at home, so off they go to Shop-O-Rama. Lots of aisles. Long lines... -
![I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont]()
I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHigh on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves--inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what! Here's a little girl who knows what really matters.At once silly and serious, Karen Beaumont's joyous rhyming text and David Catrow's wild illustrations unite in a book that is sassy, soulful--and straight from the heart... -
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![Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang]()
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA hilarious picture book about dealing with unexplained feelings…and the danger in suppressing them!Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can’t understand it—how can he be in a bad mood when it’s SUCH a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make THEM happy. But Jim can’t take all the advice…and has a BIT of a meltdown... -
![My Mouth Is A Volcano by Julia Cook]()
My Mouth Is A Volcano by Julia Cook
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTeaching children how to manage their thoughts and words without interrupting.Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts)... -
![My Heart by Corinna Luyken]()
My Heart by Corinna Luyken
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMy heart is a window. My heart is a slide. My heart can be closed...or opened up wide.Some days your heart is a puddle or a fence to keep the world out. But some days it is wide open to the love that surrounds you... -
![Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz]()
Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTo Molly Nathans, perfect is:• The number four• The tip of a newly sharpened number two pencil• A crisp, white pad of paper • Her neatly aligned glass animal figurinesWhat’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year...Categorized as:
children family friendship realistic children-books contemporary disability domestic-drama -
![Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney]()
Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLlama has a sharing drama!Build a tower. Make a moat. Nelly's dolly sails a boat. What can Llama Llama add? Maybe sharing's not so bad. Llama Llama has new neighbors! Nelly Gnu and her mama stop by for a play date, but Llama's not so sure it's time to share all his toys. Maybe just his blocks? It could be fun to make a castle with Nelly . . -
![Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch]()
Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsNone of the kids in her class wear a ponytail, so Stephanie decides she must have one. The loud, unanimous comment from her classmates is: “Ugly, ugly, very ugly.” Steadfast, when all the girls have copied her ponytail, she resolves to try a new style. Each hairdo is more outrageous than the last, while the cast of copycats grows and grows... -
![Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Scott Magoon]()
Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Scott Magoon
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsMeet Spoon. He's always been a happy little utensil. But lately, he feels like life as a spoon just isn't cutting it. He thinks Fork, Knife, and The Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. But do they? And what do they think about Spoon? A book for all ages, Spoon serves as a gentle reminder to celebrate what makes us each special... -
![Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy]()
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLucy is teased by a boy at school because she is different. She has the courage to be true to herself and to make the right choice when that same boy needs her help... -
![Today I Feel Silly Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis]()
Today I Feel Silly Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, authors of I’m Gonna Like Me and Where Do Balloons Go?, Today I Feel Silly helps children understand and appreciate their shifting moods... -
![Cousins by Aurora Venturini]()
Cousins by Aurora Venturini
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsCousins, widely regarded as Venturini’s masterpiece, is the story of four women from an impoverished, dysfunctional family in La Plata, Argentina, who are forced to suffer through a series of ordeals, including illegal abortions, miscarriages, sexual abuse, disfigurement, and murder, narrated by a daughter whose success as a painter offers her a chance to achieve economic independence and help... -
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![Why Johnny Doesn't Flap: NT is OK! by Clay Morton, Gail Morton]()
Why Johnny Doesn't Flap: NT is OK! by Clay Morton, Gail Morton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJohnny is different. He is never exactly on time, he can't seem to stick to a routine and he often speaks in cryptic idioms. Johnny is neurotypical, but that's OK.A picture book with a difference, Why Johnny Doesn't Flap turns the tables on common depictions of neurological difference by drolly revealing how people who are not on the autistic spectrum are perceived by those who are... -
![Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook]()
Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy stomach feels likeit’s tied up in a knot.My knees lock up, andmy face feels hot.You know what I mean?I’m Wilma Jean,The Worry Machine.Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, and/or fear. It is considered to be the number one health problem in America. Although quite common, anxiety disorders in children are often misdiagnosed and overlooked... -
![Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival]()
Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMeesha loves making things . . . but there's one thing she finds difficult to make – friends. She doesn't know quite what to do, what to say or when to say it. But one day she discovers that she has a special talent that might just help her navigate social situations - and maybe even make new friends...Categorized as:
realistic friendship children children-books mental-illness fiction poc-mc disability -
![Stars by Mary Lyn Ray]()
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"A star is how you know it's almost night.""As soon as you see one, there's another, and another.""And the dark that comes doesn't feel so dark.""What if you could have a star?"From acclaimed author Mary Lyn Ray and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee comes this tender, evocative--and profound--exploration of stars both near and far... -
![The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill]()
The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOh, would that all bullying problems could be solved so easily! Mean Jean is the reigning Recess Queen, pushing and smooshing, hammering and slammering the other kids whenever they cross her. And then one day a puny new girl shows up on the playground and catches Mean Jean completely off-guard... -
![Hug Machine by Scott Campbell]()
Hug Machine by Scott Campbell
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWho have YOU hugged today? Open your arms to this delightfully tender, goofy, and sweet tale.Watch out world, here he comes! The Hug Machine!Whether you are big, or small, or square, or long, or spikey, or soft, no one can resist his unbelievable hugs! HUG ACCOMPLISHED!This endearing story encourages a warm, caring, and buoyantly affectionate approach to life... -
![A New Home by Tania de Regil]()
A New Home by Tania de Regil
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs a girl in Mexico City and a boy in New York City ponder moving to each other's locale, it becomes clear that the two cities -- and the two children -- are more alike than they might think.But I'm not sure I want to leave my home.I'm going to miss so much.Moving to a new city can be exciting... -
![The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson, Maria Dismondy]()
The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson, Maria Dismondy
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHave you ever seen a bully in action and done nothing about it? The kids at Pete's new school get involved, instead of being bystanders. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates teach him about "The Promise"...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books fiction bullying psychological contemporary -
![Don't Forget Dexter! by Lindsay Ward]()
Don't Forget Dexter! by Lindsay Ward
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIntroducing Dexter T. Rexter, the toughest, coolest dinosaur ever. At least he likes to think so.When his best friend, Jack, leaves him behind at the doctor’s office, Dexter T. Rexter panics. First he tries to find Jack. Then he sings their special song. Then he sings their special song even louder. But when Jack still doesn’t appear, Dexter starts to wonder... -
![دختری که هرگز اشتباه نمی کرد by Mark Pett, رویا خوشنویس]()
دختری که هرگز اشتباه نمی کرد by Mark Pett, رویا خوشنویس
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBeatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake...Meet Beatrice Bottomwell: a nine-year-old girl who has never (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, Beatrice holds the record of perfection in her hometown, where she is known as The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes... -
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![The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood]()
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAll quiet is not created equal. In this irresistibly charming picture book, many different quiet moments are captured, from the anticipation-heavy “Top of the roller coaster quiet” to the shocked-into-silence “First look at your new hairstyle quiet... -
![Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival]()
Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFrom the creator of Ruby Finds a Worry, an empowering picture book about embracing and celebrating what makes you unique.Norman had always been perfectly normal . . . until one day, he grows a pair of wings! Afraid of what people will think, Norman covers them up with a big coat... -
![Purplicious by Victoria Kann, Elizabeth Kann]()
Purplicious by Victoria Kann, Elizabeth Kann
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIt's purple Pinkalicious! Pinkalicious loves the color pink, but all the girls at school like black. They tease her, saying that pink stinks and pink is for babies. But Pinkalicious doesn't think so that is, until her friends stop playing with her. Now Pinkalicious has a case of the blues... -
![Sacred Country by Rose Tremain]()
Sacred Country by Rose Tremain
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAt the age of six, Mary Ward, the child of a poor farming family in Suffolk, has a revelation: she isn't Mary, she's a boy. So begins Mary's heroic struggle to change gender, while around her others also strive to find a place of safety and fulfilment in a savage and confusing world... -
![Maple & Willow Together by Lori Nichols]()
Maple & Willow Together by Lori Nichols
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCelebrating imagination and inventive play, Lori Nichols' follow-up to Maple perfectly captures the dynamics of siblings and their ability to figure things out on their own and find a way to meet halfway.Maple and Willow do everything together. They love playing outside throughout the whole year, welcoming the sun, rain, leaves, and snow... -
![Soaked! by Abi Cushman]()
Soaked! by Abi Cushman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA Hula-Hooping moose, a badger with a bumblebee umbrella, a rabbit in a cashmere sweater, and a very wet bear star in this unpredictable and laugh-out-loud picture book in which having fun gets the best of a grumpy bear.It looks like a wet and dreary day for Bear and his trio of friends. How could he possibly have fun when he is soaked? But Badger, Rabbit, and Moose don't seem to mind... -
![Being Billy by Phil Earle]()
Being Billy by Phil Earle
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFaces flashed before my eyes. And for every face there was a time that they had let me down. Each punch that landed was revenge, my chance to tell them I hadn't forgotten what they did. Eight years in a care home makes Billy Finn a professional lifer. And Billy's angry - with the system, the social workers, and the mother that gave him away. As far as Billy's concerned, he's on his own... -
![Brave Enough for Two: A Hoot & Olive Story by Jonathan D. Voss]()
Brave Enough for Two: A Hoot & Olive Story by Jonathan D. Voss
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn the spirit of Goodnight Moon and The Night Gardener comes a heartwarming picture book about friendship that is sure to become a classic from debut author-illustrator Jonathan D. Voss. Olive is a little girl who likes the types of adventures that exist in books. Her best friend Hoot, a stuffed-animal owl, prefers the ones that take place in the real world... -
![Franklin in the Dark by Paulette Bourgeois]()
Franklin in the Dark by Paulette Bourgeois
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn the Franklin Classic Storybook that started it all, poor little Franklin has one of the most common childhood afflictions - he is afraid of the dark. This is particularly distressing for Franklin as he happens to be a turtle, and the darkness he fears is, of course, inside his own shell... -
![The Lies I Told Him by Vanessa Garbin]()
The Lies I Told Him by Vanessa Garbin
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOne night, Daphne’s teenage son Gabriel returns early from a house party, completely distraught. He refuses to let his mother know what’s wrong and becomes very reclusive.But Daphne’s son is not her only concern. Far from it. Her husband is acting oddly. And she is getting messages from an ex-partner she’d very much rather forget... -
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![Los Osos Berenstain y Demasiada Fiesta by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain]()
Los Osos Berenstain y Demasiada Fiesta by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIs there such a thing as too much birthday? Poor Sister is overwhelmed by her big, noisy sixth-birthday party. Her sympathetic parents help her realize the true importance of having a birthday in this humorous exercise in moderation for cubs--and parents... -
![The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson]()
The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsTwo boys. Two secrets.David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl. On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year eleven is definitely not part of that plan... -
![My Cousin Momo by Zachariah OHora]()
My Cousin Momo by Zachariah OHora
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsZachariah OHora's distinctive retro art and kid-friendly humor take the stage in this story about accepting and celebrating differences.Momo is coming to visit, and his cousins are SO excited! But even though Momo is a flying squirrel, he won't fly for his cousin’s friends. Plus, his games are weird... -
![When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry... by Molly Bang]()
When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry... by Molly Bang
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 29 ratings"Oh is Sophie ever angry now!"Everybody gets angry sometimes. For children, anger can be very upsetting. Parents, teachers, and children can talk about it. People do lots of different things when they get angry. In this Caldecott-honor book, kids will see what Sophie does when she gets angry... -
![Leon the Chameleon by Mélanie Watt]()
Leon the Chameleon by Mélanie Watt
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLeon the chameleon has a problem. When the other little chameleons turn green, yellow or blue -- he turns red, purple or orange! Leon doesn't turn the opposite color on purpose. He just can't help it. Being different makes Leon feel lonely. One day, the little chameleons go exploring and lose their way... -
![Augustine by Mélanie Watt]()
Augustine by Mélanie Watt
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMoving all the way from the South Pole to the North Pole isn't easy for the young penguin Augustine. Uprooted from her home, she misses her friends, her grandma and grandpa and her old bedroom. There are all kinds of unfamiliar faces at the North Pole, and everything looks strange and different. When it's time to go to her new school, Augustine gets cold feet...
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