Nidhi Chanani, Sonali Patodia, Crystel Patterson

What do we do when words aren’t enough to express our big emotions? Nidhi Chanani’s Quiet Karima shows kids how to find music in our surroundings instead and listen attentively until they find their own voices. Our bodies can help us communicate too, as we see in Kobe’s Special Handshake by Crystel Patterson, a story about how a single handshake can have multiple meanings that inspire hope and reignite joy for kids going through tough times. Self-consciousness can become a loud voice in our head when we compare ourselves to others, but as Krishna from Sonali Patodia’s You’re Truly One of a Kind walks down a long, winding road with his best friend, the diverse beauty surrounding them makes them think, think, and think some more about how he can find his rainbow of confidence! This read aloud, emceed by public school elementary educator Peter Limata, will teach kids to embrace their individuality in all aspects of their lives, from how they look to how they communicate with themselves and others.