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Today Is Different

  • Interest Level: Kindergarten - Grade 3
  • Reading Level: Grade 2

Standing together makes all of us stronger.

Mai, a young Hmong girl, and Kiara, a young Black girl, are best friends. They do everything together—riding the bus, eating lunch, playing at recess. But one day Kiara misses school and Mai goes looking for answers. When she learns that her best friend is protesting an act of police violence against the Black community, Mai decides to join the protest too. Her parents at first want to protect her by keeping her at home, but she shows them that standing together makes all of us stronger.

Written by author and actor Doua Moua, who played Po in Disney’s live-action Mulan, this picture book provides an inspiring look at the value of allyship and solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Format Your Price Add
978-1-7284-3029-4
 $13.49
978-1-7284-5104-6
 $22.99
979-8-7656-2090-8
 $34.99
979-8-7656-2089-2
 $6.99
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Interest Level Kindergarten - Grade 3
Reading Level Grade 2
Genre Picture Books
Category Diverse Books: Celebrating Differences , Diverse Books: #OwnVoices, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2022
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Books ®
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2022-04-05
Text Type Fiction
BISACS JUV039220, JUV039120, JUV039180
Dewey [E]
Dimensions 10.625 x 8.875
Lexile 530
Guided Reading Level N
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Author/Illustrator note, Awards, Original artwork, and Reviewed

Awards

  • Social Justice Literature Award, Winner, 2023
  • Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature Honor Book, Commended, 2023
  • Notable Award Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Nominee, Nominated, 2023
  • Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books of the Year List, Winner, 2022
  • Gold House Book Club Book, Winner, 2022

Reviews

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

Reviewed on 29 July 2022

“Children can feel overwhelmed by acts of injustice; this book provides a good place to start figuring out how to help. An excellent discussion-starter for a family or a classroom.”—Children’s Literature

Booklist

Reviewed on 15 March 2022

“[O]ffers a reassuring and relatable narrative for kids who have been confused by recent news coverage.”—Booklist

Kirkus Reviews

Reviewed on 1 February 2022

“Moua positively portrays a cross-cultural friendship and explores how racial violence impacts children. . . . An important story about how marginalized groups can work together for social justice . . .”—Kirkus Reviews

Alan Page

“Today Is Different speaks to overcoming fears, the importance of coming together as community, and the strength derived from young people being engaged, and I highly recommend it.” —Alan Page, author, retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, and retired NFL player

Bao Phi

“[W]ritten with both nuance and directness by Doua Moua, and beautifully illustrated by Kim Holt, Today is Different adds to a very necessary conversation we should all be having.” —Bao Phi, author of A Different Pond

Carole Boston Weatherford

“With simple yet poignant prose, Today Is Different fosters compassion and connection among young readers.” —Carole Boston Weatherford, author of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre and Newbery Honor-winning book Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom