What If We Were All The Same!: A Children's Book About Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion
#1 of 4 in What If We Were All Series
What’s inside...
What If We Were All The Same! is an award-winning children's picture book that celebrates the diversity of living things. It is the winner of the 2020 BIBA(R) Children's Winner and has been featured on BBC CBeebies Lunchtime Stories. The book uses rhymes and colorful illustrations to address challenging topics such as prejudices and racism, making it a great resource for parents, librarians, and teachers to discuss friendship, acceptance, empathy, and bullying. It promotes the message of embracing uniqueness and the importance of diversity and inclusion. Fun, rhythmic story for reading with added discussion questions for teachers and parents. Stickers included! (updated July 2021) Would you want everything to look the same? That wouldn't be very exciting. What If We Were All The Same! embraces all of our beautiful differences. There are many great reasons for being different and you're a step closer to finding out why!. Whether you have red hair or brown hair, green eyes or blue eyes, long legs or short legs, light skin or dark skin, glasses, use a wheelchair, or anything else, it's absolutely OKAY! Our differences are what makes us unique and if we truly think about it, would you want to be the exact same as someone else? What If We Were All The Same! is fun-filled with rhymes and colorful illustrations, bringing attention to tough topics children can relate to.
Discussion points
How would the world be different if everyone looked the same? What are some good things that might happen, and what might be some challenges?
Why do you think it's important to have friends from different backgrounds?
Can you think of a time when you learned something new from a friend who is different from you?
How do you think the characters in the book felt when they learned about each other’s differences?
What can we do to make everyone feel included and appreciated, no matter how they look?
Tip: Role play these questions
As you read the book together, pause to reflect on the illustrations and ask your child what they notice about each character's unique traits.
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts as they answer the questions, affirming their ideas and expanding on them with your own thoughts.
Use examples from your own experiences or those of people you know to illustrate the benefits of diversity and inclusion.
After reading, consider watching a movie or attending a cultural event that celebrates diversity to reinforce the themes discussed.
Encourage your child to share the story and what they’ve learned with friends or siblings to help spread the message of inclusion.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: The book illustrates the beauty of a world where differences are celebrated, showing characters of various ethnic backgrounds interacting harmoniously.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate and respect people from different cultures and backgrounds, fostering inclusivity in their own communities.
Example Lesson: Equality
Explanation: Through engaging stories and characters, the book conveys that everyone deserves equal respect and opportunities, regardless of their appearance or origin.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children to treat everyone equally and to stand against discrimination in their schools and playgrounds.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: The narrative encourages children to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, demonstrating how understanding different perspectives enriches relationships.
Real-World Application: Children can practice empathy in real life, helping them build strong and supportive friendships with peers who may seem different.
Example Lesson: The Strength in Unity
Explanation: The book highlights how working together and supporting one another leads to a stronger, more vibrant community.
Real-World Application: This message encourages children to collaborate and support their peers, understanding that unity creates better outcomes for group activities and projects.
Example Lesson: Confidence in Identity
Explanation: Characters in the book express pride in their cultural heritage, which boosts their self-esteem and encourages self-expression.
Real-World Application: Children are inspired to explore and take pride in their own heritage, increasing self-confidence and a sense of identity.