School has started, and, hard as it is to believe, those cherubic children of September will soon be…well, let’s just say it’s never too early to start reading some picture books about celebrating yourself and others.  Here are a few ideas:

Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Janet Stevens.  Published by HMH Books for Young Readers.

Kangaroo has big feet, Crocodile has a winning smile, Elephant has a long nose…no two animals are alike, yet each one is special. Kids in a classroom can think about what makes them unique and an important part of the group.

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld.  Published by HMH Books for Young Readers.

This is Stick and Stone‘s second appearance on a Wrap-Up Wednesday list.  What can I say?  It has a winning combination of a catchy rhyming text, adorable illustrations, and a great message about friendship.

Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall.  Published by Greenwillow Books.

What happens when a blue crayon gets a red label?  It can’t draw anything it’s supposed to, and everyone has an opinion about how to fix it.  A great parable for being yourself and not using labels (except maybe on crayons, and then only if they’re correct).

Ninja Bunny by Jennifer Gray Olson.  Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Ninja Bunny has ten rules for being a good ninja, including working alone.  But when a bear comes along, he realizes that even ninjas need their friends.