Embracing Differences: An I Love You Just Because Children's Book Giveaway

When I look around the world today, there are so many groups of people out there. There are different races and cultures. There are different political views. There are different parenting philosophies. There are different abilities. That's part of what makes this world great, right? Those differences? And yet so often these days it seems like it is those differences that cause anger and bullying. We see it each and every day with racial tensions, political arguments, mommy shaming, bullying of people who are disabled.

Back when I was in high school, I had the blessing of working with a preschooler with Down Syndrome. Each morning during my study hall, I would head down to the preschool classroom and each day I was met with a big hug from this sweet boy. As I played with him each morning, I was also given the opportunity to see how the other children interacted with him. They knew that there was something a little different about him of course, but they accepted him and loved him. They drew him into their activities where they could. There was no bullying, no hate.

I witnessed this again in my own son's preschool classes. In these classes there was quite the variety of races, cultures and different-abilities covered. There were children who were verbal and children who were not. There were children in wheelchairs and with other physical handicaps, and those without. All of these children loved and accepted each other despite their differences. Even on through first grade when my son entered into a mainstream classroom, we saw acceptance for all of the students. I learned that children at a very young age, while they may notice different skin colors or that some children act or look differently than themselves, they have no ill feeling for anyone. Children love unconditionally, as we all should.

And yet, somewhere along the way, something changes. Whether from parents or from others around them,  they learn that these differences are weird or bad. They are taught hate and nonacceptance. With so much hate and so much bullying around today, I could think of nothing more important to teach my own children than to love everyone and to embrace the things that make us unique.

I Love You Just Because can be a great starting point:

Through adorable, cuddly art and fun rhyming text, I Love You Just Because will help little ones understand their parents' love for them and that it doesn't have to be earned. With playful artwork and the same friendly bear family you already know and love from Donna Keith's first two books—I Love You All the Same and I Love You Even When—the sweet story of this book will touch you and your family and will remind you that family members love each other...just because.

Parents will gravitate toward the felt need and fun messaging of this book as it seeks to help them explain to their little ones that they are truly loved just because.

Donna's first two books were inspired by her daughter's interracial family, and that theme carries on through this story and could provide a great resource or interracial or adopted families as well. But it's not just for these families. These categories don't pertain to my family, but as I read through I could not help but think of my autistic son and his neurotypical sister- both entirely different but loved just the same. This book related to them too. And it's not just in the family. We live in an area that is very diverse. My kids will be in the classroom with all different races and I want them to know that God created us all unique, and all just as we are supposed to be. I truly feel that this book can be a great starting point to have those conversations with your children. Yes, it's lighthearted and fun, but it lays that foundation for a much more powerful message as they grow. If you ask me, this is a must read for every family.

You can learn more and connect at the links below:
Shop Amazon
Facebook @DonnaKeithAuthor
Facebook @TommyNelsonBooks
Twitter @TommyNelson
Instagram @TommyNelsonBooks
Pinterest Tommy-Nelson-Books

And one very lucky reader is going to win a copy for themselves. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. One entry per household, winning entry will be verified. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery.