How Wonderfully Odd!: A Backwards Bedtime Adventure of Kindness, Empathy, and Inclusion for Kids

A longer story but it's worth it, according to my son. We liked the story. The bat and the owl make friends with daytime creatures who are different but friendly.

A psychologically astute children’s book that, like classic fairy tales and the best Pixar movies, works on several levels. A night owl myself, I found an immediate and surprising affinity with one of the protagonists. Unlike too many stories aimed at children, this does not rely on flimsy sentiment and a tidy over-explicated moral lesson. This young writer displays a deep-seated understanding of human nature as well as clever storytelling. A rare book that would get 5 stars from my niece and Bruno Bettelheim.

"How Wonderfully Odd!," with text and illustrations by Rory Haltmaier, is the heartwarming story of nocturnal Obie Owl and Bitsy Bat who set out on an adventure to explore the world of diurnal animals. They meet a squirrel, frog, and badger who happily introduce them to alternative lifeways and activities. They return home after learning that what makes you special are your individual differences. This is a heartwarming story of finding self-acceptance, making new friends, sharing kindnesses, and valuing inclusion. The text is engaging and the watercolor illustrations are glorious. Intended for children age 1-8, the book also provides educational insights on diverse animals. The 35-page book is available as a hardcover ($18.99) and a paperback ($10.99); I recommend the hardcover as this story will be read repeatedly. Highly recommended.

Ordered this book about differences for our library...very cute story, however...included in the middle of the book, with no rhyme or reason, were many pages about police officers! Although it talks about the differences of police officers' uniforms and their jobs, it is totally not related to the story about the animal characters. Mystified as to why this was stuck in the middle of this book.

The characters literally jump of the page bc the artistry is SO dynamic. Wow. That also makes it a fun and engaging read for the kiddos. Its a wonderful journey into our differences. Story is full of love, acceptance and kindness. We love it and feel certain you will too!