Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon (2001)

Independent reading level: Grades 1st-2nd
Awards: 2003 Beehive Award -- Picture Book (Winner)
2003 Georgia Children's Book Award -- Picture Storybook (Winner)
2002 Book Sense Book of the Year Award -- Children's Illustrated (Nominee)
2003 Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award -- Grades K-3 (Honor Book)
2003 Buckaroo Book Award -- Children's (Nominee)
2003 North Carolina Children's Book Award -- Picture Book (Nominee)
2004 Flicker Tale Children's Book Award -- Picture Book (Nominee)
2005 Golden Sower Award -- Grades K-3 (Nominee)

I found the art horrifying. My niece makes me read it to her 20 times a day. Help.

We often tell children (and adults) that being unique is special and that being different is ok. Molly Lou Melon is different than her peers and starting in a new school. With self confidence and words of wisdom from family, she makes friends because she is a kind person. ( )

I really love children's books. I have a small collection of them and continue to buy them as an adult, because I love the magic of the words in them and the illustrations. When people say they are in a reading slump, the first advice I give is to pick up a children's book!

Listened to Dolly Parton read this as part of her "Goodnight With Dolly" series. I love her soothing voice and how she always sings a little. https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/goodnight-with-dolly/
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Picture / Graphic Novel

This book is about a little girl with buck teeth, she's extremely short, and she has the biggest eyes of everyone in her class. She stands out to say the least. Even though some of the kids in her new class made fun of her, she displayed all of her wonderful talents and eventually made friends with all of them.

I love this book because it teaches kids that it's okay to stand out and be different from everyone else because being like everyone else is boring.