Love Yourself

We talk a lot about kindness, friendship, and inclusion but sometimes, the most powerful lesson we can teach our children (and remind ourselves) is to love yourself. That simple phrase carries so much weight, especially for kids who feel like they don't quite fit in.

Annie the Porcupine is no stranger to that feeling. In her stories, she wrestles with moments of doubt—wondering why her family celebrates differently, why she doesn't have a birthday party like other kids, or why she's unsure how to give a Valentine. She wants to be part of the fun, part of the group, but often feels on the outside looking in.

And yet, as Annie grows through each story, she begins to understand something important: the way her family does things, the way she does things; it matters. It's valid. It's worthy of love and celebration. Annie learns to love her uniqueness, and in doing so, she finds where she truly fits.

That's what inclusion is all about. It's not just making space for others—it's celebrating them as they are. It's saying, "You belong, even if your traditions are different. You matter, even if your path doesn't look like mine." And that starts with each of us learning to love ourselves, even in the moments we feel out of place.

Annie's journey encourages readers of all ages to ask: What makes me special? What do I bring to the table just by being myself? When we recognize and appreciate those answers, we not only build confidence in ourselves, we open our hearts to others, too.

So the next time you or your little one is feeling a little left out, remember Annie. Remember that fitting in doesn't always mean changing who you are. It can mean loving yourself enough to stand tall, quills and all, and knowing that there's a place for you, exactly as you are.