Different on Purpose

Different on Purpose
What Makes You Different… Might Be Your Greatest Strength – (Classroom Version) (Edited for Teachers and Educators to be used in a Classroom Setting)

Have you ever felt like you didn’t quite fit in? Maybe you look, talk, think, or act differently from those around you. Maybe you’ve been picked on for being yourself-or stood silently while someone else was.

In Different on Purpose, Edward D. Smith delivers a powerful and heartfelt story about four unique kids who struggle with feeling left out, being bullied, and navigating life with differences that others don’t always understand. From disabilities to grief, from creative gifts to speech challenges-each child’s journey reveals that what makes them different is also what makes them strong.

Set in a school just like yours, this uplifting story teaches children that:

Kindness is a choice.
Everyone deserves respect, regardless of their background or abilities.
Being different isn’t something to hide-it’s something to celebrate.

Featuring a Parent & Teacher Guide, Educational Activities, Types of Bullying Explained, and student questions so that they can create their own Reflection Journal, this interactive book goes beyond storytelling. It opens the door for crucial conversations about empathy, bullying, inclusion, and identity-both at home and in the classroom. Whether your students are struggling to find their place or needs encouragement to stand up for others, Different on Purpose will help them embrace their individuality and make a difference, one act of kindness at a time.

Perfect for ages 7-12.