ALLIE THE ALBINO SQUIRREL

A young squirrel finds friendship and self-confidence in this picture book.

Allie is “an albino,” which means that, unlike her family members, her fur is white. She feels “different and…unsure of herself” and envies her sociable brothers, longing for “the day when she wouldn’t be afraid to be herself and…make friends.” The night before her first day of kindergarten, Allie worries that classmates will ridicule her appearance. Mom reminds her that “the color of your fur doesn’t define you, it’s just one part of…who you are.” Despite feeling nervous, Allie has a great first day. At lunchtime, she is surprised when Bree, a brown bunny wearing colorful bows, greets her by name. Bree explains that their brothers play together and that Allie’s sibling Ronnie “told me about you, and I was hoping we’d be in the same class.” When Bree compliments her appearance—even saying how lucky she is because her fur makes her “look good in any color”—Allie’s “heart swelled with happiness.” The critters’ friendship blossoms, and Allie becomes more self-assured. Through charming animal characters, McCoy deftly emphasizes the importance of accepting distinctive attributes and looking beyond appearances. Readers will root for Allie, and many will share her desire for friendship and her feelings of uncertainty in a new situation. Qadri’s appealing illustrations feature mixed-media elements like photographic backdrops, including a scene of a river and grass juxtaposed with cartoonish characters.

An encouraging and relatable animal tale about embracing personal traits and cultivating connections.