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From
the Back Cover --
I created this book in an
effort to remind children of the importance of tolerance, embracing
diversity and to send the message of hope and inclusion for children
everywhere. I would love to sell a lot of books, however my original
mission would be complete if I were to accomplish two things. One would
be to have an affect on even one child that bullies other children, so
that he may be able to put himself in the other child's place and change
his way of thinking. The second thing I would like this book to do which
I have seen happen in the short time that it has been out is to help
make a child who feels different for any reason come to feel better
about him or herself. This book is a self-esteem builder in the fact
that it points out that we are all different in one way or another. The
outside is just a package but inside we are much the same in many ways.
I have heard the comments from adults "bullying will never change. It is
just part of growing up." I agree with them in one respect and that is
if we continue to have the attitude with our children that it will never
stop and that there is nothing anybody can do about it, then it won't
change. I think this book is a great tool to be used by parents,
teachers, counselors and children amongst themselves as an aid in
conversation about bullying. I have a niece that was teased and bullied
all through her years at school. She was a great student and loved
learning. She wasn't able to go to school to just learn. Every day was a
fight to survive. When she was just a few months away from graduating
from high school some kids came to school and threw eggs at her. That
was the last straw for her. She left school and never went back. The
affects from bullying can be devastating, long lasting and life
changing. There have been so many kids that have dropped out of school,
committed suicide or as we have seen in recent years turned their
frustration on other students with school shootings. It all begins in
the elementary schools and that is where I would like to have a small
part in seeing it end. Although this is a children's book the lessons in
it are a clear and simple reminder for all ages, that we are never too
young or too old to be more tolerant and accepting of others in spite of
our diversity. There are 17 different children in this book. Each child
has a concern about being different in one way or another such as:
freckles, tall, big ears, the color of their skin, handicaps and several
other concerns. I have the entire book set up on a power point program
and do assemblies in elementary schools. Please contact me if you are
interested in an assembly.
About the Author - -
My name is Vel Carter. I was born in
1951. I grew up in Bountiful Utah in the fifties and sixties along with
three brothers Jack, Mark and Doug and two sisters Mar Jean and Kara
Lee. Our sweet mother Virginia B. Thompson raised us alone when our
father Bert Thompson died in 1962. My mother is my inspiration for every
good thing I do. I was better known in Bountiful as Velma Lynn Thompson.
I have been married to my husband and best friend since
1986. I have one son Benjamin Miller, daughter-inlaw Jeannie and they
have three children Kellie, Joshua and Olivia. My husband has seven
children Jeff, Greg, Jared, Rob, Kristie, Sherrie and Joy. Together our
grandchildren number in the high twenty’s. As early as about third or
fourth grade I started rhyming my thoughts and feelings and found it
enjoyable to do so. This book Am I So Different? is just a sample of my
writing. However it is my first published endeavor. I hope the first of
many. Along with my very talented artist Stephanie Goodman I think we
have created something that almost every child can relate to in one way
or another. Stephanie’s talent can also be found in a previously
published book titled Don’t Crickets Get Sore Throats? I hope you share
this book with as many children
as possible.
Vel Carter
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