1 . Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio , Illustrated by Christian Robinson . 2014 . Atheneum . Keywords : Identity , Family , Difference , Animals . Grades K - 3 HBG : 1 Located : HBO . Gaston , a brisk puppy , stood out among his elegant poodle sisters . At the park , the poodle family met the bulldog family , similar to theirs but in reverse : Antoinette , a tame puppy , among her bulky brothers . Was there a huge mistake ? What if Gaston and Antoinette traded families to “ look right ? ” Does it now “ feel right ? ” Gaston ’ s rhythmical texts and detailed facial expressions make it the perfect book to read aloud and emotionally engage . 2 . The Peculiar Pig by Joy Steuerwald . 2019 . Penguin / Paulsen . Keywords : Family , Difference , Peculiar , Acceptance , Animals . Grades PS HBG : 2 Located : HBO . Among the newly born piglets laid a peculiar one : Penny , who grew longer when her sisters and brothers grew bigger and who barked and growled when the others oinked . At first , the other piglets treated peculiar Penny as weird , but after Penny bravely barked away a snake , they realized peculiar meant perfect . Children will resonate themselves with Penny , nodding at how it feels to be ostracized for being different and the joy of becoming accepted . 3 . Pink Lion by Jane Porter . 2017 . Kane / Miller . Keywords : Animals , Family , Belonging , Identity , Difference , Choice , Appearance . Grades PS HBG : 2 Located : HBO . Arnold , a pink lion , was a happy member of the flamingo family . One day , other lions came along and persuaded Arnold to join them since they look more alike . However , Arnold didn ’ t feel right when he couldn ’ t roar nor groom like the other lions , and so decided to go back to his flamingo family . Colorful portrayals of lions and flamingos vividly stand out from the white background space , helping readers focus more on the characters . 4 . Zombies Don ’ t Eat Veggies ! by Lacera , Megan & Lacera , Jorge . Illustrated by Jorge Lacera . 2019 . Lee / Children ’ s . Keywords : Zombie . Halloween . Vegetables . Family . Appetite . Picky - Eaters . Grades : K - 3 HBG : 2 Located : HBO . Mo , a young zombie , has a peculiar appetite for vegetables . Although his parents insist he eat zombie foods like “ brain - and - bean ” tortillas , Mo persuades his parents by disguising gazpacho grown secretly in his garden as “ blood bile bisque ” , but fails to win them over , at least not at first . The text becomes more rhythmical with the occasional mixture of everyday Spanish . Great book for Halloween - not grotesque as one might expect from a zombie book . 5 . Thunder Boy Jr . by Alexie , Sherman . Illustrated by Yuyi Morales . 2016 . Little . Keywords : Name . Imagination . Creativity . Father and Son . Grades : K - 3 HBG : 1 Located : HBO . Thunder Boy Jr . was named after his father , Thunder Boy Sr . , who was also known as Big Thunder , naturally making the protagonist , Little Thunder . Thunder doesn ’ t like his name , so he imagines different , creative names that will make him feel more like himself , and maybe a little bit “ normal . ” For every name he considers , pictures let us explore his dreams . A very funny book , promising a good laugh .