The first time a child recognizes themselves in a book is unforgettable. It might be a character who looks like them, lives in a similar family, speaks the same language, or feels the same worries and joys. In that moment, a quiet but powerful message lands: I belong here.  Stories have the ability to shape how children see themselves and how they understand others. That is why stories that reflect every child matter so deeply. Children’s books are often a child’s first in