Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself

I thought this book was very inspiring. Although this was a children's book, and I mainly read it because of the author, I really admired the message throughout. The message being that if you are true to yourself and embrace your individual quirks, people won't actually mind as much as you may think.

Rumple is a creature who believes that he is so strange that he would scare people if he left his home underground. He spends years hidden below the rest of the world, embarrassed by his appearance and personality, with only an imaginary friend to talk to. He only ever goes up to experience the festival that takes place in the town each year, because he feels that is the only time he will blend in. One year he tries to go to the festival, but can't find a disguise, so decides to not go. Some children come to the drains to ask him why not, and Rumple realizes that nobody nice really cares about his looks.

I thought that this message was a great one because it can teach young children from early on that they shouldn't hide their differences to fit in, and should do the opposite and embrace them. This could help them to understand how to treat people, and to understand when others are treating them badly.

★★★★★