What does it take to show a child that every difference is something to be celebrated?
Michael Weinstein & Diana Chavez’s newly released All Friends Matter offers a heartwarming answer. This beautifully illustrated children’s book follows Dante on his very first day of school, where new friendships, laughter, and discovery remind young readers that kindness is the greatest lesson of all. But this book is more than a story for kids; it is also a gentle guide for parents, teachers, and families who want to nurture empathy, acceptance, and belonging in the classroom and beyond.
Rooted in the belief that every child deserves to be seen and valued, All Friends Matter blends warmth, imagination, and truth into every page. Through Dante’s eyes, readers experience the nerves and excitement of a first school day, but also the deeper lessons that follow, how to welcome new classmates, celebrate cultural differences, and treat everyone with respect. Each character he meets, from Kenya to Bao, Zoe to Pablo, carries a unique background or gift, showing children that differences aren’t barriers, they’re bridges.
