Thoughtfull, written by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Robert Dunn, tells the story of two second-grade boys: Ahanu, a boy with Down Syndrome, and Joshua, Ahanu's friend.

When Ahanu wins an award for being thoughtful, Joshua rejoices him. However, Joshua's joy is tampered by unkind remarks about Ahanu from other boys. After processing the situation with his dad, Joshua confronts the boys and stands up for Ahanu. Joshua encourages Ahanu and finds joy in their friendship.

My girls are both homeschooled and I continually look for resources that can teach them how to respond to social situations they may encounter. I liked that Thoughtfull offers several positive values and responses while confronting the common occurrence of bullying:

1. Thoughtfull affirms that all people are valuable and uniquely gifted by God. 2. Joshua speaks to the bullies about Ahanu's gifts, demonstrating a healthy way to confront bullying. 3. Perhaps most importantly, Joshua's relationship with Ahanu teaches that we ought to embrace each other rather than shying away from others who are differently-abled than us.

Thoughtfull is a hard-cover book that seems well-made and durable. The illustrations featured a racially diverse group of children and complemented the story nicely. My daughters (ages 3 and 6) enjoyed looking at them while reading the story.

I recommend Thoughtfull to parents of children between ages three to seven. There is a “Parent Connection” with Scripture and questions to discuss together.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." ( )