This is a great book to read to young ones as well as older students who seem to be having trouble fitting in. It has a great theme about not changing yourself to fit in with colorful illustrations that are eye catching enough to keep kids glued to the book without realizing they’re learning a valuable lesson in the process. When he meets up with others that do not fit, they realize that they fit together and complete the picture. He shakes off his disguise and is once again alone. That works, except he realizes that he is no longer himself. Oliver can not find where he fits, so he tries to change in order to fit in with others. Using puzzle pieces to create a picture show that everyone does not always fit in every spot. I don’t let it bother me one bit that I look different than most people.This amazing little book has a powerful message. Have a discussion with students about how it sometimes takes courage to be unique.īeing different is something I’ve always had to accept and I’ve learned that being a whale among so many boys and girls is something to celebrate.Ask students if they know someone or have a friend who is different than them and what they think about the differences.Do they feel they need to change because they do or believe in something different from others?.Have students think about something they do or believe in that is different from what their friends do or believe in.why it might be that kids exclude others, or why some kids say hurtful things.Have you ever witnessed others being excluded because they look or act differently?Įxplain that in this story Oliver is looking for a way to fit in and tries to change who he is to fit with a particular group only to find that they don’t want him because he looks different.Īs you read the story, have students think about differences:.Have you ever been told you can’t play with a group because you were considered different?.Is it okay that we have different ideas/dreams?.What do you want to do that you think would be exciting?.Hold the book up in front of the students and read the title aloud to them and ask:

Leaving the group, Oliver soon discovers that there are others trying to find their place as well – that he isn’t the only one – and delights in finding the perfect fit for him! Oliver changes himself to fit in and is accepted but is unhappy for not being his true self.

He tries to fit into other groups but is rejected for being different. This book is about a little puzzle piece trying to figure out where he belongs.

Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson