“I’m here to help!”
That’s how Henry begins every day in Helpful Henry, a delightful story that celebrates one of the most beautiful qualities in a child — the desire to be helpful.
Before adults teach lessons on responsibility, kindness, or teamwork, most young children already have the instinct to help. They want to stir the pancake batter, water the flowers, carry groceries, or feed the family dog. Their little hands may not always do things perfectly, but their hearts are in the right place. And that’s where real character begins.

A Child’s Natural Instinct to Help
Helping comes naturally to children because it’s tied to love and belonging. When they contribute, they feel part of something bigger — the family, the classroom, or the world around them. Henry, for example, starts his day by making his bed, helping with breakfast, and washing dishes without being asked. He’s not motivated by reward; he simply wants to make life a little brighter for everyone around him.
In a world that often emphasizes “me first,” Helpful Henry is a refreshing reminder that most children actually want to be of service — if only we give them the chance.

Why Helping Matters
When we let children help, even in small ways, we teach them that their actions matter. It’s one of the most powerful lessons a young person can learn. They begin to understand that they can make a difference — whether it’s setting the table, comforting a friend, or standing up for someone being treated unfairly.
Henry shows that helping goes beyond chores. It’s also about courage. When he encounters a school bully, he doesn’t turn away or fight back with anger. Instead, he stands up calmly, showing the bully a better way. His strength is quiet but steady — the strength of kindness and integrity. And in doing so, he helps the bully see the possibility of change.
This is the kind of “helping” the world needs more of — help that comes from understanding, not superiority; from kindness, not control.

Building Emotional Intelligence Through Helping
Every time a child helps, something remarkable happens inside them. They build empathy. They begin to notice how others feel. They start to read emotions and respond in ways that strengthen relationships.
Teachers often notice that children who enjoy helping tend to cooperate better, handle frustration more calmly, and show greater leadership later on. When they volunteer in class, comfort a crying classmate, or take turns without being asked, they are practicing social-emotional learning in the best way — through action.
Henry models this beautifully. He doesn’t need to be the star student or class leader; his leadership shines quietly through kindness. His example tells children, “You don’t have to be big to make a big difference.”

Encouraging Helping at Home
Parents can nurture this helpful spirit by offering real, meaningful opportunities for children to contribute — not just “pretend help.” Here are a few ways:

• Invite participation: Ask, “Would you like to help set the table?” or “Can you feed the dog today?”
• Acknowledge effort, not perfection: Praise the intention behind the action. “Thank you for helping,” is more powerful than “Good job.”
• Be patient: Helping takes time, especially when little hands are learning.
• Model helpfulness: Children imitate what they see. When parents show kindness, children naturally follow.

Henry’s mother understood this. She didn’t turn away his eagerness to help — she welcomed it. She knew that every act of helpfulness strengthens not just the child’s skills but the child’s heart.

Encouraging Helping at School
Teachers, too, play a vital role. A classroom where helping is valued becomes a community of caring learners. Here are a few ways educators can foster that spirit:

• Assign “helping jobs” — line leader, materials helper, classroom greeter.
• Create a kindness chart to celebrate moments of service.
• Read stories like Helpful Henry to start conversations about what it means to help at school, at home, and in the playground.
• Highlight upstanders. When a child stands up for another, as Henry did, that deserves quiet recognition. It tells others that kindness is courageous.

The Two Natures in Every Child
At the end of Helpful Henry, there’s a gentle reflection for adults — that children, like all of us, have two natures: one that is selfish, fearful, and sometimes unkind, and another that is generous, loving, and strong. Which one grows depends on what we water. When we nurture the higher nature — by inviting children to be kind, responsible, and helpful — we guide them toward joy, confidence, and resilience.
Henry represents that higher nature in action. He doesn’t scold or shame; he simply shows what’s possible when kindness leads the way. Every parent and teacher who helps a child discover that feeling — the joy of helping — is shaping a happier, more harmonious world.

The Gift of Being Helpful
At its heart, Helpful Henry is a love letter to the spirit of helpfulness that lives in every child. It reminds us that when we encourage helpfulness, we’re not just teaching chores or manners — we’re awakening compassion. We’re giving children a sense of purpose that will guide them for life.
As the book so beautifully concludes:
“Children come into the world to help make the world a better place. Give them every opportunity to do so. Once they know they can be helpful, they will never be helpless!”
That’s a lesson worth sharing — in every home, every classroom, and every heart.

f you’d like to inspire a child with the joy of helping, discover Helpful Henry — one of Sally Huss’s many uplifting children’s books that nurture kindness, courage, and joy in young readers.
Find it on Amazon or visit www.sallyhuss.com

If you’ve ever felt just a little bit different — maybe your hair sticks out funny, or you’re shorter, taller, louder, or quieter than everyone else — you’re in very good company! In fact, everyone has something slightly askew. And that’s not just a line from my children’s book — it’s a truth that makes life far more colorful, compassionate, and fun.

A World of Differences
Imagine if we all looked the same, talked the same, and thought the same. Life would be like a row of identical ice cream cones — neat, but terribly boring! The beauty of humanity (and childhood!) lies in our differences. Some are big, some small, some visible, and others hidden deep inside.
In Everyone Has Something Slightly Askew, we meet a cast of delightfully unusual characters — a woman with hair growing from her feet, a man with monkey bars coming out of his ears, a potter with too many arms, and even a pair of Siamese twins who learn to work together thanks to their extra eyes.
It’s all whimsical, of course, but beneath the rhyme and humor lies a gentle truth: being different isn’t bad — it’s just different. And often, what seems odd or challenging can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

What’s Your “Askew”?
Every child, every adult, has something that makes them feel “askew.” Maybe it’s a physical trait, a medical condition, a learning challenge, or even a quirky personality trait that others don’t always understand.
For many children, those differences can feel like heavy burdens — something to hide or fix. But what if, instead, they were seen as part of what makes each child special? What if the thing that feels like a flaw is actually a spark of originality?
In my story, I use humor to show that what might appear “freaky” or odd can have surprising benefits. The woman with hairy feet can dance and dust at the same time! The man with monkey bars for ears can hang upside down without a care. The potter with extra arms makes dinner and dishes in record time!
It’s all a reminder that our oddities can become our superpowers if we learn to look at them differently.

Real Kids, Real Challenges
Of course, not every “difference” is funny or imaginary. Some children face real-life challenges — like diabetes.
In Everyone Has Something Slightly Askew, I gently touch on this reality. Kids who rely on insulin pumps or monitors might sometimes feel left out or self-conscious. But these children show incredible courage and discipline every single day. The infusion set, pump, and careful monitoring of blood sugar are all part of their unique rhythm of life — one that allows them to stay healthy, strong, and happy.
It’s a lesson in adaptability and gratitude. Just as the whimsical characters in my book find joy in their oddities, children with medical needs can find pride in their resilience. Their strength inspires everyone around them.

Teaching Kids to Celebrate Uniqueness
So how do we help children embrace their “askew” parts — and respect the differences they see in others?
Here are a few simple ideas:

1. Talk Openly: Encourage conversations about differences — whether physical, emotional, or cultural. When kids see that differences are normal, they learn compassion and confidence.
2. Share Stories: Books like Everyone Has Something Slightly Askew help children laugh, question, and accept in gentle, entertaining ways.
   
3. Model Acceptance: Kids notice how adults treat others. When we show kindness to everyone — regardless of their “askew-ness” — children follow our lead.
4. Celebrate Strengths: Help children identify the hidden good in their quirks. Maybe that “too much energy” means a great athlete, or that “quiet nature” means a brilliant listener.
5. Use Humor: Laughter is one of the best teachers. When kids can laugh kindly about the human condition, they relax into being themselves.
   
   

The Deliciousness of Differences
At the end of the book, I compare human variety to flavors of ice cream — and I mean it! Imagine a world where every cone was vanilla. How dull! It’s the swirl of chocolate fudge, the sprinkles, the caramel ribbons, and the surprising little crunches that make it exciting.
Our world works the same way. Every person adds their own flavor — their creativity, kindness, courage, and individuality — to the mix. Together, we create a joyful, delicious variety called humanity.
So, whether you have freckles that pop like stardust across your nose, or hair that can’t quite behave, or a talent for something no one else understands — treasure it. These are not mistakes. They are masterpieces in disguise.

A Message for Parents, Teachers, and Grandparents
As adults, we can help children internalize this idea. When a child points out someone’s difference, that’s a teaching moment. When a child feels embarrassed about their own, that’s a loving moment.
Stories like Everyone Has Something Slightly Askew open doors for these heart-to-heart talks. They remind us all that “askew” is not a flaw; it’s just part of being marvelously, miraculously human.
And sometimes, the very thing we wish away in ourselves turns out to be the gift that makes the biggest difference in the lives of others.

What’s New with You?
If everybody has something slightly askew — and we do — then we can all relax and smile a bit more. Maybe we’ll dance like the lady with hairy feet or laugh at the funny shapes life gives us.
We can remember, as the story says:
“Enjoy your oddities, your differences, your specialness,
Just as you enjoy your sameness.”
And that’s the secret to being happy — learning to love ourselves, just as we are, and letting others do the same.

f you’d like to share this message of joy, kindness, and self-acceptance with the children in your life, you’ll find Everyone Has Something Slightly Askew — and many other happy, heartfelt picture books — at Sally Huss’s website