A book delayed for two years but certainly worth the wait, We Need Everyone by Michael Redhead Champagne and Tiff Bartel is a book we NEED today.

In this exuberant celebration, Michael Redhead Champagne teaches young readers how important they are to their communities and how they can discover their gifts. An incredibly timely story as the world is a scary place right now. Providing children with actionable ways to help their communities and the world around them is an excellent way of making the world seem a little brighter. 

In this book, Michael Redhead Champagne gives readers three steps in order to discover their gift to share with the world. Knowing that this can be a tricky task for some young readers, he also encourages them to ask for help from others OR to help others who feel stumped. He demonstrates to readers that this can be a collaborative process and asking for help or giving help is also important. He then lists different gifts and why they are important to a community. All readers will be able to see how their own gift can affect the people around them.

We Need Everyone is an excellent story to bring into a classroom or a group as a writing activity or a group ice breaker. Using the three steps, peers get to know a little more about each other and how they support one another creating a dynamic and cohesive group. Highwater Press also has an excellent teaching guide that you can access HERE.

Tiff Bartel’s illustrations are joyful! Her cartoon Michael is on point and she has illustrated a diverse cast of characters around Michael to truly deliver the message of the story, everyone has value, everyone has a gift and everyone can help their