Books to Inspire: July/August 2026

Small Great Things

By Jodi Picoult

In Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult delivers a powerful and emotionally charged novel that explores race, bias, privilege, and the choices people make when confronted with injustice. The story follows Ruth Jefferson, an experienced nurse whose life changes dramatically after she is prevented from caring for the child of white supremacist parents. Through multiple perspectives, Picoult challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the assumptions we carry and the systems we often move through without question.

What makes this novel especially compelling is its ability to inspire reflection long after the final page. It encourages readers to consider how empathy is built not through grand gestures, but through listening, humility, and the willingness to see beyond one’s own experience. For parents and families, Small Great Things opens meaningful conversations about respect, compassion, and how children learn values by watching the world around them.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult was published by Ballantine Books in 2016. Picoult is an internationally bestselling author known for tackling complex social issues through emotionally compelling fiction. A copy is available in the Neilson Hays Library fiction collection.

Those Shoes 

Written by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones

In Those Shoes, Maribeth Boelts tells a simple yet deeply meaningful story about wanting to fit in, learning gratitude, and recognizing the needs of others. Jeremy longs for the trendy black shoes that everyone at school seems to own, but his grandmother reminds him that while they may not have everything they want, they do have everything they need. When Jeremy finally gets the shoes, he discovers that they are too small, forcing him to rethink what truly matters.

What makes Those Shoes so powerful is its quiet honesty. The story gently opens conversations about materialism, empathy, and the pressures children face to belong. Without being preachy, it encourages young readers to consider kindness, generosity, and perspective in everyday situations. For families, it is a wonderful reminder that character is shaped not by what we own, but by how we treat others and the choices we make when someone else may need something more than we do.

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones was published by Candlewick Press in 2007. A copy is available in the Children’s Corner of the Neilson Hays Library. 

Prepared by Kit Lang @mskitlang. The Neilson Hays Library is Thailand’s premier English-language library. The Children's Program offers Saturday Story Time, a cozy Children's Corner, and special holiday events. Adult Programs include concerts, art exhibitions, book clubs, and book sales. Located in a UNESCO-awarded historic building with a garden and cafe on site: 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.