Loleta Ernst

Mr. Winston Turns One! Loleta Ernst

"We are all different, yet the same." A book that encourages diversity and inclusion.

This fun and beautifully illustrated book in the Mr. Winston book series celebrates individuality but also commonality among all of the different pets that come together as "Mr. Winston Turns One!". Mr. Winston is a little nervous about meeting all of his colorful new friends that he's never met before. Like any "first" he wonders, "What will they think of me since I am different?"

Mr. Winston is led by his sister cat Nyssa to embrace being unique, as all the animals that come will be different too! In the end, Mr. Winston has a great birthday! He learns not only are they all very different, but still, so much the same. The reality is that most of these animals are based on the likeness of real pets that submitted their pictures and stories to be at Mr. Winston's first birthday through social media. In the end twenty made it into the book to celebrate the day. These very real and very different social friends of Mr. Winston exemplify what the book is trying to convey, "We are all different, yet the same."