Award-Winning Children's Author Laure Stack Celebrates Being Different in Howie, The Unusual Bear
Inspired by her own son, a story about belonging without changing who you are
Crestline, California Oct 14, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Howie is unlike the other bears -- in his appearance, his behavior, and his preferences. He longs for companionship and searches for someone who will accept him exactly as he is. That is the heart of Howie, The Unusual Bear, Laure Stack's picture book about individuality, belonging, and the hope of being loved without having to conform. The story's inspiration is deeply personal. In a June 2026 interview, Stack shared that Howie grew partly from her experience with her own son, who, in her words, "did not fit into the box" -- as well as other young people she came to value precisely for their differences. Stack has connected the fear of being different with bullying, and she emphasizes the importance of discussing acceptance with children early. "As a teacher and a parent, I need children to believe in themselves, be proud of themselves, and understand how to deal with fear and conflict in healthy ways," Stack said. Reviewers have embraced the book's message. Pacific Book Review praised it for showing children they can maintain hope while seeking people who appreciate their unique personalities. The book explores acceptance, friendship, self-confidence, and the idea that belonging should never require erasing what makes a child different. Stack, a former special education teacher with more than two decades of experience supporting children through their struggles and dreams, now writes from her home in Lake Arrowhead, California. In 2026 she was named Best New Children's Book Author in California, United States, by the Evergreen Awards -- whose award page highlights Howie, The Unusual Bear alongside Once Upon a Boy for encouraging self-confidence, individuality, curiosity, and learning.
Audio editions of all of Stack's books are also in production and will be available soon. Howie, The Unusual Bear by Laure Stack -- 36 pages; ages preschool through Grade 2; ISBN 9798265815255. Find the Book: Author website https://laurestack.com/ ; Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Howie-Unusual-Bear-Laure-Stack/dp/B0FRGGRGDT ; Facebook @authorlaurestack; Instagram @authorlaurestack. ### Laure Stack is a children's author and former special education teacher with more than 20 years of experience working with young people from kindergarten through high school. After retiring from education, she began turning the emotional barriers she had observed in children -- self-doubt, fear of difference, loneliness, and uncertainty -- into stories designed to encourage confidence and self-acceptance. She lives in Lake Arrowhead, California, with her husband and pets. In 2026 she was named Best New Children's Book Author in California, United States, by the Evergreen Awards. Media Contact: Laure Stack | [email protected] | (626) 488-3547 | https://laurestack.com/
Source :Laure Stack
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
More News
Southeast Asia’s EV boom sidelines local car parts suppliers
Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle boom risks leaving the region’s smaller companies behind, as Chinese automotive giants bypass local part-makers in favour of imported components and locked-in supplier networks. Local manufacturers across Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are facing a double squeeze: demand is weakening for parts used in petrol and diesel cars, collectively known as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, while steep barriers to entry also keep them out of EV supply...
S’porean mum, 45, looks like her 18-year-old son’s sister, stuns netizens
She is a mother of three.
Queenstown 5-room HDB flat with 94 years left on lease sold for record S$1.818 million
New record.
Pope Leo votes in US midterm elections, 1st pope to do so
This marks the first known time that a pope has voted in a political election.
S'pore dorm operator brings 158 migrant workers to experience Halloween Horror Nights
Annual appreciation event.
Tampines Ave 12 fatal accident: Public freed couple trapped in Audi only to watch them flee
Those at the scene got angry when they realised the couple from the car fled towards nearby blocks.
You know you’re hitting your 30s when you start talking about home appliances. Here’s what I’ve learned about adulting.
Some secrets of life can only be unlocked with age.
Myanmar children freed on bail, rights group questions treatment
Tenaganita asks if child-sensitive procedures have been followed.
Tampines Ave 12 fatal crash: Man, 30, charged for dangerous driving causing death
The crash left one couple dead.
S'porean man, then 27, an ex-youth worker, had sex with underage ex-resident of home, gets 2.5 years' jail
He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexually penetrating a minor.
200 nations at Cop17 commit to biodiversity goals amid missed opportunities
Nearly 200 nations have struck hard-fought agreements at a UN biodiversity summit, but the outcome was accompanied by disappointment over missed opportunities to address humanity’s destructive toll on nature. Delegates cheered on Friday as crucial texts were approved in overtime but the celebrations were tempered by acrimonious debates and regret over limited progress on some of the most contentious issues. The Cop17 summit in Armenia sought to revive a landmark commitment to halt and reverse...
Tampines Ave 12 fatal accident: Deceased couple, both 24, leave behind 6-year-old son, wife was 1-month pregnant
They were laid to rest next to each other at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery.
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.