Mortimer Mack There's an Ape on your Back

Sometimes the heaviest things we carry are the things no one else can see. When Mortimer Mack walks into his classroom, something is different. Something BIG. Something HEAVY. There's an ape on his back. It's enormous. It's exhausting. And no matter how hard Mortimer tries, he can't seem to shake it. But when his classmates notice the burden he's carrying, something extraordinary begins to happen. One small act of kindness becomes another. And another. Until an entire classroom discovers that sometimes the best way to help someone isn't to fix their problems, but to help them carry the weight. From award-winning children's author Izzy B comes a heartwarming, beautifully illustrated picture book about empathy, compassion, friendship, and the invisible struggles children face every day. Perfect for: Teachers building a classroom culture of kindness, inclusion, and belonging. School counselors helping children understand big feelings, grief, and emotional challenges. Parents teaching their children to look beyond what they can see and recognize when someone needs a friend. Social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons, meaningful read-alouds, and conversations about empathy. With unforgettable characters, playful rhymes, touching illustrations, and an ending that brings its message full circle, Mortimer Mack: There's an Ape on Your Back reminds readers young and old that we may not know what someone is going through, but we can always choose to be kind. Because no child should have to carry their burdens alone.