In this funny and heartwarming picture book, meet a shy little giraffe named Kipekee. She’s a bit different from the other giraffes—she was born with no spots.

*2025 CBC Teacher Favorites Winner*

Inspired by a real-life spotless giraffe from a popular news story, born in 2023, at Brights Zoo in Tennessee, Kipekee is one of the rarest giraffes on the planet.

But being one of a kind isn’t easy. And as Kipekee looks around her on her first day at school, she feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere.

With the help of her new friends, she tries some of the animal classes, scrambling clumsily up the rocks with llamas, and stretching her twiggy legs to high jump with the gazelles. But none of them feel quite right. She even tries to disguise herself, hoping that the others will accept her.

Eventually, Kipekee realizes that, although she doesn’t look like the others, she fits right in, and that her differences should be celebrated. And she’s delighted to find that she’s accepted—spots or no spots.

Perfect for preparing kids for their first day at school, this is a kind and delicate introduction to relationships and the value of difference, at a time when little ones are first forming important relationships with their peers. A touching story about inclusivity and looking beyond what people look like, it teaches kids that we are all wonderfully unique in our own ways.

Peter Millett is an award-winning New Zealand-born children's author who loves writing quirky, upbeat humorous stories for kids. Peter has written entertaining books for pre-school, primary and middle-grade readers and he's performed in front of school groups in America, Australia, England, NZ and Scotland. Peter's number one goal is to help make reading and writing a rewarding and fun-filled pastime for kids worldwide.

Alison Hawkins is an illustrator based in North Carolina, USA. She started her career as a Graphic Designer, and went on to work as a Product Designer, illustrating for clothing, toys, and greeting cards. Alison loves to explore color and hand lettering in her illustrations, as well as experiment with animation. She approaches art with a sense of humor and whimsy.