Yours, Mine, Ours: A Celebration of Service and Community by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus, illustrated by Andrés Landazábal; Candlewick Press, 2025.

With minimal text posing prompts, questions for reflection,  and situational examples, this companion to You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community offers primary students an accessible introduction to the concept of service and provides a springboard for discussion and positive action.

Why this book? Why will it matter to kids?

Yours, Mine, Ours  introduces the abstract concept of service to young children through a series of questions related to common childhood experiences. Service-oriented behaviors are presented in age-appropriate text and illustrations leading to the notion that when we give to others we also receive. By demonstrating how we can serve, we empower children to take positive action.

Why read aloud?

We gather to share a book. We settle into a safe space as we interact with the book. We talk and reflect, exchanging thoughts, exploring concepts, building background knowledge—and community. When read-aloud sessions are routine, children become comfortable voicing their perspectives. They grow in active listening skills and learn to respect the thoughts, feelings, experiences, and beliefs of others. When we (educators, parents, and caregivers) select age-appropriate, length-appropriate stories based on needs and abilities, we offer children the opportunity to see themselves, see others, find validation, and contemplate solutions to conflicts and challenges that they may not have considered.

Read-aloud sessions are inclusive: there is no reading skills or level barrier, and learning obstacles are mitigated by preparation prior to reading the book aloud. In a read-aloud session there is immersion as well as the comfort of distance from the challenges the characters encounter.

Reading aloud engages listeners, offering a positive, secure, stress-free “learning without struggle” experience grounded in a book, the value of which cannot be overestimated.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.” ~  James Baldwin

Levels and Layers of Learning

Grade level: K—2

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Acceptance, connection, courage, creativity, curiosity, dedication, diligence, effort,  empowerment, encouragement, fortitude, friendship, generosity of spirit, gratitude, hope, inspiration, integrity, kindness, perseverance, persistence, perspective, relationship skills, resilience, resourcefulness, respect, responsibility, responsible decision-making, self-assurance, self-awareness, self-management, self-reliance, social awareness, tenacity, understanding

Content Area Connections: Social-Emotional Learning, Community

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

How to pronounce Arun Gandhi’s first name: AH-roon

How to pronounce Bethany’s last name: HEG-uh-dis

Learn  more about Bethany and her other books on her website.

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

“[There is} a deep connection between how students read, write, and communicate, and how they develop socially and emotionally.”  ~  Justina Schlund, Director of Field Learning for CASEL

What does it mean to serve?

Give an example of how we can serve in our classroom or school.

How does serving others “bring the good” to ourselves?

Give an example of how you can share who you are or what you have with others.

Writing prompt inspired by Bethany’s answer to an interview question (see below): Describe a small thing you have done that made a BIG difference.

 Illustration © Andrés Landazábal

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into the framework of the school day. These brief moments can signal change, smooth or frame transitions—from beginning or ending the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to shifting from one subject to the next. Poetry breaks can reset mood or tone, providing a moment to pause, reflect, and breathe. Reading a poem aloud typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, provide clarity, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, spark imagination, or simply summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes and strengthens the spirit.

“Poetry builds resilience in kids and adults; it fosters Social and Emotional Learning. A well-crafted phrase or two in a poem can help us see an experience in an entirely new way.” ~  Elena Aguilar

Poetry Collections to Pair with Yours, Mine, Ours

• Dictionary For A Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
• If I Could Choose A Best Day: Poems of Possibility selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Olivia Sua; see especially “If I can stop one Heart from breaking” by Emily Dickinson and “One Stitch” by Renée M. LaTulippe
• Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III; see especially “What Is An Intersection?” 

Recently Released Poetry Collections

• Five Little Friends: A Collection of Finger Rhymes by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock
• The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Jade Orlando

As you begin the school year, make poetry a part of your learning day! Check out Michelle Schaub’s Poetry Boost, a recommended resource for educators chock-full of great ideas. Click over to this Children’s Book Corner post featuring Michelle’s poetry book, Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees.

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Find a slide deck with resources created by The Book Links for I, Me, We, the companion book to Yours, Mine, Ours, on the Educator Resources page on Bethany’s website.

Book Collection Suggestions

Related Books to Consider

• heartbeat by Evan Turk
• How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
• Lend a Hand by John Frank, illustrated by London Ladd
• Love by Matt De La Peña, illustrated by Loren Long
• my heart by Corinna Luyken
• Ten Rules of Being A Superhero by Deb Pilutti
• What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by April Harrison
• words and your heart by Kate Jane Neal

Have a title to suggest? Scroll down to add it in the Comments section at the end of this post.

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Meet the Author

Arun Gandhi (1934–2023) wrote You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community, coauthored with Bethany Hegedus and illustrated by Andrés Landazábal, as well as the picture books Grandfather Gandhi and Be the Change, both illustrated by Evan Turk, and the adult memoir Legacy of Love: My Education in the Path of Nonviolence, all of which were inspired by his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi. 

Bethany Hegedus How did I become a writer? The October after 9/11, I heard Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, speak. His stories of prejudice struck me deeply, and I leaned over to a friend and whispered, “These should be a children’s picture book.” I wasn’t published and didn’t have an agent, yet the idea wouldn’t leave me. Despite warnings not to, I asked Gandhi to co-write a book, and he said yes. Over the 12 years it took from idea to publication, I faced rejections, rewrites, and my own fears of unworthiness, but the journey transformed my life. The book has since touched hundreds of thousands of children, led me to my husband and son, and inspired me to open The Writing Barn, now in operation since 2011 and serving thousands of kidlit writers each year. Learn more on Bethany’s website.

Backstory: Q & A with Bethany Hegedus

I reached out to Bethany to invite her to be Children’s Book Corner’s first featured guest of the 2025-26 school year because Yours, Mine, Ours seems to be an ideal read-aloud choice to usher in a new school year and establish a positive, thriving classroom community grounded in kindness, service, and connection.

Judy Bradbury: Tell us about this project: What seeded its creation? How did you conceive of the theme/focus of Yours, Mine, Ours: A Celebration of Service and Community?

Bethany Hegedus: The seed for Yours, Mine, Ours was planted years ago when I co-wrote Grandfather Gandhi with Arun Gandhi, and as we brought his life’s work to younger readers with our first Candlewick title: You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community. That work deepened my understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s belief in seva—service—as a way of life. Service isn’t only grand gestures; it’s everyday actions that knit us closer together. That, plus seeing the work of Maria Montessori and the overlap and influence both she and the Mahatma had on one another was another seed.

With Yours, Mine, Ours, I wanted to celebrate that idea: that caring for one another—whether through community helpers, volunteers, or small kindnesses—is what turns “yours” and “mine” into “ours.” It’s both a tribute to those who serve and an invitation for young readers to see themselves as part of building a more connected, compassionate world.

JB: Tell us about your collaboration with co-author Arun Gandhi.

BH: Working with Arun Gandhi on Grandfather Gandhi was life-changing for me. I still remember sitting with him as he shared stories of growing up in Sevagram Ashram with his grandfather. He spoke with such openness—about both the wisdom and the challenges of being the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi—that I often felt I was being entrusted with a living piece of history.

Over our twenty-year collaboration, turned friendship, we also got to know one another on a deeply personal level. Arun stayed in our home many times, and we travelled together in support of books, visiting schools and book festivals. I met his son, email often with his daughter, and my son’s middle name is after Arun, as he became like an extended family member. My husband is from Lucknow, India and he has a good laugh that his American wife brought this deep connection to such a monumental figure in world history.

Arun Gandhi with Bethany’s son

JB: How does this picture book relate to its companion, You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community?

BH: Yours, Mine, Ours is a natural companion to You, Me, We. Both are brought to life by illustrator Andrés Landazábal, whose luminous, heart-filled art perfectly captures the spirit of kids in early classroom settings. Readers will recognize the same group of children from You, Me, We—this time stepping into new situations where they discover how service, big or small, strengthens their bonds with one another.

Where You, Me, We focuses on exploring what peace is , Yours, Mine, Ours extends that vision into action, showing how caring for one another turns peace into something tangible. Together, the books carry forward a shared cast of characters that teachers, parents, and children will find themselves in.

JB: Tell us about a challenge you faced in the creation of Yours, Mine, Ours: A Celebration of Service and Community, or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the writing of the book.

BH: A bittersweet moment came just as the book was finished. Arun Gandhi passed away right after we saw the final art for Yours, Mine, Ours and just before You, Me, We was released. I had to return to the afterword and rewrite it in his memory. It was hard but meaningful, transforming grief into a tribute to Arun’s lifelong dedication to seva and community. The book now carries even more of his spirit, which feels like a true gift.

JB: What is one unexpected joy that came from the creation of Yours, Mine, Ours?

BH: One unexpected joy? When the illustrator—who lives in Colombia and had never seen my son—ended up drawing a character who looked just like him! At career day, all the third graders in his class asked if it was Taru. He hadn’t noticed… until his classmates convinced him. Talk about art imitating life!

 Illustration © Andrés Landazábal

JB: What is your favorite illustration in the book? Why?

BH: I love them all, but each book has a “climax moment” illustration where one child really brings the theme to life in an innovative way. In Yours, Mine, Ours, that moment happens to feature the boy who looks just like my son at age seven. Now that he’s ten, every time I see it I just get all gooey inside—it feels both timeless and deeply personal.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the writing of Yours, Mine, Ours?

BH: Pssst… there are author Easter eggs in the art of each book! Look closely at the community spreads—you’ll find Arun and me tucked right in. Have fun spotting us!

 Illustration © Andrés Landazábal

JB: Who do you perceive your target audience to be and why?

BH: The target audience is young readers, families, and classrooms, especially kids just beginning to see how their actions can ripple out into the world. Service isn’t just for adults; children are natural helpers, and this book celebrates that spark. Really, it’s for anyone who’s ever passed the ball on the playground, helped a friend, or cleaned up without being asked.

JB: What do I hope kids take away?

BH: That their kindness in action counts! Even the smallest act of service—holding a door, picking up trash, including someone—can make the world brighter.

JB: How do you see Yours, Mine, Ours connecting to curriculum or being used in learning settings?

BH: Teachers, we’ve got you covered. A fabulous educator guide, created by Booklinks, is available on my website, with ready-made lesson plans and activities. It gives today’s busy (but always resourceful!) teachers easy ways to spark conversations about service, community, and working together plus fun word searches and more activities for young readers.

JB: If you could ask your young readers a question, what would it be?

BH: What’s the smallest thing you’ve done this week that made a BIG difference?”

JB: What project(s) are you currently working on? 

BH: 2025 is a three-book year for me! Next up is No Bad Parts!, co-authored with Dr. Richard Schwartz, the creator of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Dr. Schwartz is a legend in therapy communities. I translate his seminal work for adults into an approachable context for kids. We follow a young boy as he discovers and accepts the many “parts” of himself—The Manager, The Exile, The Firefighter—and learns that each has a role to play. The story helps children (and the adults who love them) see that there are no bad parts, only parts that need understanding and care.

Like You, Me, We and Yours, Mine, Ours, this book also celebrates community—only here, it’s the community within ourselves. Together, these books remind young readers that peace and service begin both inside and out: by caring for our own parts and by showing up for one another.

 Illustration © Andrés Landazábal

Other Books by Bethany Hegedus

Meet the Illustrator of Yours, Mine, Ours

Learn more about Andrés Landazábal and find him on Instagram.

Sidebar Spotlight New releases of note

Each month I receive several boxes of books to review from various publishers. As I read and peruse the books, I place them in two piles: those that I will consider featuring on the blog, and those that don’t fit the mission or theme of Children’s Book Corner blog for whatever reason. I highlight some of the books in the “possible” pile on Mondays (most weeks) on Instagram and Bluesky. Ultimately, I choose the one new release I will feature on my monthly blog post. Yet there are many terrific books I wish I could give a shout-out to, even if I can’t write an entire post about each one. So, Sidebar Spotlight is a means of giving a nod to new releases that, in my opinion, are noteworthy. I’ve linked each title to Bookshop so you can learn more. Happy reading, friends! And feel free to comment on these or other new books in the Comments section at the end of this post.

9 Little People by Regina Feldmann and illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger is a sweet rhyming counting book in bright pastel colors centered on joy, love, diversity, community, and commonality. Recommended read-aloud for Pre-K-K.

Another Word for Neighbor by Angela Pham Krans, illustrated by Thai My Phuong is a warmhearted, gentle tale about kindness, possibilities, and the value of multigenerational friendships. Grades Pre-K—Grade 2.

Brave Old Blue by Colleen Muske, illustrated by Christopher Thornock is a heartwarming story about second chances, kindness, and care told with lyrical language and exquisite muted art. A Message from the Author at the back of the book offers information about horse rescue organizations. Recommended read aloud, Grades 1-3.

Grumble Boats by Susannah McFarlane, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie is a perfect any-season beach day read aloud centering on time spent with a wise grandmother who saves the day threatened by grumpiness. Grades Pre-K-Grade 2.

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith is a recommended read aloud with inspiring art and an uplifting, validating, positive message about connections and shared pasts. The book’s dedication: “To all kin and next of kin, no matter the tone of skin.” Grades 2-5.

Into The Bewilderness by Gus Gordon s a thoroughly entertaining graphic novel about two friends and their everyday foibles. Dry humor, philosophical food for thought, and plenty of well-timed chuckles await! In the Bewilderness, life is good. A delightful book! Highly recommend for Grades 3-5.

JIM! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold Connors is an excellent choice to introduce primary students to biographies, author studies, and chapter books. A grand slam of a picture book about a picture book great.

My Dad Is the Best by Fran Pintadera and illustrated by Joan Turu is a perfect pick for Father’s Day—and beyond. Humor, kid-centric escalation, and a thoroughly satisfying ending makes this picture book a recommended read-aloud. Enjoy!

Punch! A Story About Kindness is another winning picture book by Michael Hall. It offers a kinder look at some commonly vengeful words to great delight in a bright, funny, and accessible picture book for ages 3-7. Highly recommend. 

Recess by Lane Smith is a must-have-on-the-shelf for elementary teachers and librarians to reach for whenever students need a brief break in the learning day. Rollicking text with classic Smith illustrations to match. Highly recommended!

This Is How We Talk: A Celebration of Disability and Connection by Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp and illustrated with joyful depictions by Kayla Harren is a recommended picture book celebrating the many ways we communicate and express ourselves as we connect with one another using words, ASL, gestures, sounds, and adaptive technology. Find resources and an interview with the illustrator on another title in this series, This Is How We Play: A Celebration of Disability and Adaptation in this previous Children’s Book Corner post.

The Wombats Go Wild for Words by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Lori Nichols is a rollicking endorsement of the satisfaction of expanding our vocabulary beyond nice(read: dull) words. Engaging art adds to the fun. Jacket flips over to reveal a poster. Recommended for Grades 1-3.

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News, Updates, & Items of Interest

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is offering free curriculum materials to help educators make kindness the norm in classrooms this year.

This fall, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Impact and Legacy Fund is piloting a new program, sending picture books and curriculum materials into classrooms, museums, and libraries. In develpment over the past year, Let’s Eat: Food, Books, and Culture is a collection of curated picture books accompanied by a curriculum and teaching guide featuring each of the books, and a series of cooking videos starring the authors!

The featured books include:

• Bilal Cooks Daal, written by Aisha Saeed and illustrated by Anoosha Syed
• Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup, written by Pamela Mayer and illustrated by Deborah Melmon
• Dim Sum Palace, written and illustrated by X. Fang
• Empanadas for Everyone, written by Jackie Azúa Kramer and illustrated by Lenny Wen
• Freedom Soup, written by Tami Charles and illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
• Frye Bread, written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
• Home in a Lunchbox, written and illustrated by Cherry Mo
• Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story, written by Reem Faruqi and illustrated by Lea Lyon
• No Kimchi for Me, written and illustrated by Aram Kim
• Soul Food Sunday, written by Winsome Bingham and illustrated by C.G. Esperanza

SCBWI’s ILF is offering these books and teaching curriculum free on a first come first serve basis. If you educate children in a school, a library, or museum and these sound like books you would like in your teaching space, apply to receive a Let’s Eat! package via this Google form. If you’re not an educator, feel free to share this invitation with educators in your community!

The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader are offering a new “Keep Bans Off Our Books” kit for librarians, teachers, and booksellers in support of the right to free speech and against censorship and book bans. You can sign up to receive multiple versions of the #FREADOM coloring pages (for you to photocopy), as well as a sheet of the original “Keep Bans Off Our Books” stickers.

Also, the Children’s Book Council is currently accepting proposal submissions from schools, libraries, bookstores, and other community organizations interested in hosting an official event in 2026 with Mac Barnett, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Proposals will be accepted until September 22. Tip: Carefully review proposal information and utilize the submission checklist to collect all required information in advance of completing the online form.

I’m looking forward to returning to the Rochester Children and Teens Book Festival this year on November 8, joining over fifty authors and illustrators from across the country! If you are in the Western New York area, don’t miss this awesome book event for the whole family.

I’m delighted to be speaking at the New York State Reading Association annual statewide conference, being held November 9-11. I will be leading a panel discussion titled, “Reach, Connect, Teach: SEL Books with Curriculum Tie-ins” and am looking forward to sharing the podium with outstanding K-12 authors, Catherine Cook-Cottone, Mylisa Larsen, Andrea Page, Alex Sanchez, and Arlene Schenker.

You can find more information about where my books and I will be on my Events page.

You can find me on Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn where I post about books, book-related items of interest, Little Free Libraries, and occasionally travel (exclusively on IG). Connect with me there!

I am currently booking school visits and professional development sessions for the 2025-26 school year.

Photo credit: Jody LaRose

Find information and contact me to discuss a visit tailored to meet your school’s needs.

A note from a recent school visit:

Thank you so much for coming to meet with my students. You were wonderful, answering their questions and explaining how you wrote the book. We all loved it! Here are some illustrated thank you notes the students made for you. Thank you again!

Read-aloud of a portion of Cayuga Island Kids Book 2, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek

Readers Theater, complete with props! 

And here’s a note I received after presenting “SEL-Related Children’s Books with Curriculum Tie-Ins” to teachers and librarians of Grades Pre-K—Grade 6:

Thanks so much for presenting! I heard wonderful things about your workshop! One person mentioned to me that you were so organized and passionate. They also loved seeing all the children’s books you brought with you!

Find my books packaged as a series at your favorite bookshop or purchase directly from the publisher and receive a gift with purchase! Individual titles are also available in hard, softcover, and e-book versions.

Kindness tip: If you read and like a book, consider posting a review on GoodReads, social media, or on Amazon (if you bought it there). Authors and illustrators appreciate the shout-out. Even a one-sentence comment increases visibility of a book. Also consider placing a request with your local library to purchase a copy–another free way to support a book you recommend!

Over to You…

Join the conversation! Offer your thoughts related to this month’s post:

What book about service and community do you recommend? Share the title, author, illustrator, and suggested age or grade range. 

You are also welcome to post a general comment.

Thanks for sharing!

Final Thought

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